Episode | #2.1next Level Chef : Season 2 Episode 1

This season departed from the inaugural season's "draft" format. Instead, the 18 chefs were by mentors Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais before the premiere.

: The grand prize remained a $250,000 cash reward and a one-year mentorship from all three world-class chefs. The Teams and Starting Kitchens Episode #2.1Next Level Chef : Season 2 Episode 1

New competitive elements were introduced to heighten the stakes: This season departed from the inaugural season's "draft"

The mentors were assigned to their starting kitchens by a random draw, which determined the difficulty of their first challenge: The Teams and Starting Kitchens New competitive elements

: A new strategic element allowing chefs to gain or take away time during challenges.

: The chef who cooked the best dish on each team received an immunity pin. This pin could be surrendered later in the season to avoid a head-to-head elimination challenge.

The premiere of Next Level Chef Season 2, titled "," originally aired on February 12, 2023 , immediately following Super Bowl LVII. The episode introduced 18 contestants divided into three categories: professional chefs, home cooks, and social media chefs. Episode Overview and Format Changes