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If you haven’t watched yesterday’s episode of Next Level Chef, be sure to stream it next day on Hulu. And below containers spoilers! So read with caution.

Did you see? My first episode of Next Level Chef is officially out in the wild. And what a wild ride it was! Three cooks, three dishes, three rounds of epic emotions, cheers, tears, and more!

And, did you see that GORDON HAS MY COOKBOOK?!

Megan Keno, cast member of Season 4 of FOX's Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay, in pre-draft gray apron.

If I never made it past the auditions episode I would still die a happy girl, because let me say it again – GORDON RAMSAY HAS MY COOKBOOK!

The Basement Kitchen

If you are new to the show, you see that we cooked on all three levels of the Next Level Chef kitchen tower. Each level gets progressively better. The better you cook, the higher you go. The basement kitchen is dingy. The pans look like they have been backed over by a semi truck. The collanders have been melted. Tools aren’t organized, it’s a dumping ground of stuff you need to dig through to find what you need.

And each station only has two burners. TWO. It’s less than ideal. But like any good cook knows, you make the most of what you have available!

Megan Keno speaking with Nyesha Arrington in the basement kitchen on Season 4 of FOX's Next Level Chef

But my dish didn’t turn out half bad! I mean, everything is better with an egg on top, and I think that sealed the deal to get me to the middle kitchen. It was the ONLY fresh thing I could get my hands on! And yes, I am still DEEPLY apologetic to Maryam for ripping the tinned chicken out of her hand. I paid for it the rest of the day with chicken juice literally DRIPPING down my shirt and apron. I smelled like canned chicken the whole day. Sorry, Maryam!

Losing our first home chef, Ruma, really made it hit home that one cook is all it takes to send us packing. It was hard to face that, and then turn around and do it all over again!

The Middle Kitchen

Well, this is your run of the mill commercial kitchen, decent tools, everything you need, and it’s organized. Organization is half the battle. That grab was something else. It felt like the universe really put itself out there for me, because when I saw flank steak and a bottle of whiskey on that platform I knew immediately what I had to make – a riff of my pride and joy Bavette Steak with Whiskey Garlic Cream Sauce. I didn’t quite get everything I needed, but I made due.

And this was the cook that made my brain short circuit. When your idol comes to you to have a causal chat mid-cook, and drops the bomb that he has your cookbook… well, I think I forgot how to form words. And then how to cook. Because I forgot my signature recipe and Chef Ramsay had to help me rescue my own whiskey garlic cream sauce. How embarrassing!

Gordon Ramsay speaking to Megan Keno, and telling her that he has her cookbook Cast Iron Gourmet

But he still has my cookbook. I’m choosing to focus on the high points here.

Do you have a copy of my cookbook? I mean, if Gordon Ramsay has a copy, I feel like you need one, too.

Oh yeah, and then I told him to “Shut up!”, in my best Princess Diaries voice. Still not living that one down with my kids.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to “Papa Nick”, one of the sweetest men I have ever known, and joy to be around.

The Top Kitchen

It is so shiny. Everything up there is top of the line, brightest and best of everything you need. Staub cast iron, Hexclad non stick pans and knives, KitchenAid mixers, Boos cutting boards. Everything is drool worthy. And it is almost intimidating to cook in! I’m a home chef for crying out loud. Talk about imposter syndrome kicking in.

In 30 minutes, I whipped up a PNW feast with salmon, sea beans, and greens. I realized cooking what I know, and cooking it well is going to be my ticket. With six of us left, and everyone occupying their own station, Jimmy (James) Parreira and I got to share a station in the corner of the top kitchen. But let me tell you it was a blast and a half.

Megan Keno cooking salmon on top level kitchen on FOX's Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay
NEXT LEVEL CHEF: Contestant Megan K. in the NEXT LEVEL CHEF episode “Home Chef Auditions” airing Thursday, Feb. 20 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Lorraine O’Sullivan / FOX. ©2025 FOX Media LLC.

Jimmy is one of the kindest, funniest guys, and a hell of a cook. Our resident Top Gun fighter pilot, and spice company owner, Jimmy is making waves with Hangar Bay Spice Co., his own company started to support his love of cooking, and to do good in the Gold Star community, donating proceeds from each sale to causes for good. And since it’s launch I’ve been using it in my own home kitchen and it’s AMAZING! The Tailhook blend has been on regular rotation on my morning avocado toast, and cottage cheese with cherry tomatoes! So damn good!

And yes, Jimmy does know what a potato is. haha We have never let him forget it.

Seeing him leave was a tough one. I valued every moment I had with the home chefs and am so pleased with how my cooking turned out to see my way to draft day next week. Which Next Level Chef team will I end up on? Leave your guesses below!

What does the future hold?

Well, if you watched the show, and read this recap, you know I make it to Draft Day! Let’s just wait and see what team I end up on. You know there is bound to be some tug of war by these judges over making the best teams possible, so be sure to tune in next Thursday to FOX at 8pm to see what team I make!