Grayson Schmitz

Seventeen chefs converge in Los Angeles for a shot at culinary stardom; first, the chefs face off in a quick-fire challenge, then they make dishes for a group of food critics and reporters to survive the first elimination round.

The chefs open pop-up restaurants that reflect their respective neighborhoods; guest judge Ludo Lefebvre joins the others for Mexican, Persian, Korean, and vegan cuisine and picks the dish that best reflects Los Angeles' mosaic of cultures.

In Palm Springs, Calif., world-renowned chef Jose Andres instructs the contestants to use solar-powered stoves; then, the chefs must avoid culinary sand traps when they cook on a golf course.

After preparing a full lunch service, the chefs must clean up and do it all over again for dinner; the judges scrutinize everything, including concept, food, service, and consistency.

In Santa Barbara, Calif., the chefs pick up fresh sea urchin to use in their first sudden-death, quick-fire challenge; in the elimination challenge, the chefs serve up surf and turf to a table of celebrated chefs and judges.

The chefs travel through San Francisco's Chinatown, winding up at chef Martin Yan's M.Y. China restaurant, where they use woks; then Umami Burger restaurateur Adam Fleischman tasks the chefs to create their own fast-casual restaurant concept.