An unusually salty vegetable presents the chefs with a quandary in the Appetizer Round. Then a red-hot battle ensues in the entree round, where Thai chilies threaten to overpower the dishes. And when two finalists with very different cooking methods take on Mexican-inspired desserts, the judges face one of their most difficult decisions ever.

A challenging cut of meat in the mystery basket ups the level of difficulty in the Appetizer Round. For the entrée course the chefs must devise big plans for some miniature produce and a whole flounder.