Top Chef: Masters - Episode Guide

Top Chef Masters, the spin-off series of the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning No. 1 food show on cable, Top Chef, flips the judges' table to find out who can handle the heat. Top Chef Masters will pit 24 world-renowned chefs against each other to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice. Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys), Christopher Lee (Aureole), Michael Schlow (Radius Restaurant), and Tim Love (The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro) are the first four chefs to draw knives and kick off a whole new level of culinary competition. Each episode will re-create a classic Top Chef Quickfire Challenge — the first being to create the most creative and delicious dessert they can (as seen on Season 4). At the end, one chef moves on to the Champions Round.

Operating on an extremely tight budget, the chef's must create the perfect amuse bouche using only what they can find in a vending machine (Season 2, Top Chef). Master chefs Wylie Dufresne (wd~50), Suzanne Tracht (Jar), Graham Elliot Bowles (Graham Elliot Restaurant) and Elizabeth Falkner (Orson) find themselves "lost" as they are challenged to make a meal inspired by the hit TV show, using ingredients such as fish, wild boar, fresh fruits, and other island specialties. Lost co-creators, executive producers and writers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof guest star, and one chef moves on to the Champions Round.

The chefs take their skills to the street. Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill), Cindy Pawlcyn (Mustards Grill), Wilo Benet (Pikayo) and Ludo Lefebvre (Ludo Bites) set out to create a Quickfire dish based on a color (Season 2, Top Chef). Next up the chefs hit the streets for the elimination challenge to make offals for Los Angeles pedestrians. One chef moves on to the Champions Round.

Week four of Top Chef Masters brings together distinguished chefs Anita Lo (Annisa), Douglas Rodriguez (Alma de Cuba), John Besh (Restaurant August) and Mark Peel (Campanile). The Masters find their hands tied in the Quickfire Challenge as they must cook an egg with one hand tied behind their back (All-Stars Challenge, Season Three of Top Chef), and then must create culinary magic to awe their high-profile guests which include Neil Patrick Harris. One chef moves on to the Champions Round.

The final team of four chefs face a food group they typically avoid for this week's Quickfire: they have to re-create a junkfood classic (Season One, Top Chef).  Michael Chiarello (Bottega Restaurant), Rick Moonen (RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay), Nils Noren (French Culinary Institute) and Lachlan McKinnon Patterson (Frasca Food & Wine) are then put on the spot as they are pushed to make the perfect three-course mini-meal. Flipping Out's Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos guest star, and one chef moves on to the Champions Round.

Knives are drawn and the display of extraordinary talent begins in the most ordinary of places – a grocery store where the chefs are met with the classic Quickfire "Aisle Trial" (Season 3, Top Chef). Master chefs Roy Yamaguchi (Roy's Restaurants), Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two), Michael Cimarusti (Providence) and Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto) pass the Quickfire round and are faced with a mystery box from which they must concoct their Elimination Challenge meals. One chef moves on to the Champions Round.

The top six chefs have advanced to the finals and now must face-off for the ultimate title of Top Chef Master. Each is asked to produce their signature dish, only to find they must then re-create their competitor's unique dish. One chef is eliminated, while the remaining five move to the next round of competition.

It's a battle of the burgers as the five remaining chefs strive to create an American classic. In the Elimination Challenge, the Masters must prepare the perfect meal for an exclusive celebrity lunch thrown by actress and singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel. Morgan Spurlock also guest stars, and one chef is eliminated, while the remaining four move to the next round of competition.

In a decisive testing of the palate, the final four chefs enter their last Quickfire Challenge blindfolded. The elimination round presents the chefs with the goal of catering a large event – only they are not allowed to touch the food. Each Master must use his or her leadership, teaching, and directing skills to accomplish their vision at arm's length.

In the climactic finale of Top Chef Masters, three accomplished chefs stand to face their final challenge – the creation of a four-course meal. Sounds simple enough, but each course must be inspired by a certain memory from their past. Top Chef winners from every season – Harold Dieterle, Ilan Hall, Hung Huynh, Stephanie Izard, and Hosea Rosenberg appear, and one chef is crowned Top Chef Master.

