Ben Portman

Sixteen cooks, representing four regions of the country, convene on Food Network for a chance to compete for $50K and the title of America's Best Cook. Heading four regional teams are Iron Chefs and Food Network Stars.

The real competition begins, as well as the eliminations, as the cooks, under the guidance of their Mentors, compete in two challenges.

The remaining cooks face the hottest food trend, brunch, and their most intimidating judge yet, Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. One of the mentors has a very strong reaction when a cook ignores their direction during the challenge.

The final four cooks will compete in 3 challenges to determine who's America's Best Cook and win the $50,000 grand prize. After each challenge, guest judge Chef Bobby Flay will eliminate a cook until just one stands victorious.

With just one week before the finale, the five cooks remaining in the competition are challenged to cook with intimidating ingredients that can stump even professional chefs, like quail, octopus and chicken livers.

Seven remaining cooks face the most dreaded challenge in cooking competitions -- dessert. After a knife slip, one cook is sent to the Emergency Room and faces leaving the competition altogether.