Top Chef: Boston
Season 12 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Picks up essential narrative continuity directly following the events of Top Chef Season 11.
- Character alliances, factions, and personal loyalties undergo significant shifts under escalating stakes.
- Addresses unresolved cliffhangers and thematic mysteries introduced during previous seasons.
- Establishes the primary seasonal conflict that drives serialized character arcs toward the finale.
Episode Guide
Season 12 Progress Shield
Sudden Death
Oct 15, 2014 · 42 min
The wicked-awesome supersized season premiere introduces the 16 chefs from across the country who will be battling it out in Boston. Richard Blais (“Top Chef All-Stars” winner) joi
Boston's Bravest and Finest
Oct 22, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs create a surf-and-turf dish for guest judge Todd English; teams prepare dishes to be served up to Boston police and firemen and judged by guest chef Dante de Magistris.
The Curse of the Bambino
Oct 29, 2014 · 42 min
In a nod to the Boston Tea Party, the contestants must use tea to enhance their dishes for guest judge Ming Tsai; Fenway Park hosts a competition in which the chefs must use ballpa
12 Chefs Walk Into a Bar...
Nov 5, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs must create the ultimate bar snack for guest judge George Wendt ("Cheers"); the chefs must work in teams to write a create a 3-course Italian menu; actress Emmy Rossum ("
It's War
Nov 12, 2014 · 42 min
In a head-to-head challenge, the chefs cook for guest judge Jamie Bissonnette; the chefs make dishes on a lean military budget at the historic Watertown Arsenal.
The First Thanksgiving
Nov 19, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs trek through a bog to gather cranberries; the chefs cook a Thanksgiving feast using only ingredients and cooking methods found in the 1600s; descendants of the Mayflower
Restaurant Wars
Dec 3, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs are split into two teams and challenged to open their own pop-up restaurants, which includes creating menus, coming up with the decor and training the wait staff; acclaim
Clean Up in Aisle 2!
Dec 10, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs must cook chowder for chef Jasper White; eliminated chefs return; for the Elimination Challenge, the kitchen opens its doors for the first time ever for a tasting party w
Big Sausage
Dec 17, 2014 · 42 min
The chefs are challenged to concoct a tasty sausage dish for NFL player Rob Gronkowski; the chefs create dishes inspired by famous New England authors, such as Stephen King, Edgar
For Julia & Jacques
Jan 7, 2015 · 42 min
The chefs flash back to their college days when they must prepare a ramen noodle dish judged by Andy Cohen and his college roommate, Dave Ansel; chef Jacques Pepin challenges the c
Sous Your Daddy!
Jan 14, 2015 · 42 min
The chefs are thrown for a loop when their family members join them to serve as their sous chefs in an Elimination Challenge, putting their tickets to the finals on the line.
The Final Battle of Bean Town
Jan 21, 2015 · 42 min
In honor of their last quick-fire challenge in "Beantown," the chefs must prepare an innovative bean dish; the chefs compete for a spot in the finals by creating dishes that exempl
Getting Prickly in Mexico
Jan 28, 2015 · 42 min
In the first of the three-part finale, the three finalists head to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where they are greeted by head judge Tom Colicchio who invites them to watch the
Holy Escamoly!
Feb 4, 2015 · 42 min
The chefs have to make two dishes with chocolate with one being sweet and the other savory.