John Tesar

The chefs face a mountain of baking ingredients pointing to a biscuit challenge; barbecue master Rodney Scott tasks the chefs to prepare a whole hog and three side dishes for 150 barbecue lovers, including country music star Darius Rucker.

The eight remaining chefs divide into two teams to design a restaurant, create a menu and impress the judges and diners; chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara task the teams to take over the same restaurant space on separate nights.

Padma and guest judge Chris Cosentino divide the chefs into teams to compete in a mise en place race; the teams must go head to head and create a seven-course progressive meal in which each dish features the same ingredient: the radish.

The final two chefs face-off to serve the best meal of their lives; the finalists will cook a four-course progressive meal with the help of three sous chefs, comprised of two eliminated chefs and one from their restaurants back home.

In Tulum, Mexico, the remaining chefs are challenged to make a dish showcasing the flavor of the habanero pepper; the chefs must create a dish using ancient Mayan ingredients and tools; the two chefs with the best dishes will compete in the finale.

The chefs tackle a challenge based on the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional seafood-filled dinner, using "trash fish;" the chefs serve special guests Gail Simmons, Richard Blais, Hugh Acheson, and Graham Elliot.