In the season debut, 14 of the country's best chefs arrive in Toronto to compete in Canada's biggest and best culinary competition for the most extreme season yet. The culinary frenzy begins with the first QuickFire in which head judge Chef McEwan pairs the chefs up in a prep-and-cook relay race. Later, the Elimination Challenge marks the first Battle of the Sexes Challenge in which the men and women go head-to-head to create a five course tasting menu at the SoHo Met Hotel. Chef Susur Lee serves as guest judge and Chopped Canada host Dean McDermott and wife Tori Spelling join for this gender-themed cook off.

This episode's hot and spicy QuickFire Challenge requires the chefs to showcase peppers that vary in intensity based on the Scoville Heat Scale. The competition gets even hotter in the Elimination Challenge as the chefs cook a buffet meal for Toronto's Bravest at the Toronto Fire Academy – but they must first rescue their ingredients from a burning building. This action-packed challenge pits men against women to find out who can take the heat. Chef Roger Mooking joins as guest judge for both challenges.