The teams face off once again with a special challenge as they prepare breakfast for men and women of the armed forces who have come to dine at HELL'S KITCHEN. Not unlike a drill sergeant himself, Chef Ramsay pushes each team to serve the honored guests with impeccable quality, and the team leaders are given the perfect opportunity to either shine or crumble under the pressure. After demonstrating they can truly feed an army, the winning team is rewarded with a special day of rest and relaxation, while the losing team finds out what Kitchen Patrol, or KP, is really like in HELL'S KITCHEN. When one of the contestants falls seriously ill, the team must carry on, not knowing if their fallen comrade will be able to return. Later, Chef Ramsay's temper is pushed to the limits as the teams attempt to complete dinner service once again. When one team narrowly escapes serving a potentially toxic dish, a contestant is forced to leave.

After a disastrous dinner service the previous night, the remaining eight contestants are shocked to hear that their next challenge will have nothing to do with cooking. Emphasizing that the secret to being a good chef is having a discerning palate, Chef Ramsay pits the teams against each other in a HELL'S KITCHEN taste-test challenge. The blindfolded contestants go head-to-head to identify a selection of foods chosen by Chef Ramsay, relying not only on their taste buds, but also on their experience as chefs. When the losing team fails to identify some of the most commonplace food items, Chef Ramsay orders a grotesque taste-testing practice session that turns even some of the strongest contestants' stomachs. Meanwhile, the winning team members get to treat their palates to a unique dining experience with Chef Ramsay that is unlike anything they've ever experienced before. At the next dinner service, the contestants' fate lies in the hands of the customers, who will rate and critique the meals they are served that evening. As Chef Ramsay's insults abound, the criticism pushes some contestants dangerously close to their breaking point.