Twelve chefs with bad tempers, nominated for their difficult personalities, join a kitchen to improve themselves and their cooking, starting with team challenges to make four courses for judges.
Each team must prepare five appetizers one at a time to go with Martha's famous roast before her chicken is ready to serve. Timing is key in this challenge and the chefs must trust each other to succeed.
Egos are tested in the kitchen when José and Martha present the chefs with mystery boxes that will challenge their skills and confidence - but can the chefs keep their egos out of the kitchen?
The chefs are used to being leaders in their own kitchens - critiquing their team's work, deciding what goes on the menu and determining what makes it out of the kitchen and onto a diner's table.
The chefs sit down for a family-style dinner and taste and judge each other's food alongside José and Martha. The decision of who enters the cook-off will be fully in the chefs' hands.
The chefs will be asked to create a cohesive three-course menu and prepare any dishes they want for a room full of diners. They'll need to win head-to-head culinary battles to acquire ingredients, but will they know their limits?
The chefs make a dish worthy of a high-end restaurant that shows off their creativity and technique, but they won't be cooking these dishes themselves.
The final four chefs are faced with the consequences of their past behaviors. Do they have good karma or will they get what's coming to them? Stakes are higher than ever as a spot in the finale is on the line.
The chefs will be tasked with preparing their very best three-course menu for José, Martha, a room full of diners and special guests. To see how much the chefs have grown, they'll be bringing in some familiar faces to lend a helping hand.
