Next Level Chef
Season 2
Promotional poster for season 2, featuring host Ramsay
Starring
Hosted byGordon Ramsay
No. of contestants18
WinnerTucker Ricchio
Runners-up
  • Pilar Omega
  • Christopher Spinosa
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes15
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseFebruary 12 (2023-02-12) –
May 11, 2023 (2023-05-11)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3

The second season of the American competitive reality television series Next Level Chef premiered on Fox on February 12, 2023, as the Super Bowl LVII lead-out program, and concluded on May 11, 2023. Gordon Ramsay returned to host the season and served as a mentor, along with returning mentors Nyesha Arrington and Richard Blais.

The season was won by professional chef Tucker Ricchio, with professional chef Pilar Omega and professional chef Christopher Spinosa finishing as co-runner-ups.

Production

On March 2, 2022, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season, prior to the airing of the first season's finale on the same day.[1] On May 16, 2022, it was announced that the season would premiere on February 12, 2023,[2][3] before moving to its regular timeslot on February 16, 2023.[4]

Chefs

Contestant[5] Age[5] Status[5] Hometown/Home Country[5] Result
Kamahlai Stewart 41 Home cook Washington D.C. Eliminated February 12
Alex Morizio 48 Home cook Brooklyn, New York Eliminated February 16
Darryl Taylor 52 Professional chef Memphis, Tennessee Eliminated February 23
Mark McMillian 52 Home cook Los Angeles, California Eliminated March 2
Cassie Yeung 28 Social media chef South Brunswick, New Jersey Eliminated March 9
April Clayton 39 Home cook Henderson, Tennessee Eliminated March 16
Matt Groark 44 Social media chef Erial, New Jersey Eliminated March 23
Preston Nguyen 19 Professional chef Dallas, Texas Eliminated March 30
Vincent "Vinny" Alia 42 Home cook Columbia, South Carolina Eliminated April 6
Shay Spence 32 Social media chef Austin, Texas Eliminated April 13
Tineke "Tini" Younger 20 Social media chef Frederick, Maryland Eliminated April 20
Michelle Calcagni 30 Home cook Oradell, New Jersey Eliminated April 27
Mehreen Karim 27 Home cook Auburn, Alabama Eliminated May 4
Nuri Muhammad 22 Professional chef Bowie, Maryland Eliminated May 11
Omallys "Omi" Hopper 39 Social media chef Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Christopher "Chris" Spinosa 29 Professional chef Long Island, New York Runner-ups May 11
Pilar Omega 38 Professional chef Detroit, Michigan
Tucker Ricchio 31 Professional chef San Jose, California Winner May 11

Elimination table

Place Contestant Episodes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 Tucker RAM WIN†* SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE WIN WIN WIN RISK SAFE WIN WIN WINNER
2 Chris BLAIS SAFE WIN SAFE RISK WIN RISK SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE RISK RUNNER-UP
Pilar ARR SAFE SAFE WIN WIN† SAFE SAFE WIN RISK SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE RISK WIN RUNNER-UP
4 Nuri ARR SAFE* SAFE WIN† WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE WIN RISK RISK RISK SAFE ELIM
Omi ARR SAFE SAFE WIN WIN SAFE SAFE WIN† WIN WIN RISK SAFE WIN RISK ELIM
6 Mehreen BLAIS SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE WIN† SAFE SAFE SAFE RISK SAFE WIN RISK ELIM
7 Michelle RAM WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE WIN ELIM
8 Tini BLAIS SAFE WIN† SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE RISK SAFE ELIM
9 Shay ARR SAFE SAFE WIN WIN RISK SAFE WIN SAFE WIN ELIM
10 Vinny RAM WIN SAFE RISK SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE RISK ELIM
11 Preston RAM WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN† RISK ELIM
12 Matt BLAIS SAFE* WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE ELIM
13 April ARR RISK SAFE WIN WIN SAFE ELIM
14 Cassie RAM WIN RISK SAFE SAFE ELIM
15 Mark RAM WIN SAFE SAFE ELIM
16 Darryl BLAIS SAFE WIN ELIM
17 Alex ARR SAFE ELIM
18 Kamahlai BLAIS ELIM

†The contestant cooked the best dish overall and won safety for their team or themselves.

*The contestant cooked the best dish on their team and was selected by their mentor to win an immunity pin.

