Leia Gaccione

The chefs are put to the ultimate test; they have to build restaurants from the ground up; Top Chef's signature challenge levels up yet again, requiring the chefs to satisfy their VIP counter and a dining room full of guests.

The chefs must create salty-sweet desserts that will inspire a new flavour of Talenti gelato; in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must draw inspiration from the lives of some of Texas's most influential women.

Fifteen of the country's best chefs arrive in Houston, Texas, ready to fight for the title of Top Chef.

The chefs are surprised in the kitchen by "Top Chef Miami" winner Hung Huynh, and challenged to make a dish inspired by five of the larger Asian communities in Houston; the chefs must also serve 100 guests at Asian Night Market.

The chefs meet Brooke Williamson at Houston's J-Bar-M where she tasks them with putting their own spin on a brisket dish for some of the best BBQ pitmasters in Houston and their guest judge, pitmaster Greg Gatlin.

The chefs are tasked with creating a monochromatic plant-based dish for their Quickfire Challenge; for the Elimination Challenge, the chefs are tasked with creating dishes that speak to their souls for a block party fundraiser.