Top Chef

Season 11 opens with chefs battling for culinary honors in New Orleans. Here, the foodies must cook with either alligator, frog or turtle.

The chefs prepare gumbo and try to please the palate of New Orleans chef Leah Chase. Later, they create and operate food trucks to serve Habitat for Humanity volunteers working in New Orleans.

The chefs reinvent items on a worst food-trends list. Later, they must replicate dishes from a notable New Orleans restaurant. Guest judges: Paul Prudhomme and Tory McPhail.

The chefs learn about Vietnamese cuisine, culture and customs, then serve up a multicourse Vietnamese meal. Guest judge: Eddie Huang.

There are culinary tricks and treats when the chefs must cater a Halloween party for actress Lea Michele.

The foodies create dishes from the creole tomato. They must then impress cooks at chef John Besh's restaurants in a farm-to-table challenge.

The chefs participate in a culinary version of musical chairs. Later, they prepare dishes for musicians at a potluck event hosted by New Orleans jazz performer Kermit Ruffins.

The chefs must whip up hot sauce for musician Dr. John. The focus is then pork when they cook up a 300-pound hog.

The "Restaurant Wars" challenge tasks the chefs to create pop-up eateries. The judges' panel includes David Chang.

The foodies create dishes that remind them of home. Appearing: actor Anthony Mackie and chef Leah Chase.

Musician Questlove samples various poultry drumsticks. Later, the chefs serve up food fare to incoming students at Louisiana State University.

The chefs serve up étouffée, then honor local cuisine by preparing two types of seafood. Chef John Besh is the guest judge.

Culinary figure Jacques Pepin arrives to test the chefs' techniques based on one of his favorite dishes. Later, the chefs create meals that represent both France and Spain.

The chefs create po' boys, then are tasked to prepare their personal culinary visions on a plate. Appearing: Jon Favreau and Roy Choi.

The chefs battle for a new car in tests presented by Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons. Later, the foodies demonstrate how New Orleans has inspired their dishes. Appearing: Douglas Keane, Grant Achatz and Andrew Carmellini.

The remaining chefs land in Hawaii, where they prepare food fare featuring Spam. Also: a double elimination.

In the Season 11 finale, the remaining two chefs open pop-up restaurants, after which the winner is crowned.