The Special Events Challenge is a recurring challenge in Hell's Kitchen.
Overview[]
Since Season 3, Hell's Kitchen would host certain events for parties, wedding receptions, or reunions. First, the contestants would compete in a sampling dish challenge, where they would make dishes for the event. Then, that event's service would happen the following day.
The purpose of this challenge is to cater to certain events and create stunning dishes the hosts would enjoy.
History[]
Season 3[]
The first time this challenge happened was in episode 5 when there were 7 chefs, 4 on the red team, and 3 on the blue team. Known as the Wedding Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a wedding reception, and the chefs were tasked for making an appetizer, a fish entrée, and a meat entrée. They were sent to a grocery store with a $100 budget and collected their ingredients. After creating their dishes, Ramsay summoned the bride and groom to taste the dishes and make their decision. The blue team won the appetizer round, while the red team won the fish entrée round. For the final round, the red teams "lame" duck breast was severely overcooked and had no sides, automatically giving the blue team the win 2-1. After the engaged couple left, Ramsay made it clear to the red team that he was very embarrassed by that duck and angrily yells that they should be ashamed for sending it up. The blue team won a spa day at the Exhale Spa while the red team had to decorate the dining room for the following night's service based on Francisco the Party Planner's instructions.[1]
Season 4[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened with 10 chefs, 5 on both teams. Known as the Sweet 16 Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a Sweet 16 party. Both teams were brought to a local market to pick up their ingredients. After cooking their dishes, the guest of honor, Melissa, arrived to taste the dishes. The blue team won the appetizer round, while the red team won the fish entrée. The tie-breaker came down to the meat entrée, and while Melissa preferred the red team's dish, she was pressured by her mother to pick the blue team's dish as everyone else would like it. Therefore, the blue team won 2-1, much to the dismay of the red team. The blue team's reward was a day of go-kart racing and eating at the Simon LA Restaurant, while the red team had to decorate the dining room for the following night's service based on Francisco the Party Planner's instructions.[2]
Season 5[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened when there were 11 chefs, 6 on the blue team, and 5 on the red team. Known as the Bar Mitzvah Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a Bar Mitzvah, much to the delight of Ben who was of the Jewish faith. Ramsay brought in the guest of honor's, Max, mother, and grandmother who asked them to create gourmet versions of his three favorite dishes; chicken soup, brisket, and hamburger. After cooking their dishes, Max joined his family in the judging. The blue team won the chicken soup round, while the red team won the brisket round. It came down to the burger, and Max chose the blue team's dish since he found the red teams blue cheese stuffed burger too strong for him, something the red team warned Carol about during prep. The blue team won 2-1, and won a day at the Skin Haven Spa, while the red team had to decorate the dining room for the following night's service based on Francisco the Party Planner's instructions. They later had to lift Max during the Hora dance in the middle of the service.[3]
Season 6[]
In episode 5, the challenge happened when there were 12 chefs, 6 on both teams. Known as the Welcome Home Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen held a surprise welcome back party for Staff Sargent Otis James who returned from a tour of service in Iraq. Otis's wife was with Ramsay and told Robert and Suzanne about what Otis's likes were. The chefs were then asked to create an appetizer, an entrée, and a surf and turf dish. Robert used his knowledge to tell his teammates so they could come up with ideas, while Suzanne used her knowledge to make dishes she already knew. The red team won the appetizer round, but the men won the entrée round. It came down to the surf and turf, and crucially, Robert remembered that Otis like grilled lobster, giving the blue team the win 2-1. The blue team was rewarded with a mock dogfight in real jets while the red team had to decorate the dining room for the following night's service based on Tana Ramsay's instructions.[4]
Season 7[]
