The Taste Season 2: Episode Guide & Ratings

In the two-hour series premiere, the heat is on when contestants put their best culinary foot forward and create their best dish for Anthony, Nigella, Ludo and Marcus to taste.

Each mentor shares memories of food that reminds him or her of home, then assigns the team a dish to give a personal spin; two contestants are eliminated.

The contestants put their own spin on dishes favored by the mentors; two cooks are sent home; guest judge Aaron Sanchez.

The teams create dishes inspired by street food.

Everyone is shocked when a cook mysteriously decides to leave the competition; when faced with a vegetarian challenge, the teams prepare dishes that include curry and pasta.

The cooks create desserts with combinations of fruity, sweet and savory ingredients; guest judge Christina Tosi; six contestants advance.

The cooks go to restaurants in Los Angeles for beer and food pairings; a challenge determines which cooks move on to the finale.

The four remaining cooks must create dishes inspired by ingredients that include liver, tripe and scallops; chef Jacques Pepin serves as a guest judge.