Two of the culinary world's most reputable and influential chefs, Mark Peele of Campanile and Sal Mario of Il Grano, are forced to forgo their friendship and battle each other in what becomes a master class in cooking involving sea snails.

Two representatives of the new guard in the food world, City Tavern's Jessica Christensen and Acabar's Kevin Luzande, find themselves in a heated competition as they try to establish their reputation with a menu including sweetbreads.

The Pacific Northwest culinary crown is up for grabs as two Portland, Ore., chefs, Benjamin Bettinger of Imperial and Patrick McKee of Paley's Place, face off under the gaze of their mentor using pig's ears and rabbit as their ingredients.

Tin Vuong of Abigaile pits his traditional style of Vietnamese cooking against Perry Cheung of Phorage's innovative twists on the cuisine in an unconventional battle that is not for the squeamish as the main ingredient is blood.

Eric Park of Black Hogg in Los Angeles has the opportunity of a lifetime when he goes up against one of his culinary heroes, Kevin Gillespie of Gunshow in Atlanta, as they prepare scallops and pig's feet for a very special guest.

Pitting Peruvian against Mexican flavors, Season 1 winner and 2014 James Beard Award semifinalist, Ricardo Zarate (Picca, Mo-Chica, Paiche, Blue Tavern) defends his title against The French Laundry alum and Santa Monica chef, Ray Garcia (FIG at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel).

San Francisco chefs, Charles Phan (The Slanted Door) vies for the prize against Anthony Strong (Locanda Osteria & Bar) using the ingredients: prickly pear, burrata, monkfish and flying fish.

James Beard Award nominee of St. Louis, Kevin Nashan (Sidney Street Café and Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co.)[5] locks horns over whole spring lamb with New York City’s Harold Moore (Commerce).

Los Angeles chefs, Ricardo Diaz (Colonia Taco Lounge) and Gilberto Cetina Jr. (Chichen Itza Restaurant) battle for Mexican cooking supremacy using calf liver.

The battle of the protégés commences when Ricardo Zarate mentee, Brian Huskey, competes with Mei Lin, Michael Voltaggio's apprentice, to create a menu using an unusual ingredient, silkie chicken, that at least one judge finds disturbing.

Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery in New Orleans takes on Michael Bryant of Los Angeles' The Churchill in a competition in which they have to create a winning menu using the unusual ingredient of thousand year old eggs.