In episode 7, the challenge happened when there were 10 chefs, 5 on both teams. Known as the 50th Anniversary Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a 50th wedding anniversary party. The couple asked the chefs to recreate three dishes from their wedding reception. The blue team won the steak round, while the red team won the chicken round. The couples loved both the blue and red teams trout, but Ramsay broke the tie in favor of the red team 2-1. The red team won a dinner at a 50's style restaurant and got to serve the couple, while the blue team had to decorate the dining room for tomorrow's service.[5]
Season 8[]
In episode 5, the challenge happened when there were 11 chefs, 6 on the red team, and 5 on the blue team. Known as the Prom Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a prom for Beverly Hills High School. They were asked to make an appetizer and two main dishes. In one of the few shut outs in the show's history, the red team scored on all three dishes and won the challenge 3-0. They won a day at Knot's Berry Amusement Park, while the blue team had to clean the kitchens, and helped decorate the dining room for tomorrow's service with the prom committee.[6]
Season 9[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened when there were 12 chefs, 6 on both teams. Known as the 20 Year Reunion Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a 20-year reunion for the Culver City High School class of 1991. Paul and Elizabeth were tasked with listening to the reunion committee's demands, with one of the key themes being Hawaiian. The teams were then tasked to make an appetizer, a fish entrée, and a meat entrée. Because of Elizabeth's miscommunication to her team, the blue team won a clean sweep at 3-0. The blue team won a day on a luxury yacht, while the red team decorated for tomorrow's service.[7]
Season 10[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened when there were 13 chefs, 7 on the blue team, and 6 on the red team. Known as the Fashion Show Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a fashion show. Both teams were tasked to make an appetizer, meat entrée, and fish entrée. Both teams had to cook in pairs; though Clemenza, Guy, and Royce cooked as a trio. The red team scored on the appetizer, but the blue team scored on both entree's, giving them the win 2-1. The blue team won a shopping spree in Malibu, while the red team had to assemble the runway.[8]
Season 11[]
In episode 10, the challenge happened when there were 12 chefs, 6 on both teams. Known as the Quinceañera Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a Quinceañera for Brianna and her family. Both teams had 45 minutes to create a tasting menu which consisted of a cold appetizer, a hot appetizer, a pasta dish, a chicken dish, and a steak dish. The blue team scored on the cold appetizer, while the red team scored on the hot appetizer. Then, the blue team scored on the pasta, while the red team scored on both the chicken and steak dishes, giving them the win at 3-2. They went to Knot's Berry Farm for the day while the blue team had to decorate the dining room for the Quinceañera under Josette’s instructions.[9]
Season 12[]
In episode 8, the challenge happened when there were 13 chefs, 7 on the red team, and 6 on the blue team. Known as the 160th Anniversary Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted the 160th anniversary for the Phi Mu Sorority. The chefs were tasked to make a chicken, seafood, and beef entrée. The blue team scored on the chicken, but the red team scored on both the seafood and beef, giving them the win 2-1. The red team won a shopping spree and a meal with Hell's Kitchen 10 Winner Christina Wilson, while the blue team prepped the dining room by the party committee's directions.[10]
Season 13[]
In episode 8, the challenge happened when there were 11 chefs, 6 on the blue team, and 5 on the red team. Known as the Dog Show Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted a dog show for the American Kennel Club. Both teams had to make two appetizers, and three entrées. Since the blue team had an extra member, they chose to remove Sade's dish from being judged as she accidentally made dog food. Both teams scored on one appetizer each, Sterling's Crab Cakes and Fernando's Prawns. While Bryant scored on the first entrée round, Jennifer and Frank's dishes won it for the red team 3-2. The red team won a day at Sea World and dined at the Searsucker Restaurant, while the blue team had to set up the runway for the dog show and bath the dogs.[11]
Season 14[]
In episode 10, the challenge happened when there were 8 chefs, 4 on both teams. Known as the Homecoming Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted Calabasa High School's homecoming dinner with the main theme being Mardi Gras. Both teams had 35 minutes to cook a seafood appetizer, a chicken entrée, and a beef entrée. The blue team scored on the appetizer, but the red team tied it up by scoring the chicken entrée. However, the blue team won scored on the beef entrée and won 2-1. They attended a pirate stage show, while the red team had to help decorate the dining room and make 200 necklaces from scratch.[12]
