24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 Episode 4 and 5 recap: Damaris and Elia leave the show after artistry and adaptability based challenges

Food Network's high-stakes cooking marathon 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing returned Sunday night with a double serving of culinary drama. Episodes 4 and 5 pushed contestants to their limits with themes of "Artistry" and "Adaptability," ultimately sending home two fan favorites.

Hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi first challenged chefs to create visually stunning plates judged solely on appearance, followed by dishes inspired by famous paintings.

Later, competitors transformed breakroom snacks into desserts before facing a clever bait-and-switch: shopping for breakfast ingredients only to prepare gourmet dinners instead. The night's biggest twist? A mid-cooking power outage left chefs scrambling without gas stoves.

By evening's end, Damaris Phillips and Elia Ambourad packed their knives - though Elia didn't go quietly, stating she "blatantly" disagreed with guest judge Brooke Williamson's critique of her final dish. The episodes concluded with a surprise team formation setting up next week's four-versus-four battle.

What happened during Episodes 4 and 5 of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing?

The "Artistry" episode began with a unique 10-minute sprint where taste took a backseat to presentation. Chefs created edible masterpieces evaluated purely on visual appeal, with Elia Ambourad claiming the first $2,400 prize for her Frida Kahlo-inspired creation.

Things got more complex when each chef received a famous painting as inspiration for their next dish. As the Golden Knife holder, Ambourad assigned the artworks, choosing Monet for herself while distributing the others "kind of at random" without strategic sabotage.

Despite entering the challenge with a five-minute penalty, Jonathon Sawyer earned top honors with an impressive 90-point dish, becoming the new Golden Knife holder in this episode of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing.

At the bottom, Phillips' interpretation of "Girl With the Pearl Earring" failed to impress guest judge Fariyal Abdullahi, who serves as executive chef at Marcus Samuelsson's Hav & Mar restaurant.

Phillips exited with a score of 78, just one point below Kathleen O'Brien-Price's 79.

The "Adaptability" episode of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing first tested chefs' dessert skills using only breakroom snacks and basic pantry staples. Bryan Voltaggio emerged victorious, earning immunity from elimination and a relaxing break while others continued competing.

As the new Golden Knife holder, Voltaggio strategically selected three competitors to join him in the breakroom: Sawyer, O'Brien-Price, and Kelsey Murphy, those he perceived as "three of the weaker chefs."

The remaining five contestants faced this season of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing's most devious challenge yet. After a frantic two-minute shopping spree for "lumberjack breakfast" ingredients, host Symon revealed they'd actually need to prepare "a five-star entree" instead. Several chefs appeared "on the verge of tears" at the announcement.

Just when contestants thought they had regrouped, Symon turned off the gas backstage, forcing them to adapt again. This unexpected hurdle tested their resourcefulness under pressure.

Gabe Bertaccini navigated the obstacles most successfully, taking home $2,400 for his winning dish. Meanwhile, Ambourad's creation fell flat with guest judge Williamson, resulting in her elimination.

Ambourad's departure came with visible frustration. In her exit interview, she made her disagreement with Williamson’s judgment very clear.

What to expect next from 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing?

The episode ended with an intriguing setup for next week. Voltaggio's earlier choice of breakroom companions wasn't just a break – it formed his team for an upcoming four-versus-four battle.

The remaining eight contestants – Bertaccini, Stephanie Izard, Kevin Lee, Murphy, Nini Nguyen, O'Brien-Price, Sawyer, and Voltaggio – now face a new competitive format that will test both individual skill and teamwork.

As "24 in 24" approaches its halfway point, the pressure continues mounting for these culinary stars. With unpredictable challenges and sudden twists becoming the norm, adaptability might prove the most essential ingredient of all.

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You can watch 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network, with episodes available to stream the next day on Max.

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