Hell's Kitchen

On the Season 16 premiere of HELL'S KITCHEN, Chef Gordon Ramsay welcomes the newest crop of hopefuls on the grounds of a U.S. Army training facility. The 18 aspiring chefs will have to demonstrate they have the discipline to succeed in HELL'S KITCHEN, before proving their culinary skills in the kitchen. Once Ramsay is confident they have a chance to survive, they are then split up into two teams – men (blue) vs. women (red) – and greeted by the Signature Dish Challenge! The winning team will enjoy a special dinner hosted by Ramsay at Takami Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the losing team will be tasked with cleaning both kitchens and preparing the dining room for the season's first dinner service. Later, during the dinner service, and joined by VIP guests actor Nolan Gould ("Modern Family") and actress Erica Ash ("Real Husbands of Hollywood"), one team will deliver a fantastic service that impresses Chef Ramsay.

The teams go head-to-head during the first-ever HELL'S KITCHEN Crepe Grand Prix challenge, with the contestants racing to present Chef Ramsay with 10 acceptable savory crepes. The winning team will head to Santa Barbara for a luxurious dining experience on a yacht. Meanwhile, the losing team will face a fishy punishment as they take on the responsibility of handling fish delivery day. Later, during the dinner service featuring VIP guests – actress Noureen DeWulf and actor Dash Mihok – one team will struggle right out of the gate before someone's lack of passion leads to another elimination.

With tensions running high in the house, the chefs must set aside their feelings and prepare for their next challenge. This week, Gordon greets the chefs with a surprising selection of meat as each team will need to prepare eight unique dishes using a selection of ostrich cuts. The rest of their ingredients will be selected as the contestants take turns breaking through giant ostrich eggs to collect as many ingredients as they can in just four minutes. Gordon has recruited special guest judges, David McMillan and Frederic Morin, the chefs/owners of Joe Beef, to help critique this week's challenge. The winning team will be jetted off to Big Bear for a zip lining excursion in the mountains. Meanwhile, the losing team has no choice but to face the tedious job of plucking pine nuts out of pinecones and cleaning the kitchen. Later during the dinner service, find out which chefs can't handle the pressure.

Chef Ramsay introduces the contestants to the latest challenge – a Surf & Turf protein relay. As the teams struggle to identify their proteins, they must work together in pairs to succeed in the challenge. The winning team will spend the day surfing at the Wavehouse in San Diego, CA, while the losing team will find themselves spending the day making sausages from scratch. Later, during the dinner service, Ramsay informs the teams that tonight they will need to cook with extra confidence because they will be welcoming a VIP 12-top. Find out which chefs will impress Ramsay.

After a shocking elimination, both teams must regroup and chart a new course. During The Seven Seas Seafood Challenge, the chefs will go head-to-head against a chef of their choice from the opposing team. Each pair will choose a body of water that will reveal a type of fish that they will have 30 minutes to prepare using a variety of fresh ingredients provided by Chef Ramsay. The winning team, accompanied by Ramsay himself, will enjoy an exciting meal at one of LA's hottest restaurants, Petty Cash. Meanwhile, the losing team will stay behind for delivery day and haul in pounds of potatoes and vegetables. Later during the dinner service, Chef Ramsay invites Grammy award-winning artists guitarist Joe Perry (Aerosmith) and R&B singer Estelle.

The remaining contestants use cookbooks from Gordon's HELL'S KITCHEN library to spell out the ingredients they want to use for their next challenge. During this week's Ingredient Crossword Challenge, they'll have 25 minutes to use as many or as few ingredients they've successfully spelled out. The losing team will spend their evening preparing for the upcoming dinner service, while the winning team will enjoy a night of fun that will include a delicious steak dinner and Ice Bunker cars. Later, the dinner service will embrace Family Night with VIP diners including actresses Lauren Lapkus and Ciara Hanna. Find out which contestants fail to incorporate kid-friendly items into their menu.

The remaining contestants are tasked with cooking their own interpretation of a southern staple, and are judged by Chef Ramsay and surprise guest judge Chris Hastings, the executive chef of Hot and Hot Fish Club. The winners will enjoy a Southern-themed reward, while the losing team must prepare for both team's dinner service by grinding pieces of corn and shelling shrimp. The dinner service begins with determination to impress Chef Ramsay and the VIP Guests: NBA player J.J Redick, recording artist Blake Lewis, actress Mircea Monroe and entrepreneur and reality TV star Adrienne Maloof. Stress rises within the teams, and Ramsay makes a shocking decision that leaves the chefs speechless.

After the shocking change that was implemented by Chef Ramsay, the chefs must work together and come out strong. Chef Ramsay informs the teams that HELL'S KITCHEN will be hosting the International Ballroom Invitational and that they will prepare a special menu for the event. The winning team is rewarded with kayaking in the Pacific Ocean and lunch at The Lark, while the losing team must prepare a raw bar for the ballroom event and break down lobster, scrub clams and oysters, and steam up crab. Find out which team will fall short during the final challenge.

