Hot Chefs Round 2: Khanna, Joyal, Merriman, Derby

Voting in Eater's fourth annual Hottest Chefs Competition heats up today with first battle of the Semifinals Round. Eight chefs remain, and by the end of voting in tomorrow's heat, just two chefs will be left standing. Here, now, today defending champion Vikas Khanna will go up against three other first round winners: Wong's Blake Joyal, former Top Cheffer Ashley Merriman, and King's Francis Derby.

Tomorrow chefs Robert Truitt, Michael Chernow, Sarma Melngailis, and Jeff Held will do battle. May the hottest chef win.