So here we meet as we enter the finale. Who is going to get stuck with Lacey? Or Seth? Or Colleen? This is going to be interesting.

So we start with the infamous screen drop. Then both of our finalists proceed to get blato. Danny wanted mounted fish in his fine dining restaurant. Ick! Paula seems to have a real picture where as Danny seems to be a little more unknown.

Paula and Danny then go off to make their menus. Once the menus are done the finalists are off to Atlantic City. But first they get their 2 “helpers” each so that they can work while the finalists are gone. Paula’s help is her mom and sister. Danny’s help is his girlfriend and his father. They then had 5 minutes to communicate their vision. So of course, as soon as the finalists are gone there is an issue. Paula’s side can’t use real candles so her sister oks fakes even though she didn’t want fake. Danny’s girlfriend came over and started changing things a bit. Then they webcamed together with their loved ones.

Then Danny and Paula had to go to a meeting with the Director of Marketing and 500 staff members of the resort. I am guessing it is a challenge that effects the picking of sous chefs. They got to meet the COO of the Borgata. Ramsay handed him their menus and asked him what he would order off them. Once Larry said what he would order Ramsay said they had 45 minutes to make it. Then executive chefs of different restaurants in the resort tasted their food. Paula won the first course. Danny won the second course. Danny’s beef won the 3rd course and thus the competition.

The next morning back in Hell’s Kitchen Ramsay has a row of domes. It is our former cheftestants. It is Andrea, LA, Ben, Lacey, Giovanni, and Carol. Carol was shocked that she was left for the last 2 with, of course, Lacey as last. Andrea, LA and Lacey are Paula’s team. Danny has Ben, Giovanni and Carol.

And this is where we break. See you next week for the conclusion.

We are down to the final 3! I am glad that we are finally rid of Ben. I think Paula is a good bet because she hasn’t been a problem but has been consistently good. But Ramsay has shocked me before. There was a promise of a treat and the preview alluded to people. Having watched all the other seasons I am predicting it is family or loved ones but I have been wrong before (I just don’t think I am now;).

And I was right!!! Not one of them seemed to have a spouse. Danny had a girlfriend but hmm… I guess it does make sense if you are going to be willing to pick you life up and move it. Now I predict that they will cook for them and the family will determine the winner. But that is just a guess.

Next morning and it is challenge time. They have to serve lunch to 100 “distinguished” customers. They each have 90 minutes to cook 100 portions of a lunch dish (tasting portions). Andrea was freaking a bit. The guests were chefs from good restaurants in California, all Zagat rated. I recognized quite a few chefs and restaurant names. Our final 3 looked as if they might wet themselves and I don’t blame them. 76% of the chefs disliked Danny’s dish. Over 76% chose Paula as the best!

Paula is getting the full Hollywood treatment and a surprise to come the next day. The punishment is in 2 parts. They have to clean up the dining room and reset it for the next day. The other part is doing the laundry and starching up everything. Danny is taking this lose really hard. The fun part of Paula’s win is that Jean Phillipe went with her. The other part of Paula’s reward was going to Good Day LA. Then Andrea and Danny got to clean all the screens in the dining room (which conveniently had Good Day LA on it;) and the floors.

Tonight is the final service before the finale so they are all going to take a turn on the pass. Paula seemed petrified as she took the pass. She failed Ramsay’s first test of the wrong puree but she caught Scott’s attempted switch out on the soup. She seemed to recover from her start and did ok. Then is was Danny’s turn. He also seemed to stumble at the very beginning. Danny didn’t catch the order test and he was putting apps on the wrong plates. Danny also didn’t catch the potato problems. He did seem to hit a stride. Andrea stepped up for her turn and didn’t seem to have any problems finding her assertive side. But Andrea didn’t spot the fact that Scott switched out dory with halibut. Then she seemed to go a little to far on the assertiveness. Scott was cussing all ways to Wednesday and it was not going well when he said he was going to punch her in the face. Overall the service was a success. We see such a small snippet of service, we have no idea who has done best on the pass.

Ramsay sent them back to the dorm for each of them to figure out who they think shouldn’t be in the finale. Danny picked Andrea and Andrea picked Danny. Paula picked Andrea. Ramsay picked Paula and Danny for the Finale.

I agree with his choice! I am looking forward to next week’s finale. But if Paula remains consistent I think she will win.