Season 1 Episodes
1. Waikato: Neena & Belinda
It's instant restaurant time. In Waikato, modern-day hippies Neena and Belinda try to impress judges Ben Bayly and Gareth Stewart and four rival teams with their best three course dinner.
2. Auckland: Sam & Dan
Dan and Sam, the youngest contestants, try to impress the judges.
3. Tauranga: June & Steph
June and Steph face kitchen conundrums and a lost ingredient.
4. Dunedin: Dan & Christie
Newlyweds Christie and Dan work a Mexican-themed restaurant in snowy Dunedine.
5. Orewa: Tracey & Neil
Tracey and Neil host the final round before elimination.
6. Palmerston: Aaron & Heather
Aaron and Heather kick off group two and try to set the bar for the other competitors.
7. Lower Hutt: Ian and Sandie
Ian and his wife Sandie must prove their worth after talking big last round.
8. Christchurch: Jessie and Ricki
Jessie and Ricki enjoy their triumphs and work through tears and tantrums.
9. North Shore: Josh and Aaron
Josh and Aaron try to cook their way into the top three to avoid the dangerous fourth spot.
10. Hawke's Bay: Kelly and Megan
Sisters Kelly and Megan are under pressure to impress; the judges reveal a shocking twist.
11. Instant Restaurant: Theresa and Joelle
Mothers Theresa and Joelle struggle to plate up in a chaotic kitchen.
12. Instant Restaurant: Neil and Tracey
Tracey and Neil aim to improve over their previous 57 points this time.
13. Instant Restaurant: Josh and Aaron
Josh and Aaron are determined to score higher than their previous 68 points.
14. Instant Restaurant: Steven and Maura
Maura and Steve try to impress with their restaurant's look in addition to the food.
15. Instant Restaurant: Dai and Dal
Dai and Dal create a unique Laotian-style restaurant; the judges reveal a twist.
16. Ronald McDonald House
Teams split into groups to cook a healthy meal for the children of Auckland's Ronald McDonald House.
17. Rapid Cookoff
Teams face their first cook-off to determine who will enter the elimination round.
18. Sudden Death
Two teams face off in 90 minutes to prepare and serve an entree to 4 special guest judges.
19. Genesis International
Teams must cook for 150 people in 90 minutes to avoid the elimination round.
20. Rapid Cookoff
Teams have 45 minutes to cook; the bottom three teams will move onto the showdown.
21. Sudden Death
The bottom 4 teams face elimination as they cook for judges Ben and Gareth and four guest judges.
22. Bikers Banquet
The 6 remaining teams aim to please as they prepare lunches for the judges and eight mystery guests.
23. Rapid Cookoff
As teams compete to avoid sudden death, a twist in the challenge throws them off their game.
24. Sudden Death
The bottom two teams face sudden death as they cook for Ben, Gareth, and four guest judges.
25. Federal St. Pizza
The top five teams compete in a people's choice pizza challenge in Auckland to avoid sudden death.
26. Rapid Cookoff
The top 3 teams compete in two challenges to find out who will continue.
27. Sudden Death
The bottom 2 teams compete to impress judges Ben, Gareth, and four guest judges.
28. Semi-Final 1
In the first semi-final, two teams compete to advance to the Grand Final.
29. Semi-Final 2
In the second semi-final, the remaining teams compete for a spot in the Grand Final.
30. Final
The last two teams prepare five courses each, but only one will claim the $100,000 grand prize.