Brian Malarkey, Ludovic Lefebvre, Anthony Bourdain and Nigella Lawson audition 29 professional and home cooks through a series of blind taste tests were a single spoonful will decide whether they make it past the audition round of the competition.

The auditions continue as the four mentors choose more contestants to join their teams based only on a spoonful of their food.

The teams take on their first challenge alongside their mentors as they are set a comfort food themed challenge before two of them are eliminated.

Each team must use five unique ingredients as it tries to create the best dish; each contestant has to prepare a dish that pairs best with a selected wine.

As the contestants are tasked with creating the perfect sandwich, tensions rise among the judges; chefs Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve as guest judges.

The contestants are pushed out of their culinary comfort zones when asked to not waste any parts of an animal; Greg Morin and David McMillan serve as guest judges.

The seven semi-finalists must seduce the judges with a single, sumptuous spoonful of their latest dish; three cooks are eliminated.

The final four contestants each present three dishes to the judges; after an elimination, the remaining contestants must prepare their most decadent dish in hope of wowing the judges and claiming the grand prize.

In the two-hour series premiere, the heat is on when contestants put their best culinary foot forward and create their best dish for Anthony, Nigella, Ludo and Marcus to taste.

Each mentor shares memories of food that reminds him or her of home, then assigns the team a dish to give a personal spin; two contestants are eliminated.

The contestants put their own spin on dishes favored by the mentors; two cooks are sent home; guest judge Aaron Sanchez.

The teams create dishes inspired by street food.

Everyone is shocked when a cook mysteriously decides to leave the competition; when faced with a vegetarian challenge, the teams prepare dishes that include curry and pasta.

The cooks create desserts with combinations of fruity, sweet and savory ingredients; guest judge Christina Tosi; six contestants advance.

The cooks go to restaurants in Los Angeles for beer and food pairings; a challenge determines which cooks move on to the finale.

The four remaining cooks must create dishes inspired by ingredients that include liver, tripe and scallops; chef Jacques Pepin serves as a guest judge.

The home cooks and professional chefs compete in a childhood-inspired challenge; a competitor is sent home; guest judge Stephanie Izard.

Contestants prepare dishes from the sea, including steamed fish, seafood stew and shellfish in miso broth. Eric Ripert is the guest judge.

The 13 remaining cooks compete in a holiday-theme challenge that features dishes based on fowl and spiced chocolate desserts. Naomi Pomeroy is the guest judge.

It’s a new year and there’s a new battle brewing in the kitchen when the remaining cooks are tasked with making delicious dishes bursting with decadent and elevated flavors with ingredients like champagne, shellfish and caviar. Chef Michael Symon is guest judge.

The remaining contestants are challenged to create dishes that include ceviche and tacos; two contestants are sent home.

The contestants take part in a hot-and-spicy challenge that includes ingredients like Szechuan pepper; two cooks are eliminated, identifying which contestants will compete in the season finale.

In the Season 3 finale, a winner is chosen.