Tory McPhail enters the competition determined to win the prize for his city of New Orleans, but first he must survive cooking against Elizabeth Falkner and Geoffrey Zakarian. Dishes: seafood meatballs, stuffed burgers.

An executive chef competes, in hopes of winning enough money to fulfill his dream of owning his own restaurant, but first he has to transform milk and cookies into an impressive savory dish.

Chef Shannon Bard competes. Her dishes include a dessert featuring soy sauce as a component and a dinner made from leftovers.