The first episode brings together six exceptional chefs including Ana Sortun (Oleana), Govind Armstrong (8 oz Burger Bar), Jerry Traunfeld (Poppy), Jimmy Bradley (The Red Cat), Susan Feniger (Street) and Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia). Love is in the air as the Masters are challenged to evoke their sensual side using known aphrodisiac ingredients in the creation of a sumptuous meal to suit couples on a first date.

Catering to the desires of celebrity diners is essential to a Top Chef's career, and this week five Masters are put to the test. Carmen Gonzalez (Chef Consultant), David Burke (David Burke Townhouse), Marcus Samuelsson (The Red Rooster), Monica Pope (T'afia) and Thierry Rautureau (Rovers) face off at the posh Thompson hotel in Beverly Hills. The renowned chefs are charged with crafting an unforgettable meal for a birthday party thrown by award-winning actor Mekhi Phifer and his closest friends.

Week three brings the chefs to the cramped kitchen of Tom Bergin's Tavern on Fairfax, the oldest Irish establishment in LA, where they must re-invent traditional pub dishes ranging from bangers and mash to fish 'n' chips. Graham Elliot Bowles (Graham Elliot Restaurant), Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto), Ludo Lefebvre (Ludo Bites), Mark Peel (Campanile), Rick Moonen (Rick Moonen's RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay) and Wylie Dufresne (wd~50) go head- to- head in a rousing attempt to satisfy the venue's clientele with old-school tastes and skeptical attitudes towards 'modern' pub food.

Continually striving to be cutting edge, this week's batch of master chefs must cook for the most modern group in the entertainment landscape - the cast and crew of the hit TV series, "Modern Family." Competing to make classic dishes current are five top chefs from far ends of North America, including Debbie Gold (The American Restaurant), Jody Adams (Rialto Restaurant), Maria Hines (Tilth), Rick Tramonto (TRU) and Susur Lee (Madeline's).

The kitchen heats up as the top eight chefs advance to the Champions round and face-off for the ultimate title of Top Chef Master. In a quickfire repeat from season 6 of "Top Chef," the Masters are split into two teams for a blindfolded relay race to be judged by restaurant critic Jay Rayner.

Springfield comes alive on "Top Chef Masters" as Hank Azaria, Matt Groening, and Matt Selman - the voices and writers behind the critically acclaimed series, "The Simpsons" - drop by to judge the quickfire challenge based on their character's appetites. In the elimination round, the seven remaining chefs must combine exotic, and often unappetizing proteins in an appealing surf-and-turf inspired duo.

The game is on as the Masters are charged with the task of cooking one of the most difficult parts on any animal -- the leg. This quickfire round will be judged by Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Jason Lezak and food critic Jay Rayner. In the spirit of competition, the elimination challenge brings the chefs to a University of Southern California home football game where they must perfect the art of tailgating for the hungry fans.

A classic quickfire returns when the remaining five chefs must play a round of "Name That Ingredient." Then it's a battle of heavenly proportions as the Masters are challenged to create a divine dish inspired by a Greek God.

In an entertaining penultimate episode, the remaining four chefs' sense of humor is put to the test. A trip to the storied improv comedy club, the Groundlings, gives the chef's 3 words of inspiration from which to create their dishes.

In the climactic finale of "Top Chef Masters," three accomplished chefs stand to face their final challenge and only one chef is crowned Top Chef Master.

"Top Chef Masters" is back with a brand new host, new judge and a new format - so why not start the competition off with something familiar, the most notorious of all Top Chef challenges, Restaurant Wars.These master chefs have opened their share of award-winning restaurants, but nothing could have prepared them for the pressure that's on now. With their egos on the line, the knives come out right out of the gate.

