Season 2

01 Episode 01 - Artie and Johnny (QLD) Episode 131st January 2011 The boys have been mates ever since Artie, 42, employed Johnny, 26, to work at his award-winning butcher shop - Nambour Plaza Meats – a few years ago. Since then, Artie has inspired his young protégé to reach new culinary heights. "I really started taking a liking to cooking when I was in high school," Johnny recalls. "But my passion for it grew when I met Artie. His love for food encouraged me to take it further." Artie adds: "Food's always been a big part of my life. Being Mediterranean, i'’s who we are. Life’s about eating and enjoying food." Both men take pride in the food they prepare and the meat they sell. Artie's butchery has been singled out for a Retail Excellence of the Year Award twice and his snags last year made the state finals of the Queensland Sausage King. 02 Episode 02 - Kane and Lee (VIC) Episode 21st February 2011 Hosting everything from tapas nights to dinner parties, Kane, 28, and Lee, 25, make one formidable duo. "We probably work better as a team than as individuals," Kane says. "We're not just team-mates, we're house mates and good friends." They define their cooking style as Asianfusion with a twist. Growing up with a Chinese mother, Lee borrows heavily from her Asian heritage. "I always try to incorporate Asian ingredients into my food," she says. "Whether it's something simple like wombok, soy sauce or delicacies like black fungus – I always try and see what I can add to make it different." 03 Episode 03 - Sammy and Bella (NSW) Episode 32nd February 2011 For Sydney sisters Sammy and Bella, cooking is a family affair. Their grandmother Ursula was a chef in Poland who cooked for many high-profile politicians including former US president Bill Clinton. "She worked as a caterer for all the embassies so whenever there was a diplomatic event or a big political function she was part of the catering team," Sammy says. "She cooked for a lot of influential people, including Bill Clinton, which was the highlight of her career." Bella adds: "Cooking is definitely in our blood. It's been passed on from one generation to the next in our family." Not only have the sisters paired up for the competition but they used to work together in fashion; Sammy, 22, as a buyer and Bella, 27, in marketing. But in a strong indicator of their passion they both quit their jobs to take part in My Kitchen Rules. 04 Donna and Reade (SA) Episode 47th February 2011 The Adelaide couple have been running their own business for the last 12 years and use cooking as a means of escape from their work. They love it so much they even knocked down a wall in their home to create a bigger kitchen. "We love the whole experience; everything from the shopping to the preparation and the actual cooking," Reade says. Reade, 46, actually wanted to be a chef when he finished school but a mix-up cost him his dream. "I did my work experience as a chef and absolutely loved it," he explains. "The skills I have now are the skills I learnt during that time. I really wanted an apprenticeship at this restaurant but when I turned up they'd already offered it to someone else because they didn’t know I was coming." 05 Episode 05 - Melanie and James (TAS) Episode 58th February 2011 Melanie, 37, was married for 12 years to a chef who dominated their kitchen. "I didn't cook at all during that time," she says. "He just did it all. When we split up, I had to start cooking for myself and my two children. I found that not only could I cook, but I was pretty good at it too. "When I was married I only had four dishes to my name. Now I have hundreds and I realise what fun I missed out on." James, a 36-year-old jazz musician, was a notoriously bad eater. Tomato sauce on pasta was about as extravagant as he got. "I'd never had an interest in food until I met Melanie," he says. "I was like, 'Can you deep fry that?' Being a musician, a lot of the eating I did was between one and three in the morning." 06 Episode 06 - Daniela and Stefania (WA) Episode 69th February 2011 Their passion for food is infectious. "I just love to see people eat my food and enjoy it," Daniela says. "Cooking relaxes me. I could do it at 12.30 at night. Any time... I just love it." Stefania adds: "We're Italian! Of course, we love our food. I enjoy seeing people's expressions when they taste the food I've made. It makes me happy." The women are so close they're more like sisters. "We're very alike," Daniela, 43, says. "We like the same things. Stefania is fun to be with; everyone who meets her likes her." Stefania, 41, is equally as kind about her cousin adding, "Daniela's a beautiful person inside and out." The Perth duo get along so well they're worried it may pose a problem for them during the competition. "We muck around too much," Daniela says. "We find it hard to be serious." 07 Episode 7 – Mal and Bec (QLD) Episode 714th February 2011 Queensland couple Mal and Bec live and breathe food. They have been working in and managing cafes and restaurants for years - but never as chefs. 08 Episode 8 - Kelly and Ash (VIC) Episode 815th February 2011 Victorian couple Kelly and Ash are complete opposites in the kitchen but they always deliver when they're entertaining. 09 Episode 9 - Esther and Ali (TAS) Episode 916th February 2011 Tasmanian friends Esther and Ali have not only joined forces in the kitchen but they're also partners in the fight against crime. The Hobart girls met while they were both at the Tasmanian Police Academy. 