Traci Des Jardins

Top Chef Masters is back with a brand new host, new judge and a new format - so why not start the competition off with something familiar, the most notorious of all Top Chef challenges, Restaurant Wars.These master chefs have opened their share of award-winning restaurants, but nothing could have prepared them for the pressure that's on now. With their egos on the line, the knives come out right out of the gate.

The tables are turned in this week's quickfire when the cheftestants become the judges and have to critique their fellow chefs. Then in the elimination challenge, the remaining contestants are in for a double dose of surprises. Pop Rock group Maroon 5 drops by and challenges the chefs to create a feast fit for a rock star, but it's not that easy. Once again the tables are turned and the chefs are taken out of the kitchen and brought to a surprise location to prepare their meals.

In the final challenge - the tables are turned when host Curtis Stone prepares a meal for the remaining chefs. Then the three finalists must create a three course meal based on important memories throughout their lives and careers. Guests for the finale include: Tom Colicchio, Jon Waxman, Rick Moonen, Susan Feniger, Susur Lee, as well as Danyelle Freeman and Alan Systma. The judges include: Ruth Reichl, James Oseland and guest Gael Greene.

In this week's quickfire challenge the chefs must use each of their five senses to identify mystery ingredients - however they can only use one of their senses at time. In the elimination challenge, the masters help a man propose to his unsuspecting girlfriend on her favorite show, "Top Chef Masters." In a six-course meal, the chefs must create dishes that reflect different stages of the couple's relationship, but could one bad dish ruin the whole plan?

With today's technology, everyone wants things to be done as fast as possible. In this week's quickfire, the masters will have 15 minutes to create a breakfast from start to finish- but they can only use one specific tool from the modern day kitchen. For the elimination challenge, the masters must trade in their aprons for goggles and stovetops for Bunsen burners. Using traditional high school chemistry at a Science Fair, the master chefs must create their most palatable creations.