The masters are in for a treat this week when two high-profile celebrities visit the top chef kitchen. Pop Star and trained chef, Kelis, drops by to judge a very meaty quickfire challenge and then "Mad Men" actress, Christina Hendricks and her husband, actor Geoffry Arend, enlist the help of the cheftestants in a special 60s themed elimination challenge.

These master chefs are used to cooking with the finest ingredients but in this week's quickfire they're forced to make a delicious dish out of some horrifying creatures. The elimination challenge however, makes it all worthwhile when the chefs compete to sell their dishes for $100 a plate at a charity fundraiser. For every plate they sell, the money they receive goes directly to their charity of choice and these chefs are in it to win it.

Eating healthy is a challenge that people face every day. For this week's elimination challenge, the cheftestants must prove nutritious food can still taste good. The remaining masters will be broken up into three teams of three to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for the cast of "The Biggest Loser," but that's not all, all three meals, when added up, cannot exceed the daily allotment of 1200 calories a day.

Master chefs know how to work under pressure, but how well can they do fast food? This week's elimination challenge puts the cheftestants to the test in a traditional Southern California eatery, the Drive Thru. The cheftestants will have to operate a fast food drive thru, from the grill to serving up their best meals and all in less than two minutes.

The tables are turned in this week's quickfire when the cheftestants become the judges and have to critique their fellow chefs. Pop Rock group Maroon 5 drops by and challenges the chefs to create a feast fit for a rock star, but it's not that easy. Once again the tables are turned and the chefs are taken out of the kitchen and brought to a surprise location to prepare their meals.

In this week's quickfire challenge the chefs must use each of their five senses to identify mystery ingredients - however they can only use one of their senses at time. In the elimination challenge, the masters help a man propose to his unsuspecting girlfriend on her favorite show, "Top Chef Masters."

The Masters demonstrate their savvy with modern-day kitchen gadgetry to create a breakfast plate. Later, they use their flair with chemistry at a science fair to make a dish worthy of first prize.

"Do as I say and as I do" is the motto in this quick fire challenge. The masters must walk their protégé's from start to finish in an attempt to create identical dishes. To pay homage to our troops and their families, "Top Chef Masters" salutes U.S. soldiers with a celebration meal for returning service men and women composed of all their favorite dishes.

In the final challenge - the tables are turned when host Curtis Stone prepares a meal for the remaining chefs. Then the three finalists must create a three course meal based on important memories throughout their lives and careers.

Top Chef Masters is back for season four... and headed to Viva Las Vegas. In true Sin City fashion, the Chefs will be playing a culinary card game to get their ingredients, judged by Las Vegas dealers. The Chefs will then break into teams to create a high-end buffet on the strip, showcasing their creations to the performers from all of the hot shows in town.

What better way to tie the knot than with a wedding catered by Top Chef Masters? Our Chefs will meet the couple, whose idea of a perfect wedding would be to feed their guests a meal as lasting and inspired as the love they share. The Chefs will work to make sure that every foodie request is met, from canapés to tasting menus to the precious, tiered wedding cake.

The Chefs will be split into teams of three and have their skills put on full view as they cook up a three-course meal to serve VIP guests at the most challenging of chef's tables, a Teppanyaki. With only 30 minutes to put on a delicious and dazzling show, they'll be serving some of our favorite Top Chef Masters along with our critics. Special guest judges include: Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and acclaimed chefs May Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Rick Moonen, Jonathan Waxman.

The Chefs are tasked with taking ordinary salad bar ingredients and making them "pop" for music legends, the B-52's. Then the Chefs will head to the Grand Canyon for a cookout like never before. The Chefs will be paired up to cook for the Hualapai tribe, using ingredients from the tribe's sacred land.

In this week's Quickfire challenge the Chefs must make a dynamic duo dish for a couple of dynamic musicians - The Indigo Girls. For the elimination challenge, the Chefs are tasked with making a whimsical all-you-can-eat bottomless bloodys & mimosas brunch at an upscale sexy pool party, hosted by Ms. Vegas, Holly Madison. Special guest judges include The Indigo Girls and Holly Madison.

