The King of The Hill Challenge is a recurring challenge in Hell's Kitchen.
Overview
For this challenge, Ramsay asks the chefs to cook their own dishes, and the chef with the best dish would be placed in the winner's chair, though he or she could be removed from the chair if the following person's dish would be better. The chef left on the chair at the end is named the winner, but if used as a team challenge, that last chef wins it for their team.
History
Season 9
Episode 11 of Season 9 marks the first time this challenge happened, when there were 7 chefs remaining, 3 in the red team, 4 in the blue team. Jennifer won the challenge for the red team.
Season 11
On episode 14, the challenge happened when there were 7 chefs remaining, 4 on the red team, 3 on the blue team. However, Ramsay made it an individual challenge. The chefs had 45 minutes to create a dish of their choice, with Ramsay being the judge. Ja'Nel got the chair first and beat out Mary and Zach, but was dethroned by Jon with his dish. Jon would later beat out Susan, Zach, and Cyndi earning him the win. His reward was immunity for the next service.
Season 12
On episode 12, the challenge happened when there were 10 chefs remaining, 5 on both teams, and used the team variant. The chefs had to gather 5 ingredients from a dark grocery store, and use it in their dish. Rochelle won it for the blue team, and they were rewarded with a day at Le Spa, while the red team took in deliveries.
Season 14
On episode 12, the challenge happened when there were 7 chefs remaining, 4 on the red team, 3 on the blue team, and used the team variant. This time, Ramsay had each chef cook a cut of steak. T was the first one up on the chair and beat out Milly and Josh, but Meghan dethroned her out and beat out Alison and Nick. However, Michelle was able to dethrone Meghan at the last minute and win it for the red team. The red team went to Catalina Island with a submarine ride, a three course dinner and received Vitamix blenders. The blue team had to break down 250 pounds of beef for the next dinner service.
Season 16
Season 17
On episode 13, the challenge happened when there were 5 chefs remaining. It was also the first black jackets challenge of the season. That time, Ramsay had the chefs teach sports All-Stars to cook their original signature dishes that they planned on cooking at the start of the season. Each pair had 45 minutes to cook their dishes and Ramsay would then judge the dish. The best dish would be then seated in the winner circle, but a better dish could overthrow them during the challenge. Nick's celery root puree, peppercorn crusted scallops got the chair first, but lost out to Robyn's scallops with uni sauc. While Milly's sea bass in three ways managed to beat out Robyn, he lost out to Michelle's sea bass with pasta. Michelle managed to beat out Benjamin's smoked lamb loin and roasted cauliflower and won the challenge. She was rewarded with a helicopter tour of Los Angeles and ate at the 71 Above with Nick as her take along. The remaining chefs had to participate in deep cleaning day.
Trivia
- This is the first challenge that happened during the team phase of the competition where the chefs competed individually.
- This is one of the few challenges that happened during both the team phase of the competition and the individual one.
- Season 17 is the first, and only time to date, that used aspects from another challenge (Cooking School Challenge) for that year.