What It All Boils Down to for Season 2 of 'Next Level Chef,' Including the Winner

Gordon Ramsay returned for a second season of his one-of-a-kind culinary show, Next Level Chef, which runs its competitors through a gauntlet of stages on a set that is three-stories high with each floor containing a stunningly different kitchen.

From the glistening top-floor kitchen with all the bells and whistles a chef could wish for to the challenging minimal kitchen in the basement, and the middle kitchen which falls somewhere in between, the ingredients match the environment, because Gordon believes the true test of great chefs is not only what they can do in the best of circumstances, but what kind of magic they can create in the worst!

Who won Season 2 of Next Level Chef?

San Francisco-based chef Tucker Ricchio was crowned the winner of season 2 of Next Level Chef in a two-hour finale tonight. In addition to winning the title, she was awarded $250,000 and a year-long mentorship with Gordon, Nyesha and Richard.

The runners-up were Pilar Omega from Los Angeles and Chris Spinosa from West Palm Beach, Fla.

When does Next Level Chef season 2 premiere?

Next Level Chef season 2 premiered immediately following Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12, before moving into its regular time period on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.

What network is Next Level Chef season 2 on?

Next Level Chef airs on FOX.

Related: MasterChef Season 12 Returns With an All-Star, Second Chance, Redemption Season—and We Know the Winner!

Who are the mentor chefs on Next Level Chef season 2?

Gordon Ramsay

Renowned for highly successful and award-winning original programming, Emmy-nominated Gordon Ramsay is the only talent on air in the U.S. with six primetime national network shows, all of which are on FOX. He hosts and executive produces Next Level Chef, Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back, and the upcoming Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars.

Related: Get To Know Gordon Ramsey's 5 Kids

Nyseha Arrington

Chef Nyesha J. Arrington is a graduate of the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles. The California native, born into a multicultural family, is best known for her accomplishments as a chef, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and TV personality. She is celebrated for her advocacy of using farm fresh, local and responsibly sourced ingredients, and strives to champion her community and create “food that hugs the soul."

Richard Blais

Richard Blais is a successful chef, restaurateur, James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author and TV personality. Recognized as the first winner of cable cooking series Top Chef All-Stars, Blais is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and trained at The French Laundry, Daniel, Chez Panisse, and el Bulli.

Who are the season 2 Next Level Chef contestants?

TEAM RAMSAY

CASSIE YEUNG
Age: 28
Social Media Chef
Current City and Hometown: South Brunswick, NJ

MARK MCMILLIAN
Age: 52
Home Cook
Current City: Henderson, NV
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

MICHELLE CALCAGNI
Age: 30
Home Cook
Current City: Washington Township, NJ
Hometown: Oradell, NJ

PRESTON NGUYEN
Age: 19
Professional Chef
Current City: Arlington, TX
Hometown: Dallas, TX

TUCKER RICCHIO
Age: 31
Professional Chef
Current City: San Francisco, CA
Hometown: San Jose, CA

VINCENT “VINNY” ALIA
Age: 42
Home Cook
Current City: Westminster, MA
Hometown: Columbia, SC

TEAM ARRINGTON

ALEX MORIZIO
Age: 48
Home Cook
Current City: Miami, FL
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

APRIL CLAYTON
Age: 39
Home Cook
Current City: Muscle Shoals, AL
Hometown: Henderson, TN

NURI MUHAMMAD
Age: 22
Professional Chef
Current City: Upper Marlboro, MD
Hometown: Bowie, MD

OMALLYS “OMI” HOPPER
Age: 39
Social Media Chef
Current City: Providence, RI
Home Country: Rio Grande, PR

PILAR OMEGA
Age: 38
Professional Chef
Current City: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: Detroit, MI

SHAY SPENCE
Age: 32
Social Media Chef
Current City: Key West, FL
Hometown: Austin, TX

TEAM BLAIS

CHRISTOPHER SPINOSA
Age: 29
Professional Chef
Current City: West Palm Beach, FL
Hometown: Long Island, NY

DARRYL TAYLOR
Age: 52
Professional Chef
Current City: Atlanta, GA
Hometown: Memphis, TN

KAMAHLAI STEWART
Age: 41
Home Cook
Current City: Pittsburgh, PA
Hometown: Washington D.C.

MATT GROARK
Age: 44
Social Media Chef
Current City: Medford Lakes, NJ
Hometown: Erial, NJ

MEHREEN KARIM
Age: 27
Home Cook
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
Hometown: Auburn, AL

TINEKE YOUNGER
Age: 20
Social Media Chef
Current City: Evans, GA
Hometown: Frederick, MD

Watch a trailer for Next Level Chef season 2

What is the Next Level Chef prize?

The prize is $250,000, a one-year mentorship from all three mentors and the title of Next Level Chef.

Related: We Have a Winner! Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef Awards Kansas Chef $250,000 Season 1 Prize!

Who won season one of Next Level Chef?

Stephanie “Pyet” Despain

Stephanie “Pyet” Despain from Kansas City, Kansas, walked away with the $250,000 grand prize, a one-year mentorship from all three chef mentors, and the season one title of Next Level Chef. Originally a member of Team Nyesha, Pyet won over the mentors with her menu of pork and sweet potato empanadas, seared striped bass with spiced sweet potato purée and roasted rack of lamb with fingerling potatoes, prosciutto wrapped green beans and a red wine reduction!

Pyet beat out Mariah Scott from Santa Clara, Calif., and Reuel Vincent from Trinidad & Tobago. All three chefs were given 90 minutes to dish up three showstopping courses: an appetizer from the basement kitchen, a fish course from the middle level, and a meat dish from the top kitchen.

How can I audition for Next Level Chef?

If you’re a future Next Level Chef, apply online now at NextLevelChefCasting.com! Season 3 hasn’t been announced yet, but the application site is open.

Next, MasterChef Season 12 Winner Dara Yu on Why Her Age Doesn't Matter and What She Plans to Do Next