Four passionate barbecue teams come to Greenwood, South Carolina, armed with their best barbecue recipes. The teams must ace all four competition categories: pork, chicken, ribs and beef brisket in order to win $2500 and the title of "grand champion."

Four cake artists have to make a wedding cake for a tattooed couple. But this engaged couple doesn't want an ordinary wedding cake; they want an extreme cake that is a show stopper. So, to have a chance at ten thousand dollars, the cake artists have to figure out a way to make their cakes spin, shoot fire, and otherwise "wow" these discerning clients.

Four of the best cake designers in the country must make a cake for a couple celebrating their Golden Anniversary. The competitor that can distill 50 years of marriage and put it into one great cake will take home ten thousand dollars. But when the couple feels that the cakes aren't personal enough, all the competitors are at risk of being disqualified.

Four cake artists know that they are at Challenge to design a cake to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the "Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant," a beauty pageant for young girls. What the competitors don't know is that the pageant mothers will help them make the cakes. These moms may not know cake, but they know how to win and definitely have their own opinions. The winning cake will earn one competitor ten thousand dollars and a gold medal.

It's the toughest chocolate Challenge yet. Four ace chocolatiers visit Hersheypark to find inspiration for their own original chocolate roller coasters. Not only do they have to make their roller coasters move, they find out during the competition that they have to incorporate Hershey's candies into their design. It's a whole lotta work to get done in eight hours. And the competitor that can rise to this Challenge will take home ten thousand dollars.

Four sugar artists take on a potentially impossible task in this Challenge: make a four foot tall science fiction scene in sugar. The catch? The showpiece must move. Potential for crashes and disaster looms. But the competitor that can make a great showpiece that is still standing strong at the end of the competition will win ten thousand dollars.

Four cake designers tap into their dark side as they create original villains and tell their stories in cake. The cake designers also need to make their creations move or spin or shoot fire -- making for a truly extreme competition. The competitor who can wow the judges with both the story and the special effects will take home ten thousand dollars.

It's a battle of the sexes in this grill-off where three female Food Network stars face off against three male Food Network stars. They have three rounds to please both some mystery clients and a panel of discerning judges. The ten thousand dollar grand prize will be donated to charity.

Four cake artists have to make cakes to celebrate a tenth high school reunion. And who better to assist with the cake than the former classmates of the class of 2000? The rebel, the cheerleader, the jock and the nerd all have a bone to pick with each other. And it will be settled in the Food Network Challenge studio. The winning competitor will earn ten thousand dollars.