Season 15[]
In episode 7, the challenge happened when there were 11 chefs, 6 on the red team, and 5 on the blue team. Known as the Chef Andi Wedding Planning Challenge, Ramsay personally had his Sous Chef Andi enjoy her wedding reception in Hell's Kitchen. The chefs were tasked with creating an appetizer, a beef entrée, and a chicken entrée which would be judged by Andi and her husband. Frank from the blue team cooked an extra beef entrée and had the team veto Manda's dish. The blue team scored on the appetizer, but the red team tied it up on the beef entrée. Joe from the blue team managed to score the chicken entrée, giving his team the win 2-1. The blue team won a night in a grand suite of Caesars Palace, while the red team had to decorate the dining room and make macaroons.[13]
Season 16[]
In episode 8, the challenge happened when there were 12 chefs, 6 on both teams. Known as the International Ballroom Planning Challenge, Hell's Kitchen hosted an international ballroom invitation. The chefs were tasked with creating two chicken, two fish, and two beef entrées each. Dance judges Jonathan Roberts and Michelle Johnston came to help Ramsay judge the dishes. Wendy won the chicken entrée for the blue team, but both Kimberly and Ryan won the fish and beef entrées for the red team, giving the red team the win 2-1. The red team went kayaking in Santa Barbara and ate at The Lark, while the blue team prepped a raw bar for the following night's service.[14]
Season 18[]
In episode 8, the challenge happened when there were 10 chefs, 5 on both teams. Known as the Tilly Sweet 16 Planning Challenge, Ramsay invited his daughter Tilly over to Hell’s Kitchen for her Sweet 16. The chefs were asked to create two appetizers and three entrées per team to be reviewed by her, with her favorite dishes being added to the menu. Motto and Jose each scored a point for the red team with their dishes, but Kanae, Mia, Heather, and Ariel each scored for the blue team, giving them a 4-2 victory. The blue team enjoyed a stay at a Malibu mansion complete with a visit from an artisan ice cream truck, while the red team had to prepare a personalized four-layer cake for each guest along with a photo booth for Tilly’s Sweet 16.[15]
Season 20[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened when there were 13 chefs, 7 on the blue team and 6 on the red team. Known as the Megan's 21st Planning Challenge, Ramsay invited his eldest daughter over to Hell’s Kitchen for her 21st birthday. The chefs were asked to create three appetizers and three entrées per team to be reviewed by her, with her favorite dishes being added to the menu. Because the blue team had an extra appetizer, Victoria sat out her pulled pork sliders from judging. The score ended at a three point tie, so Ramsay asked Megan to pick her overall favorite dish as the tiebreaker. She picked Megan's Pad Thai dish, so the blue team won the challenge. They went on a wave riding experience at Planet Hollywood and had lunch at Café Hollywood. The red team had to prepare the dining room.[16]
Season 21[]
In episode 6, the challenge happened when there were 14 chefs, 7 on both teams. Known as the Trenton and Macee Wedding Planning Challenge, Ramsay invited Season 20 winner Trenton and his fiancée Macee over to Hell's Kitchen for their wedding. The chefs were asked to create three appetizers (flatbread, scallops, and shrimp and pasta) and three entrées (beef, fish, and chicken) per team to be reviewed by Trenton and Macee, with their favorite dishes being added to the menu. The blue team scored on the flatbread and scallop appetizers and beef entrée, but the red team scored on the shrimp and pasta appetizer and fish entrée, closing the point gap. Brett from the blue team managed to score on the chicken entrée, giving his team the win 4-2. The blue team were rewarded with a trip to Rage Ground and had lunch at Cara Cara. The red team had to prepare a six-tier Bailey's Irish cream wedding cake.[17]
Trivia[]
- The blue team had won this challenge the most, with wins on 11 different seasons out of 17 it occurred.[1][2][3][4][7][8][12][13][15][16][17]
- Robert (Seasons 5 and 6), Roe (Seasons 13 and 18), and Heather (Seasons 16 and 18) are the only chefs to perform this challenge both times in their two seasons and win in both seasons.[3][4][11][14][15] Robert is also the only chef to date that won both the challenge and service in both of his seasons.
