Quickfire Challenge (Part 1): Seventeen chefs were flown to Los Angeles to begin a six-city expedition across California.

Quickfire Challenge (Part 2): The chefs, separated into three teams, had to work together to create a single dish using one of the prepped ingredients from the previous round.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs were asked to meet on the roof of their hotel, where they were greeted by Lakshmi and guest judge Ludo Lefebvre.

Sudden Death Quickfire Challenge: The contestants embarked on their California road trip to the season's first destination: Santa Barbara.

The dishes were presented to a table of guest judges, including chefs Cat Cora, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo, Suzanne Goin, and Michael Cimarusti.

The guest judges voted on which chef won each head-to-head battle; the winners were eligible to win the challenge, while the losers were put up for elimination.

After taking a jeep tour to the San Andreas Fault Line, the contestants were required to create dishes using solar-powered equipment for Lakshmi and guest judge José Andrés.

The winner received immunity from elimination, a US$10,000 donation to World Central Kitchen on their behalf, and one of the portable solar stoves from the challenge.

The teams had to create a four-course progressive meal, beginning with an appetizer and ending with a dessert, to be served at the PGA West golf course for Lakshmi, Colicchio, Blais, and various guests, including José Andrés, Mary Sue Milliken, and John Besh.

The contestants met Lakshmi and guest judge Javier Plascencia at Tuna Harbor outside Seaport Village, where they were assigned the task of preparing fish tacos.

Elimination Challenge: Lakshmi, Colicchio, Lagasse, and Blais handed out their own specialty craft beers to the contestants, each containing different flavors.

The chefs chose steak, chicken, jalapeños, salt, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, and celery.

Elimination Challenge: In honor of the show's tenth anniversary, the chefs had to create a dish representing themselves from ten years ago.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs, separated into three teams, had to cater a black tie bacchanal event called Beefsteak, where the diners forego silverware and eat with their hands.

The dishes were served to Lakshmi, Colicchio, Hugh Acheson, Beefsteak co-founder and The Simpsons executive producer Matt Selman, Recipe for Deception host Max Silvestri, actor Colin Hanks, Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino, and other patrons.

The contestants, split into two teams, were responsible for transforming an empty space into a fully functioning pop-up restaurant within 24 hours.

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs traveled to Oakland for the next round, where they met up with Lakshmi and guest judge MC Hammer.

The contestants had to invent their own rapper names, and then create a dish that visually and conceptually expressed their alter egos.

Elimination Challenge: The competition moved to its last California location, San Francisco, the setting for the first season of Top Chef.

The dishes were served at the Bently Reserve to Lakshmi, Colicchio, Simmons, Joshua Skenes, Mourad Lahlou, Thomas McNaughton, Melissa Perello, Christopher Kostow, James Syhabout, and Top Chef Masters contestant Jonathan Waxman.

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs had to prepare their best chop suey dish for Lakshmi and guest judge Martin Yan.

They were each given the assistance of a sous chef, consisting of the six most recently eliminated competitors: Angelina, Chad, Jason, Karen, Phillip, and Wesley.

She chose to work with Angelina, and picked Jason for Jeremy, Chad for Carl, Karen for Amar, Wesley for Isaac, and Phillip for Kwame.

Quickfire Challenge: The three remaining competitors arrived at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the season finale.

Historically, each suit correlated to a specific class in society: spades for nobility, hearts for the clergy, diamonds for merchants, and clubs for peasants.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs had to put on an entertaining performance while cooking for Lakshmi, Colicchio, Simmons, and guest judges Julian Serrano and David Copperfield.