Next Level Chef Full Cast Tracker: Every Elimination and Team Roster to Date
By James H. Sterling
The journey to the top kitchen began well before the mentors chose their official rosters. The early audition episodes filtered down an expansive pool of twenty-four hopefuls across three distinct culinary disciplines. In past seasons, high-profile hopefuls have buckled under the format's frantic thirty-second platform grab, an environment where seasoned actors like Jake Goldberg failed to survive the Season 4 auditions, while past breakout social media stars like Cassie Yeung carved lasting careers despite placing fourteenth in Season 2.
Season 5 raised the bar on technical precision. The audition phase required cooks to produce an elevated signature plate using standard pantry items before the mentors committed their draft picks. Those who hesitated during the platform descents found themselves stripped of protein options, forced to turn tubers and bitter greens into restaurant-grade appetizers. By the conclusion of the third qualifier, six contestants walked away without an apron, leaving Ramsay, Arrington, and Blais with six draft picks each.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
