When the new group of contestants enters "Hell's Kitchen," ready to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chef position, they're surprised to find a swarm of photographers and reporters surrounding them. After Chef Ramsay gives them each a chance to introduce themselves to the media, he makes a public promise: He officially guarantees that these chefs will complete the season's first dinner service. Some of the chefs look shocked. Will they be able to pull it off?
Chef Ramsay gives all of the contestants 45 minutes to cook their signature dishes for him. It's their first chance to make a good -- or an awful -- impression.
A shy woman is first to present her dish. She admits she has no restaurant experience, but she says that she's a cookbook author. Chef Ramsay doesn't like the looks of her veal scaloppini, however after he tastes it he discovers it's an excellent dish. He's so impressed he gives the woman a hug, then a kiss on the cheek, and then throws the rest of the contestants for a loop when he begins kissing the woman passionately on the lips. Surprise! The woman takes off her wig and glasses and reveals herself as Chef Ramsay's wife, Tana.
Chef Ramsay explains that he's just trying to teach the contestants that even those with little experience can possess great talent and impress him.
With the number of competitors now at an even 16, Chef Ramsay divides them by gender into two groups. The team with the most impressive signature dishes will win the challenge.
First up, it's Maria against Salvatore. Chef Ramsay calls her filet mignon tender and delicious, but he's very disappointed that the Italy-born Salvatore didn't make his own pasta. The point goes to Maria.
Next, Chef Ramsay gives the point to Benjamin's fresh pasta dish after he spits out Holli's concoction. No team wins a point during the third round since Jamie's dish still has a toothpick in it and Chef Ramsay doesn't like Scott's duck.
When it's Mikey and Siobhan's turn, Chef Ramsay can't help but comment on Mikey's wild mohawk and multiple tattoos. Then Mikey reveals he actually has "Hell's Kitchen" tattooed across his torso. But it's cooking, not tattoos Chef Ramsay really cares about, and both Mikey's brie stuffed with lobster and Siobhan's seared tuna are good enough to earn a point.
The guys win the next few rounds before the ladies get another point when Autumn not only beats out Ed but also wins a coveted compliment when Chef Ramsay says her dish "is good enough to go to heaven for."
The men are winning by one point as the challenge goes into its final round. Contestant Andrew brings Chef Ramsay a steak tartar and explains he loves raw meat since he's slaughtered animals himself. Chef Ramsay finds him a bit creepy and declares the steak tartar to be bland. Meanwhile, Nilka's wings are so hot he's got to rinse his mouth out with water. No one gets a point, which means the guys win the challenge, four points to three.
Finally, Chef Ramsay gives them the news they've been waiting for: The person who wins this season's competition will be rewarded with a head chef position at one of Chef Ramsay's restaurants at the Savoy Hotel in London.
As the contestants study recipes in the dorms that evening, they hear a fire alarm, which leads them to a TV showing Chef Ramsay giving a lesson on how to make lobster risotto. The alarm continues to ring throughout the night, and each time the TV presents Chef Ramsay giving another helpful demonstration.
Early next morning, the women, who now make up the Red Team, learn their punishment: They must cook the guys on the Blue Team breakfast in bed. Sorry, ladies!
Later, as the teams prepare for the big dinner service, the ladies struggle with opening night jitters and Scott attempts to prove himself by leading the team. To take some of the pressure off both teams, Chef Ramsay has assigned Jay from the Blue Team and Nilka from the Red Team to prepare Caesar salads table-side.
After the doors open, things quickly fall apart for Stacey on appetizers when she forgets to season the scallops with curry powder. She overcompensates and ends up seasoning them too much and undercooking them, which leads to a scolding from Chef Ramsay and a lesson in cooking scallops from teammate Siobhan.
Over in the blue kitchen, Salvatore has more trouble with pasta when he burns two capellini appetizers. Then Chef Ramsay catches Benjamin putting the spoon he used to taste his food back in the pan. After Fran accidentally puts crab in the lobster risotto and Maria laughs about the situation, Chef Ramsay kicks Fran, Maria, and Jamie out of the kitchen.
Autumn admits that the Red Team works better without those three teammates, and an hour and a half in, the ladies have their entrees out, while the Blue Team hasn't finished appetizer service.
Chef Ramsay loses his cool after Benjamin makes yet another mistake by putting food in a cold pan. He eventually ends up sending Benjamin, Salvatore, Mikey, and Stacey back to the dorms too.
With just four chefs left in the red kitchen and five in the blue kitchen, Chef Ramsay implores the nine remaining chefs to work together. They do, and despite the many stumbles, Chef Ramsay indeed keeps his promise of completing the dinner service.
Still, he's unhappy with the night's overall performance and despite not being impressed by either team, he declares the Red Team the losers and asks them to nominate two members for elimination.
After some debate up in the dorms, the women decide to nominate Fran and Stacey. Chef tells Stacey to leave "Hell's Kitchen" and says it's a good thing she's a private chef since her food wasn't good enough for the public.
