I think Stephanie's elimination from 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing finale was unjustified

Chef Stephanie Izard from 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 | Image via Instagram/ @stephanieizard
Chef Stephanie Izard from 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 | Image via Instagram/ @stephanieizard

I was confused by Stephanie Izard's removal from 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2. She showed remarkable culinary skill throughout the competition, constantly producing inventive and delectable dishes. Her exit was even more unexpected because of how well she performed in the last tasks.

Stephanie performed admirably in the penultimate task, finishing second behind Bryan Voltaggio. Her preparation for the finale was highlighted by this impressive performance. She was removed, nevertheless, in spite of this momentum, which, from my perspective, was inconsistent with her prior performance.

Stephanie's exit, in my opinion, was not warranted. She was positioned as a front-runner due to her leadership and constant excellence throughout the competition. In addition to undermining the show's merit-based advancement, removing her at such a crucial point denies fans the opportunity to watch a worthy chef compete in the final round. While many anticipated her to be one of the Top 2, her elimination left many viewers disheartened.


Stephanie Izard's elimination: A misstep in the 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing Season 2 Finale

Stephanie Izard’s removal from the Season 2 finale felt both unexpected and unfair, especially considering her consistent culinary excellence and adaptability throughout the competition. Notably, she defeated LT Smith in the peanut butter and jelly lunch challenge and gained the Golden Knife advantage, which she used to her advantage in later rounds.

The judges had to make a difficult choice in the 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing finale. Finding the second chef to be sent home was challenging, but Nini Nguyen’s elimination seemed more expected to some viewers. The discussion brought to light the fierce rivalry between the candidates, which heightened the controversy surrounding Izard's dismissal. Her departure at this crucial point was surprising, considering how well she played the entire season.

Taking a look at her journey, Izard’s track record was fairly stellar. She performed strongly in both individual and team challenges, always one of the leaders. She distinguishes herself from many of her competitors with her adaptability in the kitchen, as well as her inventive cooking. For example, she finished in the top four in the entrée round on the resourcefulness shift, which spared her from having to cook the dessert course.

Izard's elimination, in my opinion, highlights how erratic culinary contests can be. Even though judging is subjective by nature, it's crucial to take into account a chef's overall performance and development throughout the course of the season. Izard was a great candidate for the position because of her leadership and constant excellence, and her exit seemed premature.

Although the goal of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing is to put chefs through a lot, it's important to make sure that assessments are thorough and represent a contestant's whole journey. The removal of Stephanie Izard serves as a reminder of the difficulties associated with competitive cooking competitions and the need to honor consistent achievement.


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Edited by Tanisha Aggarwal