Elise Wims

18 contestants battle it out for the prize of a head chef position at BLT Steak in New York City. The competition kicks off with the signature dish challenge, with the most successful team getting to enjoy a lunch at the LA Market restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel at LA Live, where they eat with last season's winner. Before the evening service begins, there is a shock when one contestant has to be rushed to hospital.

The remaining contestants are challenged to cook four pieces of meat according to Chef Ramsay's instructions. The winning side gets to go to Palm Springs in a private jet before enjoying lunch in the mountains with Gordon, while the losers are stuck with cleaning up after the challenge and prepping a cow carcass. At evening service, things do not go smoothly, and Chef Ramsay has to take extreme measures.

The teams are challenged to prepare a special meal for 50 children and their mothers, with the first team to complete their service winning a trip to a medieval-themed restaurant. When it comes to evening service, one team manages to cook and serve their dishes smoothly, but things do not go so well for the other team, and Chef Ramsay makes them apologise to every single table for the delays in bringing their food.

The remaining chefs are asked to prepare dishes for a reunion for Culver City High School's class of 1991. Two contestants are briefed on the event's Hawaiian theme and attendees' dietary requirements, and they must pass the information they receive onto their teammates. Unfortunately, one of the chefs is rather forgetful, which leads to errors when their team creates a menu.

The teams are asked to pick leaders - but there is a twist in the selection process. Then they must prepare five dishes, with their efforts to be judged by Wolfgang Puck. The winning side gets to spend a day at a comedy club, while the losers must complete prep work and clean the dorms. At evening service, the contestants are cooking for servicemen from the US Coast Guard. Who will be eliminated this week?

After seeing an impressive and rather scientific demonstration by chefs from Moto restaurant in Chicago, the hopefuls have less than an hour to create six dishes using fire and water instead of a normal kitchen. The team whose dishes are judged the best win a day of pampering at a spa, while the losers are left with cleaning and prep work. At dinner service, things do not go smoothly.