Sixteen young home cooks arrive and find themselves preparing dishes using Alexander Weiss's favorite ingredients, including pork chops, pork tenderloin and green apples. The winner chooses which protein is used in the elimination round before 12 contestants are chosen to advance in the competition.

A pancake-flipping contest precedes a challenge to create the best citrus cream pie.

A three-legged challenge is held to make a dozen cupcakes. Later, Gordon's mom visits the kitchen as a guest judge when the remaining contestants prepare one of the host's favorite dishes from his childhood.

The contestants fry eggs sunny-side up in a 10-minute challenge, and later prepare their signature dishes that will anchor their menus at a future restaurant.

The last six cooks split up into teams to compete in the inaugural restaurant challenge, with the winning group advancing to the semifinals.

The final four cooks must break down an Alaskan king salmon and produce as many perfect filets possible; contestants must create a restaurant-quality salmon dish with a limited number of ingredients.