⁠Who won Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out?

Chef Kelvin Fernandez captured the championship title in the Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out finale, earning $8,250 after weathering intense sabotage battles. The July 8, 2025 episode titled 'Sabotage at Sea' concluded the spin-off season with maritime-themed challenges that pushed contestants to their limits.

Four chefs: Kelvin, Lana, Brit, and Julia faced brutal obstacles in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out including cooking with single vessels, navigating unlabeled pantries, and working in exile kitchens.

The competition's signature auction format allowed contestants to spend their initial budgets sabotaging rivals or securing advantages. Kelvin made aggressive financial moves throughout both rounds, spending significant sums to control ingredients and handicap competitors. His strategy backfired when he ended up banished to the restrictive lifeboat kitchen during the final challenge.

However, his philosophy of "no problems, only solutions" guided him through the adversity. Working with limited equipment, he crafted seared scallops with creamy crab rice and lime brown butter sauce. Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out judge Jet Tila praised the dish's luxury feel and proper execution, while host Brian Malarkey declared Fernandez the season champion. The finale episode streams on HBO Max.

What happened in the Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out finale?

The opening round in this episode of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out demanded refined Italian cuisine using only one cooking vessel. Contestants struggled with an unlabeled pantry that made it nearly impossible to identify ingredients.

Lana dominated this phase with her risotto. Judge Jet Tila commended her dish for capturing authentic Italian flavors, though he noted it "really sank." Her victory earned a $1,000 bonus prize.

Brit faced elimination after presenting ramen bolognese. Tila's critique was harsh but fair:

"The ramen noodles just took me straight to my childhood, which was not in Italy."

He called her creation the least Italian dish of the round. Kelvin barely survived the challenge, and it was a miracle to him that he progressed to the next round.

"I just want to cook with equipment," he said.

His narrow advancement set up a three-chef finale between Kelvin, Julia, and Lana. The championship round required an elevated entrée worthy of a captain's table. Kelvin immediately went on the offensive with his auction strategy. He spent $4,000 early to steal Julia's premium seafood.

"I'm going to take the lobster and the shrimp 'cause it sounds more luxurious," he declared.

With $23,750 remaining in his budget, Kelvin made another bold move. He bid $11,000 to exile Lana to the restrictive lifeboat kitchen, hoping to cripple her chances.The strategy seemed sound until Julia turned the tables. She forced Kelvin to switch stations with Lana, sending him to the very exile kitchen he had paid to create.

Kelvin's frustration was evident. He had spent significant money only to end up in the handicapped workspace himself. Working with the S.S. Malarkey's limited facilities, Kelvin had to rethink his entire approach. Time constraints and equipment shortages demanded quick decisions.

He decided to keep the scallops, reasoning that they cook fast. Speed became his primary concern in the cramped quarters. He gathered butter, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese to complement rice as his base. The combination promised both flavor and efficiency under pressure.

His final creation featured perfectly seared scallops atop creamy crab rice, finished with lime brown butter sauce. The dish balanced luxury ingredients with practical execution.

How did Kelvin persevere and win?

Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out judge Jet Tila's evaluation focused on technical execution and overall impact. He praised the scallop preparation and highlighted the dish's luxurious character.

"There is enough crab in the rice that this makes this feel like a very luxury dish," Tila observed.

The combination of proper technique and premium ingredients impressed the judge despite the challenging cooking conditions. Brian Malarkey announced Fernandez as the Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out season winner, awarding him the $8,250 prize. The victory validated Kelvin's resilient approach to competition.

Fernandez's triumph on Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out demonstrates that adaptability matters more than initial advantages in high-pressure competitions. His expensive sabotage moves backfired, yet he still emerged victorious.

His motto of "no problems, only solutions" guided him through unexpected setbacks, proving more valuable than any auction purchase.The finale showcased how quickly fortunes can change in sabotage-based competitions. Success requires both strategic thinking and the ability to execute under any circumstances.

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Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out premieres Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network, with new episodes available to stream the next day on Max