Hell's Kitchen 23 episode 1 recap: Women's red team takes the lead in the first challenge

Fox released the 23rd season of Hell’s Kitchen on September 26, featuring Chef Gordon Ramsay as host and mentor to 18 contestants. The season's theme is “Head Chefs Only,” and the winner will take home $250,000. In the first episode, the chefs present their signature dishes to impress Gordon and introduce themselves. This season is also notable for moving the kitchen to the Foxwoods Resort Casino on the East Coast for the first time.

The 18 contestants participating in Hell’s Kitchen are Amanda, Amber, Ann Marie, Anthony, Brittany, Brandon, Corbin, Egypt, Hannah, Joseph, Kyle, Lulu, Magali, Meghan, Michael, Shant, Uri, and Whit. These contestants would work in two teams guided by Michelle Tribble (season 17 winner) for the Red Team and James Avery will lead the Blue Team.

The press release of the new season reads:

“These eighteen talented head chefs that come from all ages, backgrounds, culinary specialties, and restaurant types are used to calling the shots. With such proven leaders in the kitchen, Chef Ramsay is setting the bar higher than ever before.”

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What happened in season 23 episode 1 of Hell’s Kitchen?

In the premiere episode of Hell’s Kitchen 23, the 18 talented chefs received an escort from the United States Coast Guard as they pulled up in a boat. Gordon also declared that for the first time in the show's history, all the contestants are head chefs. The teams were divided as James Avery's Blue Team consisted of all males and Michelle Tribble's Red Team consisted of all females.

Gordon asked the chefs of Hell’s Kitchen to make their signature dishes for which they would get 40 minutes. With 30 minutes on the clock, Brittany cut herself and got blood all over her pasta which she would have to remake.

As the chefs started plating, Gordon reminded the contestants that the previous three winners scored all 5 points on the first night. The teams would go against each other and the team to get the highest score in total would win the challenge.

• Ann Marie (seared scallops over risotto) tied with Uri (pappardelle pasta): 4-4
• Magali (poached shrimp cavatelli) tied with Anthony (miso lemongrass steak): 5-5
• Brittany (shrimp and pasta) tied with Kyle (Thai red curry red snapper): 4-4
• Corbin (pan-seared New York strip and polenta) scored more against Amber (elk tenderloin with sweet potato puree): 4-3
• Meghan (garlic prawns) scored more than Egypt (duck tostada): 5-4
• Amanda (pan-seared duck breast with lemon risotto) scored more against Michael (roasted lamb rack): 5-4
• Whit (coconut milk poached fish and gnocchi) scored more than Joe (chicken scarpariello): 5-4
• Brandon (roasted chicken breast and dumplings) scored more than Lulu (masa tortillas with charred salsa roja): 5-4
• Hannah (maple duck breast with chocolate demi-glace) scoredmore than Shant (crusted lamb with potatoes): 5-4

The women's red team won the challenge 40-38 against the men's blue team, for which the women got to enjoy a dinner with Gordon while the blue team had to unload delivery trucks, stock the kitchens, and clean up the kitchen before the service. Team leaders, Michelle and James, deliver homework for the contestants of Hell’s Kitchen by presenting them with recipe books to prepare them for dinner service.

The mood in the house of Hell’s Kitchen where all the contestants were staying seemed to be light as everybody joked around, but this irked Anthony. As the Blue Team lost, Anthony mentioned to Egypt on the patio that the contestants were acting like this was a vacation which was pissing him off. The episode came to an end when Gordon called the contestants outside and lit up a flamethrower.