And NOW, the continooshussshon of Hell's Kitschooon. We are down to our final two warriors: Christina, the culinary student from Virginia, and Petrozza, the catering chef from South Carolina. And one of them will become the executive chef (RE: dishwasher) of Gordo's new restaurant in Los Angeles.

We pick up where we left off last week, with Christina and Petrozza still in the dining room, with enormous posters of their faces hanging behind RamJam. Gordon tells them that the final dinner service will involve the restaurant being divided in half, and they'll each have a side. They both look totally shocked, which is funny because this is how it totally goes every season! This isn't exactly a show with many built-in surprising, so every time they are genuinely shocked, I genuinely wonder if they've ever watched it before. Maybe all the cigarette smoke is going to their heads.

Our final two culinary warriors retreat back to the house to start designing their menus. In her increasingly raspy voice, Christina croaks that she's been working in restaurants since 1998 so that makes this easier for her. That's 10 years. Is that supposed to be impressive? Petrozza's mustache is probably even older than that. And I don't think "hostess at Applebee's" or "cashier at McDonald's when I was a pimply 15-year-old" count as true culinary experience, girl.

Christina gets right to work with brainstorming ideas. Petrozza, on the other hand, eats chips. He also gets the goofy bumbling music that usually accompanies Jean-Philippe. He says that although he makes menus all the time, he can't focus because of nerves and fatigue. So he finishes his chips and hits the hay.

Petrozza does, however, get up early the next day and talk to a bird. Christina wakes up and says that she thinks she has her menu all locked up. They play dramatic music and cut to Petrozza! And then cut to Christina! And then cut to Petrozza! And then cut to Christina! And it really reminds me of a silent film there for a second. I think they are trying to convey that Petrozza is intimidated by Christina's industriousness? It's unclear because I'm sure he's not.

Next, they go survey the dining room and talk with Hell's Kitchen designer, John, about their visions. John asks Petrozza what his menu is because he thinks the restaurant should reflect the food that's being served. Petrozza's menu contains a lot of "it is." Finally he makes something up, saying that it's rich foods like sweetbreads. John humors him, saying that his mouth is already watering.

Christina already has her opinions formed. She wants rich, warm colors like chocolates. What she likes the least about the room is the ugly carpet and olive green booth. The she says that she LIKES THE STRIPES. BECAUSE IT GIVES THE ROOM TEXTURE AND MOVEMENT BUT NOT TOO MUCH LIKE A FLORAL MIGHT. DID YOU HEAR THAT EVERYBODY??? CHRISTINA LIKES THE STRIPES. (Don't worry, I'm being freaky about this for a reason.)

It's funny to watch the contrast between Christina's and Petrozza's approach to this competition. Whereas Christina seems like she's stressed and barely hanging on by a thread, Trozzy seems to be excited and enjoying himself. And whereas she thinks flowers are too much, Petrozza though wants extra flowers. Not just centerpieces, but flowers everywhere, lying on the table, even. He's not going to stop until the whole place looks like a florist! Or funeral home!

After time has ended with John the designer, JP helps them choose a look for the waitstaff. Again, the contrast between our two contestants couldn't be more night and day. Christina is up first and gets snippy because she hates all of the outfits that are modeled. She wants simple and plain. Black suit with black t-shirt underneath. She basically wants her staff to look like death took a holiday.

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Posted in Hell's Kitchen by MandaMo at 3:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Last Comment: jojobear on Jul 8, 2008 04:05 PM.