Next Level Chef contestant Ryan Scanlon, who first discovered his passion for cooking as a teenager at Alchemy in Edgartown, was eliminated from the reality cooking show on Thursday, but got commendations from the judges.

The Vineyard-raised chef cooked his way to the final six on Gordon Ramsay’s hit competition produced by FOX. He was competing in the professional category and vying for the $250,000 prize that comes with a year-long mentorship. 

After preparing a filet mignon, with the bone still in, the judges determined it was overcooked. Mr. Scanlon said on the show that steaks are his expertise, but his comfortability with the filet was ultimately what hurt him.

“It’s just me getting in my own way which is crushing me,” Mr. Scanlon said before he headed into the elimination round. 

Mr. Scanlon proceeded into a 25-minute cookoff against competitor Megan Keno. The challenge was to cook an entire fish, something ingrained in Mr. Scanlon, who as a teenager cooked many fish caught in Vineyard’s waters. 

In the final two minutes, Mr. Scanlon accidentally ripped the tail off a sea bream he was searing in a pan with garlic, fresh parsley, lemon and rosemary. 

“I’ve never done that in any restaurant or even at home with friends and family,” Mr. Scanlon said on the show.

While the judges thought the fish was cooked well, the broken tail and use of rosemary ultimately cost him his spot on the show. 

Mr. Ramsay then told Mr. Scanlon that he would put him in touch with his restaurants in Boston to open a door for the young talent.

“I’d love to get you in for a start so we can actually continue this journey and literally work together and see what’s on the horizon,” Mr. Ramsay said. “Our young chef with a young family, I’m going to help you after this competition to get where you want to go.”

Mr. Scanlon’s girlfriend, Angelia Childers, gave birth to their baby Stasia just two weeks before he headed to Ireland to film the show. He said his family was his main inspiration during the competition.

Mr. Ramsay, who picked Mr. Scanlon for his team at the start of the competition, said his future is bright.

“You may not be a Next Level Chef, but at 22-years of age you have this heart of gold that is destined for success,” Mr. Ramsey said. 

Speaking through tears, Mr. Scanlon thanked his mentor.

“It means the world, it really does,” he said. “I’m not going to let you down.”