The Chefs will be creating an aphrodisiac dish using known aphrodisiac ingredients. The Chef whose dish really turns them on will win the challenge. Lotus of Siam is a legendary Nevada Culinary landmark that has amassed award after award. For this Elimination Challenge, our Chefs will be faced with the task of creating their own Thai restaurant in the Top Chef Masters kitchen and attempting to create their own versions of classic Thai dishes. Special guest judge is Dita Von Teese.

This week the Chefs will battle it out - facing off in a boxing ring to serve our critics and boxing champ, Sugar Ray Leonard. The winner of the first match will compete against the winner from the second match in a third match for the win and $10,000. The losers from the first and second match will face off one last time to determine who will be sent packing. Special guest judge is Sugar Ray Leonard.

It's getting down to the wire - this week the chefs will participate in one of the world's greatest underground dining events; A Dîner En Blanc. Each chef will create a picnic style meal with abundant ingredients to create an epic feast and pack it up for the first ever Dîner En Blanc picnic in Vegas.

In the penultimate episode, the Chefs will have to cook and create their dish while simultaneously instructing a mystery guest across the divider to make an identical dish. In the Elimination challenge, the Chefs will mentor aspiring culinary students and guide them through making a dish. The twist? The chefs will not be able to do any of the cooking.

It has all come down to this...for their last challenge, and the title of Top Chef Masters, the final two chefs will have 24-hours and the help of their most trusted staff from their own restaurants, to create a dish based on four letters - a love letter, an apology, a thank you, and a letter to themselves. They'll serve to a table of the culinary world's most esteemed critics.

Top Chef Masters is back for season five with thirteen celebrated chefs and an all new twist. Each Master will have his or her sous chef compete in an online competition, "Battle of the Sous Chefs" that will directly impact the Masters' chances of winning. In the first challenge, the Masters cook for a professional skydiving team, but in order to get an extra hour of cook time, they must be willing to take a dive themselves.

The Masters arrive at the kitchen to find their sous chefs hard at work in the Mise En Place challenge. One the elements are prepped, the Masters must put an Asian spin on an American classic working side by side with their Sous. Guest Kathie Lee Gifford tries some food outside of her comfort zone.

In this week's Quickfire, the Chefs must create a dish with left over scraps from the Sous Chefs' challenge. For the elimination, the Chefs have to make a meal that represents one of the three basic staples of a soap opera - Sex, Murder and Greed. The cast of "Days of Our Lives" will be on hand to see if the Chefs nailed their roles.

As every chef knows, curry is difficult to hurry, but the Chefs must make their version of curry in thirty minutes for this week's Quickfire. The tables are turned on host Curtis Stone as his fiancé, Lindsay Price team up with the Chefs to throw him a surprise engagement party.

It's Restaurant Wars time! The Chefs must open eateries with a Los Angeles theme to impress special guest judges - Busy Philips, Dana Cowin and the critics. Will the native Angelenos embrace the new LA-cuisine or will the restaurants face early closure?

Special guest judge Mindy Kaling gets the Chefs in the mood for romance by asking them to create dishes inspired by her favorite romantic comedies. Yo Gabba Gabba also makes an appearance to help with an elimination challenge geared towards young palates.

Special guest judge actress Ali Larter challenges the Chefs to elevate nachos for their Quick Fire. Then it's time to cook up the catch of the day for Malibu locals, by creating a dish with a hot and cold preparation of the same fish.

The winning team of this week's "Battle of the Sous Chefs" challenge create today's Quick Fire. Then, they must cook with Mexican flair for the wrestlers of Lucha Vavoom.

The four remaining Top Chef Masters create their version of a burger for a surprise guest critic. Then, they prepare meals to honor teachers from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

It's down to the final three as they battle it out to be the next Top Chef Master. The Chefs pull out all the stops. Which Master can win over the critics and take home the ultimate prize?