Fiery First Date (S26E01)

Chef Anne Burrell, along with returning mentor Jeff Mauro, welcomes a lively group of 16 singles to culinary boot camp. Though they may struggle in the kitchen, their enthusiasm to learn and impress potential dates is evident. To kick things off, Anne and Jeff ask the recruits to prepare their signature "seal the deal" dishes, showcasing their culinary talents—or the lack thereof. Following this, the recruits tackle a Main Dish challenge, where they learn to cook duck accompanied by a fruit sauce. After evaluating their skills, Anne and Jeff surprise everyone with an unexpected twist during the team selection.