‘Next Level Chef' Season 5: Who Went Home Tonight? (Night 10 Elimination)
This Fourth of July, America will celebrate 250 years of delicious food, so what better challenge for the six remaining chefs on Next Level Chef than to throw a party in honor of America's star-spangled semiquincentennial celebration.
The challenge in the "A Toast to America's 250th" episode is for each chef to craft a showstopping cocktail and an elevated classic appetizer, which will be judged by Gordon Ramsay, Richard Blais and Nyesha Arrington, who reminded the chefs they want to taste the American spirit in the dishes.
After last week's results, Cole and Darian were in the top-level kitchen with Gordon. Gabrielle and Connor were in the middle level with Richard, leaving Christian and Andy in the basement with Nyesha.
But Cole held the Time Token, which she chose to use to add 10 seconds to her grab, rather than take 10 seconds away from one of her competitors. And it paid off.
She said, "I thought long and hard about this all night, but I'm going to keep the 10 seconds for myself. If I out cook everyone, I want it to be on my own merit, not because they felt like they had a leg down."
Here's our spoiler-filled recap of who went home on Next Level Chef tonight.
Who went home on Next Level Chef tonight?
Christian Alquiza, 35
Austin, TX
Social Media Chef
Team Blais
Advancing contestants tonight on Next Level Chef Season 5 Night 7
Andy Allo, 37
Malibu, CA
Social Media Chef
Team Gordon
Cole Lawson, 31
Los Angeles, CA
Professional Chef
Team Gordon
Connor Caine, 30
Manhattan Beach, CA
Professional Chef
Team Nyesha
Darian Bryan, 34
Buffalo, NY
Professional Chef
Team Blais
Gabrielle Coniglio, 34
Palm Beach, FL
Professional Chef
Team Gordon
What was the first challenge on Next Level Chef tonight, and who won it?
The first winning dish of the cocktail and elevated classic appetizer challenge was Connor's lobster pupusa with a corn salsa and a spicy aioli and a strawberrymargarita; the second was the fried chicken lollipops with a spicy peach glaze and an Old-Fashioned cocktail by Cole.
The judges awarded the Time Token to Connor.
What was the elimination challenge on Next Level Chef tonight, and who lost it?
The two dishes that fell into the elimination cookoff were by Christian and Gabrielle. For their cook, each had to create their take on America's favorite dish: a burger with fries, but with an elevated twist in 25 minutes.
The chef that cooked his final dish in the Next Level Kitchen was Christian.
"This by far has been the most exhilarating experience of my life, but I've also learned a lot from you three," Christian said. "To just be recognized as someone who can hold their own means the world. I will never forget this moment. It's embedded in my DNA how I'm growing as a chef. It is one for the books."
Next Level Chef airs Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Streams next day on Hulu.
Related: Here's What Gordon Ramsay's Next Level Chef is Serving Up for Season 5
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 9:00 PM.