Top Chef - Season 8

Bravo's Top Chef congregates a dream team of 18 past cheftestants who nearly won the title to return to see if they have what it takes. The 2010 Primetime Emmy Award-winning Top Chef returns to New York City for Season 8 with host Padma Lakshmi and head judge chef Tom Colicchio, alongside judges Gail Simmons and new this season, best-selling author and chef, Anthony Bourdain.

Pop singer Joe Jonas enlists the gourmets to prepare a snack for children taking in a sleepover at New York's American Museum of Natural History. Later, prehistoric sustenance inspires breakfast items for the children, with Season 1 host Katie Lee Joel returning to guest judge.

The chefs square off in a relay race that tests their culinary skills, speed and accuracy with a knife. Later, they serve up food fare in four top-notch New York restaurants.

The chefs prepare a holiday stuffing dish without the benefit of any kitchen tools or knives. Later, they hold court by catering a bash for the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

In a series first, head judge Tom Colicchio enters the competition, challenging the chefs to beat his time in creating a dish. Then, the meal masters head to Chinatown to serve up dim sum for locals.

The remaining culinary all-stars hook and cook a fish dish for a summer's end beach party.

The chefs get hooked into a fish-fillet contest at an elite seafood restaurant. In a unique Restaurant Wars test that follows, they must establish "one night only" eateries under the stars in New York City.

The contestants' presentation and plating techniques are evaluated. Later, they must create a traditional three-course Italian meal. Designer Isaac Mizrahi and actress Lorraine Bracco are the guest judges.

The chefs prepare fondue. Later, they cater late-night talker Jimmy Fallon's birthday party. Fallon serves as guest judge.

The culinarians concoct cookies in a bid to impress "Sesame Street" denizens Cookie Monster, Telly and Elmo. Later, the chefs commandeer a store and whip up dishes from items found in the aisles.

The remaining meal mavens employ a deep fryer in an attempt to please culinary star Paula Deen's precise palate. Later, the chefs serve up seafood at an event that benefits fishermen of the Gulf region. Deen and chef John Besh are guest judges.

The chefs create food fare on the open water. Later, they journey to Ellis Island to whip up dishes based on their family tree.

The chefs set sail for the Bahamas, and each participates in a culinary duel against the person who was crowned the winner during their first stint on the show. Later, they create meals for Bahamian royalty, but it's a royal pain with limited cooking equipment.

In the Bahamas, the meal maestros cater a high-end lunch party for a yacht club's 80th anniversary and serve up Bahamian delicacies---including conch, which they themselves must catch in the ocean. Lorena Garcia is the guest judge.

The still-standing chefs fashion a challenge for their fellow contestants in Season 8's final Quickfire. Then, they dish up a "last supper" for celebrity chefs Masaharu Morimoto, Wolfgang Puck and Michelle Bernstein.

The remaining two chefs have no time to digest what just happened as their final challenge is immediately announced. The 2 finalists choose their sous-chefs... blindfolded!

Host Andy Cohen serves up a reunion edition featuring the regrouped all-star food fighters, who dish on the raw antics and well-done dramas of Season 8. Appearing: series host Padma Lakshmi and judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons.