Eight former “Hell's Kitchen” contestants face against eight ambitious new cooks for a life-changing prize to work as an Executive Chef.

The contestants must prepare one risotto dish that will be worthy of replacing the one that used to be on the Hell's Kitchen menu.

The chefs serve lunch to a room full of Marines, preparing dishes that represent the air, the land and the sea; a dramatic dinner service ends with a contestant walk-out.

The chefs compete in a sled race for an advantage in the upcoming challenge, during which the two teams prepare winter soups; chef Ramsay makes an extreme change in the teams.

Teams are tasked with cooking halibut in seven different ways; a dinner service; an elimination; pianist Stephan Moccio; chef David LeFevre.

The chefs must create a dish using potatoes as the key component; the pressure becomes unbearable for one chef, leading to a chaotic dinner service.

While chefs are challenged to serve five "staple" dishes, one chef is removed from each team at certain intervals until the final chef finishes all dishes; the teams are taken aback by an unexpected alteration to the dining service.

The top 10 chefs are challenged to create a special dish as a part of a Sweet 16 birthday celebration for Tilly, Gordon's daughter.

The nine remaining chefs are challenged to make authentic Chinese dishes, which are to be judged by chef Shirley Chung. Tensions escalate during dinner service as one team has difficulties with teamwork and causes several errors.

With only four chefs per team, they must prepare to cook for a charity dinner service in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Waterkeeper Alliance featuring Italian food, but one team's performance forces Gordon to get involved.

The remaining seven chefs face a dinner service for pastry chef Valerie Gordon, who will harshly judge each team's dessert, but poor communication results in kitchen chaos and one dramatic elimination before the next round.

Tension mounts when Chef Ramsay explains to the six remaining chefs that they will go through three extensive challenges to determine which five chefs receive a black jacket.

The final five chefs struggle through a new challenge, leading to a bitter elimination that dramatically alters the dynamics of the group.

The final four competing chefs face a tableside challenge that will send one lucky winner and their chosen partner on a luxurious day in Malibu, California. The chefs encounter a showmanship challenge that is rife with mistakes only rookies should make.

Conclusion. After a shocking elimination, the final two chefs receive unexpected help for their final menus. They share their highs and lows with Chef Ramsay over brunch and are surprised with a visit from their families. But, the fun is short-lived, as Chef Ramsay sends the teams back to Hell’s Kitchen to learn the menus and plan for the biggest service of the finalists’ lives, taking place at Six Flags Magic Mountain.