Hell’s Kitchen: Season 25 gallops from seaside bliss to scallop chaos

Published October 28, 2026 17:01

Tim James

Tim James

Image: Hell’s Kitchen/YouTube

Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen show serves up a spectacular reversal in season 25’s episode four: the red team wins a beach escape, then returns to a dinner service so chaotic that Ramsay shuts its kitchen down. Jeyda Brooks was ultimately the one to pay the price.

The 15 October episode starts in party mode, complete with cheerleaders, drums and a giant beer-pong challenge. The chefs had to turn unlikely pairings — cod and tequila, chicken and vodka — into restaurant-worthy dishes in just 45 minutes.

The red team edged it 7–6, and its reward was a seaside break. The blue team got shrimp-cleaning duty. For a moment, the winners appeared to have the better end of the bargain.

Eight boozy battles on Hell’s Kitchen menu

  • Rum on the range: Jonny G’s hanger steak with black bean sauce faced Georgiana’s coffee-rubbed version with sweet potato purée.
  • Bourbon chops, two ways: Sandra paired pork with vegetables and a bourbon reduction; Mike added cinnamon and orange zest to his bourbon glaze.
  • Steak with a stout attitude: Dylan served a New York strip with a parsnip cake, while Joy went for coffee-rubbed steak and red potato mash.
  • Lamb gets the sherry treatment: Valentin’s lamb loin came with a cherry reduction; Mya offered a creamy sherry-marinated alternative.
  • Cod, tequila and a citrus twist: Miguel brought Veracruz-style cod with sliced potatoes; Jeyda countered with pan-fried cod and orange-zest sauce.
  • Sake it to the shrimp: Aiden served prawns with creamy buckwheat noodles and homemade chilli oil; Kylie paired sake-marinated prawns with coconut rice noodles and pak choi.
  • Duck, duck, whisky: Miles chose seared duck breast with whisky butter; Haley went for a whisky-spiked hoisin glaze.
  • Vodka takes the chicken: Nadia served chicken breast with classic vodka sauce and pasta; Gabe took a Sichuan-inspired route with sweet potato tempura and mushrooms.

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Paradise ends at dinner service

Then came the scallops. The red kitchen struggled to cook them properly, while garnish problems compounded the delays. The blue team had its Wellington troubles but survived, while Ramsay’s patience with the reds was running out.

The elimination brought another twist: Mya Gonsalves volunteers herself, but Ramsay rejected the team’s assessment and calls Haley Moss forward instead. Brooks was sent home because he considered her unready to lead his kitchen.

The episode’s quieter emotional centre belonged to Jonny G, who discussed his childhood abuse and eventual adoption. His determination made the competition feel more serious than just another ruined plate.

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That contrast made this instalment work: college-party silliness, a brief taste of luxury and then the uncomfortable reminder that winning a challenge buys nobody job security.

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