A lack of culinary training didn't stop food and theater writer Ryan McPhee from passing the first 11 of his 15 culinary taste tests, and he's back to finish the job. He's immediately caught in a sticky situation and hopes culinary expert Nilou Motamed can help him identify a mysterious Southern syrup. Then Navy vet and recipe tester Renae Wilson learns that there are no simple questions in this competition, and Kanchan Koya, the "Spice Mama," steps up to the tasting table to impresses host Kal Penn with her food knowledge and her Harvard doctorate in molecular science. But Kanchan's degree can only take her so far as she gets stumped early on and considers using her Flavor Favors, tapping Nilou and Chef Esther Choi to keep her in the game.

Food blogger Grace Vallo left corporate life to follow her dreams in food media, and she's an energetic ace, but is she ready to face host Kal Penn's pressure cooker questions? Grace's hopes are pinned on winning the big money to fund her dream wedding in Tuscany, but Bruce tries to knock her off her game with a surprise ice sculpture, and Kal and company rattle her by sharing a round of shots. Grace turns to Chef Tiffani Faison for a Flavor Favor, and Chef Adrienne Cheatham is on call with her culinary expertise as Grace tries to prove she has the chops to make it to the end of the game.