The 12 contestants are introduced.



Guest Judge: Hubert Keller.



QuickFire Challenge: Survive 30 Minutes on the Line under the Critical Eye of Hubert Keller in His Restaurant Fleur de Lys.



Elimination Challenge: Cook Signature Dish.



Round One

It's all about presentation in Round Two. The contestants' creativity is challenged in the QuickFire, and then the chefs must come up with some very interesting desserts in the Elimination Challenge that takes place at a sex shop.



Guest Judge: Elizabeth Falkner



QuickFire Challenge: Fruit Plate Presentation.



Elimination Challenge: Sexy Dessert Presentation.



Round Two

Making a visually repellent food look enticing is the theme for the round. Up first is octopus, and then the chefs are challenged to make the monstrous appearing monkfish appetizing to children.



Guest Judge: Laurent Manrique.



QuickFire Challenge: Take Disgusting to Delicious.



Elimination Challenge: Fish for Fussy Eaters.



Round Three

The remaining contestants must prove their versatility and ability to think on their feet in these challenges that involve quicki-mart food and keeping the integrity of their food while reheating it with a microwave.



Guest Judge: Jefferson Hill.



QuickFire Challenge: Create a Dish Using Ingredients from a Specialty Market.



Elimination Challenge: Create a Gourmet Entrée That Can be Reheated in a Microwave.



Round Four

Fusion is the theme of this round. First the contestants learn the importance of vision to the sense of taste, and then they are paired to create and sell street food that fuses Latin flavors with other cultural cuisines from the Bay Area.



Guest Judge: Mike Yakura.



QuickFire Challenge: Blindfold Taste Test.



Elimination Challenge: Create Fusion Street Food.



Round Five

Ted Allen of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy helps to create the pressure – both time and budget – that is woven throughout this round's challenges, and a last-minute surprise throws everyone into disarray.



Guest Judge: Ted Allen.



QuickFire Challenge: Three Dollar Appetizer.



Elimination Challenge: Cater a Dinner Party for Ted Allen.



Round Six

Competition for a spot on a restaurant menu transitions to competition between two faux restaurants created by the remaining six contestants, where the big prize is a chance to go to the Cannes Film Festival.



Guest Judge: Jeffrey Chodorow.



QuickFire Challenge: Craft an Original Sandwich in 30 Minutes.



Elimination Challenge: Create a New Restaurant Concept.



Round Seven.

The five remaining contestants compete in interconnected challenges that concern a Commitment Ceremony reception.



Guest Judge: Marcy Blum.



QuickFire Challenge: Design a Wedding Reception Menu, Sketch a Wedding Cake and Create a Sample Cold Prawn Canap in 90 Minutes.



Elimination Challenge: Cater a Wedding Reception in Less than 16 Hours.



Round Eight.

The four remaining contestants cook for some of Napa Valley's most respected chefs using dream ingredients, but not before they try to elevate common junk foods to uncommon gastric delights.



Guest Judge: See notes section.



QuickFire Challenge: Reinvent a Junk Food Classic.



Elimination Challenge: Create a Truffle Dish for Fine Wine.



Round Nine.

The last three contestants arrive in Las Vegas, but a twist in the competition and a grueling challenge awaits them.



Guest Judge: Hubert Keller.



QuickFire Challenge: Prepare Orders for MGM Grand Room Service Customers.



Elimination Challenge: There is none in this round.



Round Ten.

The final two chefs compete at Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak Las Vegas to cater a dinner for respected chefs. The real challenge for the chefs, however, is inspiring the people who work for them, and the choice of employees may derail the entire competition.



Guest Judge: Lorraine Bracco.



QuickFire Challenge: There is none in this round.



Elimination Challenge: Create and Serve a Five Course Tasting Menu for Eight, Incorporating the Provided Wines.



Round Eleven.