The theme this season is "American Cuisine" as 10 esteemed Chefs arrive in Los Angeles ready to prove to the Chairman they have what it takes to become The Next Iron Chef. The Chairman's charge for this episode is ingenuity and for the Secret Ingredient Challenge, the secret ingredient is bread.  The chefs must make a sandwich that represents their personality in 30 minutes. Ingenuity is vital in the Chairman's Challenge, because the threat of elimination looms as the chefs find themselves on a beach cooking with the one ingredient they said they would want if stranded on a desert island. 

In this episode, the remaining 8 chefs grapple with the Chairman's charge of RESOURCEFULNESS.  For the Secret Ingredient Challenge, the secret ingredient is all kinds of pickles.  The chefs have 30 minutes to be resourceful in turning pickles into a snack for a field trip. The reason the chefs made portable pickle snacks is that they are going on a fishing field trip.   Back in the kitchen with their catch, the Chairman's Challenge is to cook two fish dishes in 60 minutes using the fish they so resourcefully caught.  They can also use the bait from the boat – fresh sardines.