  The contestant was on the winning team or had the winning dish.
  The contestant was not on the winning team nor had the winning dish, but was not chosen for the head-to-head cook-off.
  The contestant was safe due to using their immunity pin and did not compete in the head-to-head cook-off.
  The contestant was at risk of elimination and won the head-to-head cook-off.
  The contestant was drafted to Gordon Ramsay's team.
  The contestant was drafted to Nyesha Arrington's team.
  The contestant was drafted to Richard Blais' team.
  The contestant was eliminated from the competition.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [6][7]Original air date [6][7]Prod.
code [6]		U.S. viewers
(millions)
121"A Next Level Welcome"February 12, 2023 (2023-02-12)NLC-20115.66[8]
132"Party Like a Guac Star"February 16, 2023 (2023-02-16)NLC-2021.93[9]
143"No Pain, No Grain"February 23, 2023 (2023-02-23)NLC-2032.08[10]
154"Rice Guys Finish Last"March 2, 2023 (2023-03-02)NLC-2042.02[11]
165"Game Time"March 9, 2023 (2023-03-09)NLC-2051.80[12]
176"Sugar and Tea and Rum"March 16, 2023 (2023-03-16)NLC-2061.97[13]
187"Here Fishy, Fishy"March 23, 2023 (2023-03-23)NLC-2072.00[14]
198"Going Global"March 30, 2023 (2023-03-30)NLC-2081.80[15]
209"Happy Hour"April 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)NLC-2091.98[16]
2110"That's What Cheese Said"April 13, 2023 (2023-04-13)NLC-2101.75[17]
2211"Fry Me a River"April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20)NLC-2111.90[18]
2312"Bake It 'til You Make It"April 27, 2023 (2023-04-27)NLC-2121.76[19]
2413"Surf and Turf"May 4, 2023 (2023-05-04)NLC-2131.81[20]
2514"Made in America"May 11, 2023 (2023-05-11)NLC-2141.85[21]
2615"Next Level Finale"May 11, 2023 (2023-05-11)NLC-2151.65[21]

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Next Level Chef
No. Title Air date Timeslot (ET) Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref.
1 "A Next Level Welcome" February 12, 2023 Sunday 10:37 p.m. 5.0/38 15.66 TBD TBD TBD TBD [8]
2 "Party Like a Guac Star" February 16, 2023 Thursday 8:00 p.m. 0.4/3 1.93 TBD TBD TBD TBD [9]
3 "No Pain, No Grain" February 23, 2023 0.4/4 2.08 TBD TBD TBD TBD [10]
4 "Rice Guys Finish Last" March 2, 2023 0.4/4 2.02 TBD TBD TBD TBD [11]
5 "Game Time" March 9, 2023 0.4/3 1.80 TBD TBD TBD TBD [12]
6 "Sugar and Tea and Rum" March 16, 2023 0.4/3 1.97 TBD TBD TBD TBD [13]
7 "Here Fishy, Fishy" March 23, 2023 0.5/4 2.00 TBD TBD TBD TBD [14]
8 "Going Global" March 30, 2023 0.4/4 1.80 TBD TBD TBD TBD [15]
9 "Happy Hour" April 6, 2023 0.5/5 1.98 TBD TBD TBD TBD [16]
10 "That's What Cheese Said" April 13, 2023 0.4/4 1.75 TBD TBD TBD TBD [17]
11 "Fry Me a River" April 20, 2023 0.4/4 1.90 TBD TBD TBD TBD [18]
12 "Bake It 'til You Make It" April 27, 2023 0.4/3 1.76 TBD TBD TBD TBD [19]
13 "Surf and Turf" May 4, 2023 0.4/4 1.81 TBD TBD TBD TBD [20]
14 "Made In America" May 11, 2023 0.4/4 1.85 TBD TBD TBD TBD [21]
15 "Next Level Finale" May 11, 2023 Thursday 9:00 p.m. 0.3/3 1.65 TBD TBD TBD TBD [21]

References

  1. ^ Rick Porter (March 2, 2022). "Fox Serves Up Next Level Chef Renewal for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "FOX Entertainment Bolsters 2022-23 Program Slate Across Network and Streaming with New Comedies, Dramas, Unscripted Series and Made-for-Platform Movies" (Press release). Fox. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.
  3. ^ Lynette Rice (May 16, 2022). "Fox Orders New Gordon Ramsay Competition Show Food Stars; Season 2 Of Next Level Chef Premiering After Super Bowl LVII". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "FOX Announces Premiere Dates for New and Returning Series to Launch Winter 2023" (Press release). Fox. November 7, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Epic Culinary Gauntlet Next Level Chef Announces the All-New Season Two Contestants" (Press release). Fox. January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
  6. ^ a b c "Next Level Chef Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
  7. ^ a b "Next Level Chef Season 2 Episode Guide". Zap2it.
  8. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (February 14, 2023). "Sunday 2.12.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (February 17, 2023). "Thursday 2.16.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Mitch Salem (February 24, 2023). "Thursday 2.23.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (March 3, 2023). "Thursday 3.2.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Mitch Salem (March 10, 2023). "Thursday 3.9.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (March 17, 2023). "Thursday 3.16.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Mitch Salem (March 24, 2023). "Thursday 3.23.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (March 31, 2023). "Thursday 3.30.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (April 7, 2023). "Thursday 4.6.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Mitch Salem (April 14, 2023). "Thursday 4.13.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (April 21, 2023). "Thursday 4.20.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Mitch Salem (April 28, 2023). "Thursday 4.27.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Mitch Metcalf (May 5, 2023). "Thursday 5.4.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d Mitch Salem (May 12, 2023). "Thursday 5.11.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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