The remaining contestants prepare for their next challenge – a blind taste test during which each team must determine the taste of pureed baby foods. The winning team will enjoy a relaxing day of massages and a nice lunch, while the losing team must prepare the kitchen, all while hauling in bags of ice and boxes of wine. During service, both teams start off strong, as they try to impress guest celebrity diners – actor Josh McDermitt and TV host Jeannie Mai - but excuses and miscommunication ultimately lead both teams to failure.

Following the recent eliminations, the teams must balance out, and a member of one will move to the other. Then, the chefs tackle sliders for their challenge. The chefs are later introduced to three guest judges – Adam Fleischman, the founder of Umami Burger; Sang Yoon, the chef and owner of Father's Office; and Christina Wilson, the executive chef of Gordon Ramsay's BURGR – who will all determine which team gets to party at the Playboy Mansion and which team gets stuck cleaning up the LA River. Later, the teams try to impress celebrity guest diners, including 2009 Playmate of the Month Crystal Hefner, "Fashion Police" executive producer Melissa Rivers, TV hosts and producers Drew and Jonathan Scott and actress Ashley Green. However, a tough dinner service for both teams ultimately leads to a shocking elimination.

The chefs pair up for a taste challenge in which the winners receive Vitamix blenders and a special trapeze lesson on the Santa Monica Pier. Later, the chefs learn that the night's dinner service will be a unique one, as they will host a private, invitation only service that honors major contributors to the charity "Stand Up to Cancer." After a few hiccups, one team must chose two people for elimination, which causes an unexpected deliberation.

Then, the chefs must pair up for their challenge in which they must try and combine two countries' flavors to impress guest judge, Roy Yamaguchi, owner and executive chef of Roy's. Later during dinner service, the chefs try to impress Chef Ramsay, as well as special guest diners.

Chef Ramsay shakes things up and introduces a series of three challenges that will determine the recipients of a black jacket. For the first time, there will be no reward, no punishment and no dinner service. During the first challenge, each chef must create a dish, knowing that surprise ingredients will be introduced to them along the way that they must use. In the second challenge, all chefs will receive the same ingredients to begin with and must create a unique dish based upon them. Finally, the competition heats up in the last challenge as two chefs go head-to-head for the final black jacket.

The remaining chefs go head-to-head in a challenge for which Chef Ramsay provides the first three ingredients, but the chefs must race to hit a buzzer in order to get their final three. Tension is high as the chefs try to impress not only Chef Ramsay, but guest judge, Jenn Louis – chef and owner of Lincoln/Sunshine Tavern. The winner receives a special prize – a luxurious overnight trip to Las Vegas, where they will stay in the Presidential Suite at The Venetian Hotel. Meanwhile, the other chefs are left to sort trash for recycling day. During dinner service, the chefs try to keep it together as guest diners TV anchor Neil Everett, comedian Pauly Shore and actor Erik Griffin watch from the dining room. Find out who will impress.

After two chefs are eliminated, the remaining contestants must create a unique dining experience for a large group of well-known chefs that include guest judges Bruce Kalman, Steve Samson, Mette Williams and Alessio Biagini. The winner of this challenge is taken on a helicopter tour of Los Angeles with Chef Andi and is treated to a delicious lunch at Firefly with Chef Ramsay. The losing chefs on the other hand, are forced to wrap presents for the Hell's Kitchen staff, steam their clothes and polish their shoes. At the dinner service, actress Tara Reid, pro baseball player Adrian Gonzalez, actor Matt Letscher and TV personality Taylor Ann Hasselhoff join as guest diners, and each chef is given the opportunity to run the pass, while Chef Andi and Chef Aaron surreptitiously try to sabotage them. Find out which chefs make it to the Top Two.

It's down to the Top Two in the Season 16 finale of HELL'S KITCHEN. As both finalists work on their menus for the last dinner service, Chef Ramsay surprises them with a special trip to the luxurious Ken Paves Salon, where they will receive a makeover before heading to the premiere of a new musical. When the two arrive at the theater, they are greeted by actor Rob Morrow and learn they are not actually seeing a musical, but are instead jumping into their final challenge, for which they must create four dishes in the span of an hour, all while in front of a huge audience! Walter Manzke, Michael Cimarusti, Susan Feniger and John Kunel serve as guest judges and help decide the winner of the challenge. As the contestants move into their final dinner service, they are welcomed by celebrity guest diners MLB Player C.J. Wilson, actress Andrea Roth, actor Danny Trejo and actress Naomi Grossman. Find out who is the winner.

Gordon Ramsay talks about the contestants, punishments, and rewards of season 16.