- Since the first time this challenge occurred, Seasons 17, 19, and 22 are the only seasons to date not to have this challenge and that did not have a special event occur.
Gallery[]
.png "Red Team's Wedding Meat Entree (Lame Duck).png (179 KB)")
.png "Sade's Dog Show Entrée (Not Judged).png (527 KB)")
%27s_Dog_Show_Appetizer.png "Aaron (S13)'s Dog Show Appetizer.png (291 KB)")
%27s_Dog_Show_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Roe (S13)'s Dog Show Entrée.png (227 KB)")
%27s_Dog_Show_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Frank (S13)'s Dog Show Entrée.png (230 KB)")
%27s_Dog_Show_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Steve (S13)'s Dog Show Entrée.png (297 KB)")
%27s_Dog_Show_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Jennifer (S13)'s Dog Show Entrée.png (271 KB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Beef_Entr%C3%A9e_(Not_Judged).png "Manda (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Beef Entrée (Not Judged).png (2.06 MB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Seafood_Appetizer.png "Ariel (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Seafood Appetizer.png (1.02 MB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Beef_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Jared (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Beef Entrée.png (650 KB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Beef_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Frank (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Beef Entrée.png (1.52 MB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Chicken_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Ashley (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Chicken Entrée.png (1.39 MB)")
%27s_Chef_Andi%27s_Wedding_Chicken_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Frank (S15)'s Chef Andi's Wedding Chicken Entrée.png (1.37 MB)")
%27s_International_Ballroom_Chicken_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Heather (S16)'s International Ballroom Chicken Entrée.png (1.48 MB)")
%27s_International_Ballroom_Chicken_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Wendy (S16)'s International Ballroom Chicken Entrée.png (1.59 MB)")
%27s_International_Ballroom_Seafood_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Matt (S16)'s International Ballroom Seafood Entrée.png (1.44 MB)")
%27s_International_Ballroom_Beef_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Andrew (S16)'s International Ballroom Beef Entrée.png (1.17 MB)")
%27s_Tilly_16th_Birthday_Appetizer.png "Roe (S18)'s Tilly 16th Birthday Appetizer.png (1.42 MB)")
%27s_Tilly_16th_Birthday_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Trev (S18)'s Tilly 16th Birthday Entrée.png (1.05 MB)")
%27s_Tilly_16th_Birthday_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Heather (S18)'s Tilly 16th Birthday Entrée.png (1.09 MB)")
%27s_Tilly_16th_Birthday_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Bret (S18)'s Tilly 16th Birthday Entrée.png (1.09 MB)")
%27s_Tilly_16th_Birthday_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Ariel (S18)'s Tilly 16th Birthday Entrée.png (1.03 MB)")
.png "Victoria's Megan 21st Birthday Appetizer (Not Judged).png (175 KB)")
%27s_Megan_21st_Birthday_Appetizer.png "Steve (S20)'s Megan 21st Birthday Appetizer.png (1.87 MB)")
%27s_Megan_21st_Birthday_Appetizer.png "Emily (S20)'s Megan 21st Birthday Appetizer.png (1.63 MB)")
%27s_Megan_21st_Birthday_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Kevin (S20)'s Megan 21st Birthday Entrée.png (1.68 MB)")
%27s_Trenton_and_Macee%27s_Wedding_Beef_Entr%C3%A9e.png "Alex (S21)'s Trenton and Macee's Wedding Beef Entrée.png (1.1 MB)")