10 Episode 10 - Bill and Alex (NSW) Episode 1021st February 2011 NSW mates Bill and Alex are cool customers both in and out of the kitchen. Exuding plenty of confidence, they're sure of themselves and their skills. 11 Episode 11 - Anne-Marie and Nick (SA) Episode 1122nd February 2011 For South Australian newlyweds Ann- Marie and Nick, food is something that draws people together. The pair describe their cooking style as Mediterranean with a rustic edge. 12 Episode 12 - Kerry and Holly (WA) Episode 1223rd February 2011 Tonight, we head to our final instant restaurant in West Australia to see the critical mother and daughter duo Kerry and Holly. 13 Episode 13 People’s Choice Challenge – Street Party Episode 1328th February 2011 The 12 teams are taken out of their comfort zones and must cook in other people's homes for an entire street of people for their annual street party. For the first time, real people will get to vote on the contestants' food. 14 Episode 14 Kitchen Cook-Off Episode 141st March 2011 The teams compete to create the ultimate meat-and-three-veg meal. However, a surprise twist will have them scrambling to beat the clock. Who will risk facing the sudden-death cook-off? 15 Episode 15 - Sudden Death Cook-Off Episode 152nd March 2011 The weakest team from Episode 13 cooks off against the weakest team from Episode 14 16 Episode 16 - People’s Choice Challenge – Channel 7 Studios Breakfast Episode 167th March 2011 The teams must cook breakfast on the go for the cast and crew of Home and Away. The team with the best dish, as judged by the cast and crew, will win the People's Choice and be safe for the week 17 Episode 17 - Kitchen Cook-Off Episode 178th March 2011 The teams must create their meals at the kitchen headquarters, but just before time starts, the judges throw them a surprise curve-ball they don't see coming. 18 Episode 18 - Sudden Death Cook-Off 2 Episode 189th March 2011 The weakest team from Episode 16 cooks off against the weakest team from Episode 17 19 Episode 19 - People’s Choice Challenge – Children’s Festival Episode 1914th March 2011 Tonight, the contestants cook for the most difficult clients - children. Who will end up on the bottom? 20 Episode 20 - Kitchen Cook-Off Episode 2015th March 2011 There is a 30-minute rapid cook-off with a twist followed by a spectacular cooking showdown. The lowest ranking team will be sent to the sudden-death cook-off. Who will face elimination? 21 Episode 21 - Sudden Death Cook-Off 3 Episode 2116th March 2011 The lowest ranking teams face off in this episode's battle for survival. They must impress the judges and the guest judges. Who will go? 22 Episode 22 - People’s Choice Challenge – Outdoor Picnic Episode 2221st March 2011 The teams must make the perfect picnic basket for the hungry hordes at an international food festival. The team with the best dish, as judged by the people, will be safe for the week. Who will be sent to the sudden-death cook-off? 23 Episode 23 - Kitchen Cook-Off Episode 2322nd March 2011 In this rapid cook-off teams were challenged to cook canapes. 1 plate of 6 canapes in 30 minutes. 24 Episode 24 - Sudden Death Cook-Off 4 Episode 2423rd March 2011 The weakest team from Episode 22 cooks off against the weakest team from Episode 23 25 Episode 25 - The Northern Territory Adventure – Round 1 Episode 2528th March 2011 The remaining seven teams arrive in the Red Centre to compete in the first of three Northern Territory challenges. The team with the best dish as judged by the cattle farmers will win the People's Choice and be safe. 26 Episode 26 - The Northern Territory Adventure – Round 2 Episode 2629th March 2011 The Northern Territory adventure continues as the teams board the Ghan. For this test, the teams are forced to cook in the world's tiniest kitchen aboard a moving train on the way to Darwin. 27 Episode 27 - The Northern Territory Adventure – Round 3 Episode 2730th March 2011 The Northern Territory adventure ends in Darwin and the competition is turned on its head by an unexpected turn of events 28 Episode 28 - Urban Challenge – Chinese Cuisine Episode 284th April 2011 The teams will cook a Chinese banquet at one of the biggest Chinese restaurants in Australia. While the experience leaves them reeling, they are hit with a surprise that nobody saw coming. 29 Episode 29 - Kitchen Cook-Off Episode 295th April 2011 The teams begin with a rapid cook-off in a challenge with an international flavour. The lowest-ranking team will be sent straight to the sudden-death cook-off. Who will impress the judges and who will face elimination? 30 Episode 30 - Sudden Death Cook-Off 5 Episode 306th April 2011 The lowest-ranking teams face off in a battle for survival in the competition. They must cook their best three-course meal for the judges and guest judges Guy Grossi, Tobie Puttock, Liz Egan and Karen Martini. 31 Episode 31 - Finals – Round 1 Episode 3111th April 2011 In the first semifinal, two teams must cook their best three-course meal for the judges. One team will be eliminated and the other team will head straight to the grand final. 32 Episode 32 - Finals – Round 2 Episode 3212th April 2011 In the second semifinal, two teams must cook their best three course meal for judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel and guest judges Guy Grossi, Tobie Puttock, Liz Egan and Karen Martini. One team will be eliminated. The other team will head straight to the grand final. Who will rise to the top and who will get the chop? 33 Episode 33 - Finale Episode 3313th April 2011 In the grand final, the two remaining teams must prepare a five-course meal for the judges. Who will be crowned the champion and walk away with the $100,000 cash prize?