Traci Des Jardins

Top Chef Masters is back with a brand new host, new judge and a new format - so why not start the competition off with something familiar, the most notorious of all Top Chef challenges, Restaurant Wars.These master chefs have opened their share of award-winning restaurants, but nothing could have prepared them for the pressure that's on now. With their egos on the line, the knives come out right out of the gate.

Eating healthy is a challenge that people face every day. For this week's elimination challenge, the cheftestants must prove nutritious food can still taste good. The remaining masters will be broken up into three teams of three to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Do as I say and as I do is the motto in this quick fire challenge. The masters must walk their protégé's from start to finish in an attempt to create identical dishes. To pay homage to our troops and their families, "Top Chef Masters" salutes U.S. soldiers with a celebration meal for returning service men and women composed of all their favorite dishes.

In this week's quickfire challenge the chefs must use each of their five senses to identify mystery ingredients - however they can only use one of their senses at time. In the elimination challenge, the masters help a man propose to his unsuspecting girlfriend on her favorite show, "Top Chef Masters." In a six-course meal, the chefs must create dishes that reflect different stages of the couple's relationship, but could one bad dish ruin the whole plan?

In the final challenge - the tables are turned when host Curtis Stone prepares a meal for the remaining chefs. Then the three finalists must create a three course meal based on important memories throughout their lives and careers. Guests for the finale include: Tom Colicchio, Jon Waxman, Rick Moonen, Susan Feniger, Susur Lee, as well as Danyelle Freeman and Alan Systma. The judges include: Ruth Reichl, James Oseland and guest Gael Greene.

With today's technology, everyone wants things to be done as fast as possible. In this week's quickfire, the masters will have 15 minutes to create a breakfast from start to finish- but they can only use one specific tool from the modern day kitchen. For the elimination challenge, the masters must trade in their aprons for goggles and stovetops for Bunsen burners. Using traditional high school chemistry at a Science Fair, the master chefs must create their most palatable creations.