The Taste - Episode Guide

Just one taste is all it takes for an aspiring chef to make it on one of the four mentors teams. Dozens of hopefuls try their best to impress, but the judges weren't please with all the dishes that were presented to them.

The four acclaimed mentors continue hosting auditions to fill the remaining spots in their kitchens. A total of six places remain across the four teams, and culinary hopefuls try to impress the judges with just one taste.

With the teams complete, the competition is ready to begin. The first challenge kicks off with the theme of Comfort Food. The way the competition will work is in two parts. First, the four mentors will work with their teams in the Team Taste Test, in which each member of the team will create one spoon based on the theme, and then the mentor will select one spoon to put forward for judging by the guest judge.

The guest judge this week is Gabrielle Hamilton, the chef and owner of Prune in New York City. Once Gabrielle selects one winner out of the four competing spoons in the Team Taste Test, the winning chef will gain immunity in the Blind Taste Test, the second part of this week's challenge.

Gabrielle will then join the winning kitchen to assist the team of chefs as they prepare for the Blind Taste Test for the mentors. In the Blind Taste Test, the mentors taste each of the dishes blindly – they have no idea who prepared the dish or what they are tasting. Each mentor will then select their best taste, followed by their worst taste to determine which chefs will be sent home this week.

Fourteen chefs remain after the first cut from last week's Comfort Food dishes. The theme of the second challenge is Daring Pairings, in which the chefs must choose the right combination of food and wine. The teams must use one of the five secret ingredients selected by their respective mentor. Chef David Kinch and sommelier Andre Mack appeared as guest judges to determine the winner of the Team Taste Test, and then to assist the chefs of the winning team with their dishes for the Blind Taste Test judged by the four mentors.

Twelve chefs remain after last week's Daring Pairing challenge. The theme of the third challenge is Sandwiches, in which the chefs must go back to the basics to prepare a winning sandwich. The teams must create one of the following classic sandwiches: the club, peanut butter and jelly, or a salad sandwich, using either tuna, chicken, or egg. And, for the twist? The classic tasting spoons are taking a week off, as these sandwich bites can be served on plates. Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone, owners and chefs of Torrisi Italian Specialties, appear as guest judges to determine the winner of the Team Taste Test, and then to assist the chefs of the winning team with their dishes for the Blind Taste Test judged by the four mentors.

The contestants are pushed out of their culinary comfort zones when asked to not waste any parts of an animal; Greg Morin and David McMillan serve as guest judges.

Seven chefs remain as the competition proceeds to the semifinals. The theme of the fifth challenge is Seduction, in which the chefs must turn on the judges' taste buds. The chefs have to prepare a dish using one of the mentors' pre-selected seductive ingredients. Ingrid Hoffman, restaurateur and TV personality, appears as guest judge to determine the winner of the Team Taste Test, and then to assist the chefs of the winning team with their dishes for the Blind Taste Test judged by the four mentors.

After weeks of grueling competition, only four chefs remain in The Taste's Finale. The theme of the final challenge is Tapas, in which the chefs must prepare elegant tapas bites using each of the following ingredients: Mozzarella Cheese, Iberico Ham, and Spot Prawns. Jose Andres, world renowned chef and restaurateur, appears as guest judge to determine the winner of the Team Taste Test, and then to assist the chefs with their dishes for the Blind Taste Test judged by the four mentors. Jose's least favorite dish from the Team Taste Test will be eliminated, and only three chefs will go on to compete in the solo Blind Taste Test.

Hearts were broken, lives were saved, surprises were had by all -- but now the auditions are over and the teams are all set!

The teams are set, and it's time for the competition to begin.

The first challenge is a group challenge, where the competitors get help from their respective mentors in cooking to a theme -- this time it's "My Life On a Plate". Each contestant must cook a dish or use ingredients that hold a special place in their hearts. Each mentor must then pick one of their team's dishes to be judged blind by famed chef Edward Lee. The mentor of the team that finishes on the bottom has to send home someone from their own team. Ouch.

Next up, the contestants must cook on their own so the mentors can judge blind. The mentors taste everything, and then each picks their favorite dish -- which earns a gold star -- and their least favorite -- which earns a red star.

Caviar, foie gras, "elevated" take out, and sweet and salty decadent indulgences are taking center stage this week as the 14 remaining hopefuls face off in "The Taste" kitchen to put their personal spin on the mentors' favorite guilty pleasures. In the end, two more competitors will be eliminated. Chef Aaron Sanchez guest judges.

The mentors are challenging their teams with creating delicious dishes inspired by classic "street food". Sandwiches, seafood--and, of course, the classic English delicacy of fish and chips -- are on the menu this week as 12 remaining competitors battle it out for the chance to stay in "The Taste" kitchen another week. Chef Roy Choi is guest judge this week where Anthony Bourdain shares a secret weapon with his kitchen.

This week's theme is "Go Green" -- all the dishes must be vegetarian. Dairy qualifies, but no meat or fish. This week's dishes were judged blind by Chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

This week's theme is "The Sweetest Thing" -- all the dishes must be desserts. (Anthony's worst nightmare.) This week's dishes were judged blind by famed pastry chef Christina Tosi.

This week's theme is "Good with Beer" -- which is pretty self-explanatory (and delicious). This week's dishes were judged blind by famed chef Jonathan Waxman.

The first challenge will be judged blind by one of the most chefs of all time: Jacques Pepin. The theme of the challenge is Rich & Poor. The chefs must cook one rich dish -- something fancy made with decadent, expensive ingredients -- and one poor dish -- something made with more humble ingredients. But of course, they both need to be tasty. All four chefs put their dishes forward; whoever Chef Pepin picks as his worst will be eliminated on the spot.

For the final challenge, to be judged by the panel of mentors, the three remaining chefs have to cook three dishes: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In the two-hour series premiere, home cooks and professional chefs from across the country will battle it out in "The Taste" kitchen by creating their most delicious dishes for culinary superstars Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Marcus Samuelsson to taste. Every dish is always judged blind. At the end of the night, 16 cooks will be given a place on the mentors' teams.

Seafood takes center stage next week when the 15 remaining hopefuls face off in "The Taste" kitchen and put their personal spin on the mentors' favorite seafood dishes. With a menu featuring steamed fish, seafood stew and shellfish in miso broth, in the end, two more competitors will eliminated.

Tis the season for all things delicious on ABC's "The Taste" with 13 remaining cooks competing in holiday-themed challenges. Tasked with creating dishes based on fowl, duck and spiced chocolate desserts, the cooks take to the kitchen to see who will make the best bite. In the end, two more competitors will be sent home.

It's a new year and there's a new battle brewing in the kitchen when the remaining cooks are tasked with making delicious dishes bursting with decadent and elevated flavors with ingredients like champagne, shellfish and caviar. In the end, two more competitors will be sent home.

Bold, bright – and most of all – flavorful and spicy! It's Latin week on ABC's "The Taste" with the remaining competitors tasked with creating dishes like ceviche and tacos. With both a group and solo challenge ahead, in the end, two more cooks will be sent home.

The competition is getting even hotter when the remaining contestants fight to cook another day in a hot and spicy "bring the heat" themed challenge using ingredients like Szechuan pepper and pork. With solo and group challenges ahead, two more cooks will be sent home, and the remaining competitors will head to the finale where only one will be named "The Taste" champion.

It's all come down to this. The search for America's Best Undiscovered Cook sees only five cooks remaining in "The Taste" kitchen, and the mentors give their final group challenge - creating Saints and Sinners-inspired dishes representing two very opposite ideas and culinary concepts.