Fifteen of the country’s best chefs arrive in Houston, Texas, ready to fight for the title of “Top Chef.” The opening Quickfire proves to be the toughest first challenge to date when the chefs must team up to create a cohesive dish that showcases each of their styles.

The chefs are challenged in the Quickfire to put their own spin on the Tex-Mex classic queso.

For their first individual challenge of the season, the chefs are surprised in the kitchen by Top Chef Miami winner, Hung Huynh, and challenged to make a dish inspired by 5 of the larger Asian communities in Houston.

The chefs are joined by local chef Chris Williams in the Quickfire Challenge. He tasks the chefs to put their own twist on a biscuit dish in honor of his great grandmother, Lucille B. Smith.

The chefs meet Brooke Williamson at Houston’s J-Bar-M where she tasks them with putting their own spin on a brisket dish for some of the best BBQ pitmasters in Houston.

Working in pairs, the chefs must create salty-sweet desserts that will inspire a new flavor of Talenti gelato.

The chefs expand their horizons in a master class on Nigerian flavors. For this Quickfire challenge they must create a stew that perfectly pairs with traditional Nigerian swallows.

“Top Chef’s” signature challenge levels up yet again, requiring the chefs to satisfy their VIP counter and a dining room full of guests watching their every move in an open kitchen.

For the Elimination Challenge, the chefs will be tasked with creating dishes that speak to their souls for a block party fundraiser.

The chefs have to put their own fresh take on fajitas, a Houston classic. The best fajita dish will win $10,000 courtesy of Chipotle.

It’s time to hit the beach. The Chefs head to the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston Texas, using the freshest gulf shellfish to create a seafood tower with one hot and one cold dish.

The chefs will have to find their sea legs quickly because for their Elimination Challenge each chef must create two fresh fish dishes to hook their guest judges Stephanie Izard and Daniel Boulud.

For their last Quickfire Challenge, legendary chef Carlotta Flores challenges the chefs to create a dish featuring her Carne Seca.

The finalists prepare themselves for the most important cook of their lives. They’ll have to leave it all on the plate in order to wow the judges.