It’s a clash of culinary identities on Hell’s Kitchen this week, as the chefs are tasked with blending two distinct state delicacies into one harmonious dish. Later, both teams must come together for a high-pressure dinner service packed with VIP guests — including a rowdy bachelor party and legendary UConn basketball stars. But with too many cooks in the kitchen, egos flare and tempers boil over in the all-new “A State of Confusion” episode, airing Thursday, Oct. 23 on Fox.
Here are the contestants competing and the state each represents in Hell’s Kitchen: Battle of the States.
| Blue Team | State | Red Team | State |
| Anthony | Iowa | Alexandra | Oregon |
| Antonio | New Hampshire | Anaiya | Delaware |
| Bradley | Louisiana | Cara Marie | Rhode Island |
| Cydni | North Carolina | ||
| Chris | New Jersey | ||
| Henry | Texas | Ellie | Nevada |
| Jayden | Massachussetts | Jada | Florida |
| Jon | Georgia | Lisa | California |
The Challenge
As the chefs line up for their next challenge, a choir in the dining room performs “America the Beautiful.” Gordon Ramsay announces that they’ll be celebrating the nation’s “melting pot” by blending ingredients from different states. In this state-fusion challenge, the chefs will choose their own opponents — and then take turns selecting mystery ingredients from Gordon’s “playlist.”
Antonio vs. Anaiya: Alaskan Salmon and Idaho Potatoes
Result: Tie
Alexandra vs. Henry: Wyoming Bison and Wisconsin Cheese
Result: Tie
Cara Marie vs. Anthony: Maine Lobster and Washington Apples
Result: Anthony wins
Lisa vs. Chris: Alabama Quail and Minnesota Morels
Result: Lisa wins
Jada vs. Bradley: Hawaiian Mahi-Mahi and Georgia Peaches
Result: Tie
Ellie vs. Jayden: Colorado Lamb and California Almonds
Result: Ellie wins
Note: During the rush to the service counter, Jayden dropped his plate, sending his dish splattering across the floor. Gordon noted that the lamb was undercooked anyway — suggesting the outcome likely would have been the same regardless.
By a close score of 6-5, the Red Team takes the win. Their reward: an afternoon of ATV riding, while the Blue Team stays behind to make curry paste by hand.
Dinner service
Dinner service gets off to a rocky start when Alexandra botches the polenta not once, but twice — before guests have even arrived. Frustrated, Cydni decides to hoard the remaining ingredients at the garnish station to avoid taking the blame for Alexandra’s mistakes.
Guests finally arrive — including an eight-person bachelor party split between the Red and Blue teams, each serving half the table simultaneously. In the Blue kitchen, tensions rise as the team grows frustrated with Anthony’s lack of communication. He isn’t calling out times and seems to be ignoring basic cues.
Over in the Red kitchen, Alexandra’s rough night continues as she sends out burnt flatbreads. After correcting the mistake, diners finally begin to eat, and it’s time for both teams to coordinate service for the eight-top bachelor party. The Blue team quickly sends out their appetizers, but Alexandra’s troubles persist when Gordon sends back her risotto — too much garlic!
Once the Red team delivers their appetizers, Gordon moves on to entrees and challenges the Blue team’s Bradley to step up and show his potential. But under pressure, Bradley quickly crumbles, forcing Gordon to call another team meeting. “Think about what the fuck you’re doing!” he yells. “I’m depending on you, but you’re not even in the game!”
Soon, the nerves start to spread. Jon admits he doesn’t “understand our timing” and freezes when asked how much longer his rack of lamb will take, while Bradley continues to struggle on the garnish station. Over on the Red team, Anaiya and Ellie are crushing it at the meat station — even though, as Cydni notes, “they don’t like each other.”
Eventually, dinner service wraps up with neither team kicked out of the kitchen, though Gordon isn’t exactly impressed with the results. He declares the Red team the winner “hands down” and orders the Blue team to nominate two chefs for elimination.
Elimination
The Blue team nominates Bradley and Anthony for elimination. When Gordon asks if anyone else was considered, they admit Jayden was also an option — prompting all three men to step forward. After each pleads his case to stay, Gordon makes his decision: it’s time to send Bradley back to Louisiana. “After another poor performance from the chef from the bayou,” Gordon says, “the only thing left to say to Bradley is, goodbye-you.”
Next week
Will the comments of a tough judge throw the chefs off their game? Will anyone be able to bounce back at dinner? Or will things go from bad to worse — for everyone? It’s a mind-boggling episode that will
