Jo Chan

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

Aspiring chefs compete for their shot at culinary stardom.

For their last Quickfire Challenge, the chefs make the trip to El Charro in Tuscon, Ariz., the oldest family-run Mexican restaurant in the country, where chef Carlotta Flores challenges them to create a dish featuring her carne seca.

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.

After saying goodbye to their loved ones, the chefs receive an ominous gift from Tom, who tells them to get up early and meet him at the docks. For their elimination challenge each chef must create two fresh fish dishes.

The chefs head to the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston, Texas. Chef Shota Nakajima is here to present them with their next Quickfire Challenge, using the freshest gulf shellfish to create a seafood tower with one hot and one cold dish.