The finalist must run the three-round gauntlet against Iron Chefs Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon; the finalist is given the opportunity to choose which Iron Chef competes in each round.

Alton Brown tests the remaining chefs' creativity by having them pare down their ingredients. Judges Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Ching-He Huang determine which elite competitor moves forward to the finale.

Each competitor must make a classic one-two flavor combo; Alton Brown determines the top and bottom chefs; the least successful joins the winner's chef of choice; revealing a simple secret ingredient that may ruffle feathers.

The Chairman's Challenge offers up a combination of bittersweet ingredients; the competitors race to the altar for first-come, first-serve items; a sea creature-themed Secret Ingredient Challenge.

Alton Brown judges the six remaining chefs; the competitors draw numbers to see who picks their ingredient first; the lowest-ranking chef must compete in a tropical Secret Ingredient Showdown against the winner's choice.

Alton Brown presents an array of wild ingredients and the chefs must use their expert techniques to make a top-tier dish right out of the gate; Alton determines the best dishes; the bottom-rated chef competes in a Secret Ingredient Showdown.

Alton Brown prepares for new competitors and journeys back through more than 12 years of culinary battles to present the greatest victories, thrilling upsets, and world-changing dishes that have made Iron Chef America the legend that it is.