Kelvin Fernandez wins $8,250 on Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out finale after sabotage showdown

Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out aired its finale episode titled “Sabotage at Sea” on July 8, 2025, wrapping up the intense spin-off season with a high-stakes challenge.

Chef Kelvin Fernandez emerged as the winner after competing in back-to-back sabotage-filled rounds, ultimately securing a cash prize of $8,250.

The episode featured chefs Kelvin, Lana, Brit, and Julia navigating through unpredictable twists, mid-cook chaos, and last-minute bidding wars.

The finale required the chefs to stay composed while dealing with handicaps such as cooking with one pot, swapping kitchens, and being exiled to a lifeboat kitchen.

Despite starting with $23,750 in his bank, Kelvin made bold moves during auctions to gain control and weaken competitors, a strategy that both helped and hurt him.

After completing his final dish in challenging conditions, Kelvin said that he was proud of his dish in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out. He also summed up his approach throughout the competition by saying,

“No problems, only solutions.”

Judge Jet Tila praised his final plate for its balance and proper execution, and host Brian Malarkey declared Kelvin the winner. The episode is available to stream on HBO Max.

Italian round pushes Kelvin to the edge in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out

 

 

 

 

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Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out finale kicked off with the chefs tasked to create a refined Italian dish using only one cooking vessel and an unlabeled pantry. Kelvin, Lana, Brit, and Julia faced immediate obstacles in identifying ingredients and adjusting cooking methods.

Jet Tila judged the round and praised Lana’s risotto for reflecting Italian flavors, noting that her dish “really sank.” She earned a $1,000 bonus for her top performance.

Brit was eliminated after presenting a ramen bolognese. Jet commented,

“The ramen noodles just took me straight to my childhood, which was not in Italy,” calling it the least Italian of the bunch.

This left Kelvin, Julia, and Lana to move ahead. Kelvin admitted,

“I barely made it to round two. I just want to cook with equipment,” highlighting the difficulty of the round.

However, he advanced with a narrow margin, determined to take control in the next phase.

Lifeboat sabotage and final dish secure Kelvin's win in Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out

In the last round of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, the chefs had to prepare an elevated entrée suitable for a captain’s table. Kelvin spent $4,000 early in the round to steal Julia’s lobster and shrimp, saying,

“I’m going to take the lobster and the shrimp ‘cause it sounds more luxurious.”

With $23,750 in his bank, he later bid $11,000 to exile Lana to the lifeboat kitchen, aiming to weaken her chances.

However, a later sabotage turned things around when Julia forced Kelvin to switch stations with Lana, sending him to the Exile Kitchen aboard the S.S. Malarkey.

Frustrated, Kelvin remarked on the irony of spending “all that money” and still ending up in the handicapped kitchen.

Despite limited tools and time, he focused on speed and flavor. “I’m keeping the scallops because they cook fast,” he said.

He grabbed butter, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese to pair with rice. His final plate featured seared scallops with creamy crab rice and a lime brown butter sauce.

Jet Tila highlighted the scallop and praised the dish’s overall composition:

“There is enough crab in the rice that this makes this feel like a very luxury dish. Rice is cooked properly.”

Brian Malarkey then announced Kelvin as the winner, awarding him $8,250 in prize money.

Stay tuned for more updates.