Ron Eyester

The chefs are split into two teams and challenged to open their own pop-up restaurants, which includes creating menus, coming up with the decor and training the wait staff; acclaimed restaurateur Barbara Lynch serves as guest judge.

In Boston, 16 aspiring chefs compete for a shot at culinary stardom; the contestants are thrust into hot water with a Sudden Death Quick Fire Challenge; the Elimination Challenge unfolds during the first-ever Top Chef Food Festival.

Eliminated chefs return, changing the competition completely; for the Elimination Challenge, the kitchen opens its doors for the first time ever for a tasting party with `Top Chef' super fans.

The chefs create a surf and turf dish for guest judge Todd English; teams prepare dishes to be served to Boston police and firefighters and judged by guest chef Dante de Magistris.

In a nod to the Boston Tea Party, the contestants must use tea to enhance their dishes for guest judge Ming Tsai; Fenway Park hosts a competition in which the chefs must use ballpark snacks to create fine dining dishes.

The chefs must create the ultimate bar snack for guest judge George Wendt (`Cheers'); the chefs must work in teams to write a create a three-course Italian menu; actress Emmy Rossum (`Shameless') ruffles the chefs with her gluten-free diet.