The new class of incoming students arrives at Louisiana Culinary Institute, where they're drilled in the school's strict policies. They immediately prepare for a make-or-break test on sanitary practices. Meanwhile, Tiffany's husband shocks her with his extreme reaction to her starting school, Jared wonders whether he should reveal his disabilities, Ben frets about disappointing his family, and Jasmine reveals a surprising secret.
The freshmen at Louisiana Culinary Institute try to learn the history of cooking. Meanwhile, Tiffany has to make a painful change to her family in order to keep on track at school. Ben has to swallow his pride and lean on his in-laws for financial help. Jasmine tries to tell her mom the truth about her job.
The freshmen at LCI start to use knives and then are thrown into the kitchen for their first big cooking test. Jared's PTSD begins to undermine him in class. Ben's stress goes through the roof when he has to take on more responsibility at home. Tiffany's daughter, April, considers dropping out of the program, while Tiffany starts a conflict with one of the school's toughest instructors.
The LCI freshmen slice and dice their way through a pressure-filled knife skills exam and then test their abilities at making sauce. Tiffany's conflict with Chef Wes turns into an all-out war that threatens her future at the school. Jared takes on a culinary challenge that forces him to confront his disabilities. Ben considers a major change when he struggles to pay for school.
The LCI freshmen simmer as they try to prove their skills in sauce class. Ben has difficulty paying his tuition, leading to conflict with the school and forcing him to make a bold decision. Tiffany tries to come back from her rough start by taking on a cooking challenge. A troubling incident at school convinces Jasmine to try to deal with her mental health.
The LCI freshmen take on the school's most demanding professor when they begin vegetables class. Tiffany begins building a business for after graduation, but when her husband gets in the way she's forced to make a big decision about her marriage. Jasmine tries to win over her mom's support by showing off her cooking skills, but her mom proves to be a tough critic.
The freshmen at Louisiana Culinary Institute move from vegetables to meat as they near the end of their first semester. Jasmine's stress boils over and she lets her temper fly at school, leading administrators to question her ability to succeed in the restaurant business. Jared tries to prove his disabilities won't hamper his career by throwing himself into the fire at one of Louisiana's busiest restaurants.
Before they can move on, the LCI freshmen must pass their toughest test yet -- an examination of every skill they've learned since arriving at school. Jasmine finally makes a decision about her secret job. Tiffany's commitment to school is tested when her daughter makes a surprising announcement. Jared tries to get a handle on his memory problems once and for all, while Ben tries to adjust the balance between his school and home lives.
New students arrive at Cabrillo College's culinary program. Gabe is a former gang member looking to turn his life around after a recent stint in prison. Amalia, stay-at-home mom of four, is eager to take on new responsibilities but nervous about accepting a role other than "wife and mother". Kim regrets dropping out of culinary school decades ago and is ready to prove herself, despite her reluctant husband. Jim, a Navy veteran, suffers with a terrible injury that left him jobless & homeless 8 years ago, is seeking a better life. The students get thrown into the fire with their first catering class assignment, leading to a conflict between Jim and his professor.
Kim has her first shot at showing her skills when she's tapped to be Head Chef in the school's student-run restaurant, despite having no professional culinary experience. Gabe's home life interferes with his classes and threatens his chances of staying in school. After a conflict with his catering professor, Jim questions his future at culinary school.
New student Matheus reveals a life-threatening illness that could destroy his culinary dreams. Jim makes a final decision about his future at culinary school. When an unexpected catering assignment pops up, Amalia has to swallow her emotions and lean on her teenage daughter.
Gabe's absences begin to pile up, leaving him unprepared for the class mid-term. Kim attempts to jump-start her career by getting an internship at a well-known restaurant, but leaves the interview with more questions than before. After repeatedly calling out sick from work, Matt debates whether or not to reveal his illness to his boss.
A simple assignment in wine class leads to a potentially life-changing conflict between Kim and her husband, Steve. Meanwhile Gabriel and his friends reminisce about their troubled past, and an unlikely professor takes Gabriel under his wing to help him to turn things around. And Amalia tries to prove herself by competing against her fellow classmates for a chance to have her dish put on the school's restaurant menu.
Under the pressure of school, work and managing his disease, Matt begins to drink heavily and worries his friends. Amalia is forced to choose between school and family when her daughter's play conflicts with an important wine class. And Gabriel makes a last-ditch attempt to rescue his restaurant class grade by putting in extra hours to make up the time he's lost.
When Kim wants to enroll in additional classes at a more expensive culinary school, tensions with Steve come to a head, as the two get into their biggest battle yet. After a heart to heart with Amalia, Matt seeks help for his drinking and learns how to better deal with his disease. And after struggling through restaurant class the entire semester, Gabriel faces his biggest challenge when he is assigned the role of Head Chef. Gabriel hopes his performance will be good enough to save his grade and prove himself to his professors.
After an emotional family meeting, Amalia struggles with whether or not to postpone her culinary dream and go back to being a full-time mom. When symptoms of Matt's disease begin to resurface, his doctor urges him to undergo chemotherapy, despite the effects it will have on him during finals week. After their blowout fight, Kim tries to convince Steve to go along with her plan to take on a new school with higher tuition. And Gabriel hopes his recent efforts in restaurant class will be enough to ace the final exam and pass the class.