The Taste - Season 1

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.