Sixteen cooks, representing four regions of the country, convene on Food Network for a chance to compete for $50K and the title of America's Best Cook. Heading four regional teams are Iron Chefs and Food Network Stars.
The first challenge, judged by Anne Burrell, is to elevate kitchen classics. And later, a plain chicken breast stands between the bottom cooks and elimination.
Seven cooks remain to face guest judge Ron Ben-Israel and a dreaded dessert challenge, during which on of the competitors ends up in the emergency room.
Geoffrey Zakarian serves as the guest judge when the cooks make brunch; and one of the mentors has a bit of a meltdown over being ignored during a challenge.
The five remaining cooks are given tricky ingredients, including quail, octopus and chicken livers, to work with in the penultimate challenge, which is judged by chef Marcel Vigneron.
The winner of the $50,000 prize is determined in the Season 1 finale, which finds the four remaining cooks taking part in three challenges being judged by Bobby Flay.