New Orleans

The city carried the season. Creole and Cajun traditions, gulf seafood, brunch culture and the long shadow of New Orleans restaurants framed the challenges from the first cook. The cast skewed warm without losing competitive edge, the kitchen tension stayed about the food, and Emeril Lagasse joined Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons at the judge's table. Padma Lakshmi hosted a season that let its setting do real work.