We're back in New Zealand with Simon and Meg cooking up some classic Kiwi cuisine, but it's not just the food that's being served up, it's some well-seasoned strategy.

Elimination Kitchen:  Simon & Meg (NZ, Group 1)

Pete Evans

Colin Fassnidge

Manu Feildel

Elimination Kitchen: Megan and Andy (TAS, Group 2)

Elimination Kitchen: Thomas & Carla (VIC, Group 1)

There are plenty of surprises in store as Australia's favourite home- cooking show My Kitchen Rules returns for a brand new series. Our twelve new cooking teams each take turns to transform an ordinary home into an instant restaurant, serving up a three- course menu designed to impress not only their fellow contestants but MKR judges, Pete Evans and Manu Feildel. Tonight, it is NSW's turn as Greek siblings Steve and Helen battle the clock and their nerves to plate up on time. Will they be able to recover after an oven mishap threatens to derail the show's first instant restaurant? Let the battle begin!

Group One: NSW

Tonight, school teacher Angela and truckie Justine prepare their three-course menu. These gals are polar opposites in lifestyle so what will end up on the plate? There will be thrills and spills as they battle the clock and their nerves to plate up on time.

Group One: WA

Our twelve new cooking teams each take turns to transform an ordinary home into an instant restaurant, serving up a three-course menu designed to impress not only their fellow contestants but MKR judges, Pete Evans and Manu Feildel. Tonight, it's South Australia's turn as florist Leigh and 'princess' Jennifer prepare their Thai inspired three- course menu. These girls are all about style but how will it translate onto the plate? There will be thrills and spills as they battle the clock and their nerves to plate up on time.

Group One: SA

Our twelve new cooking teams each take turns to transform an ordinary home into an instant restaurant, serving up a three-course menu designed to impress not only their fellow contestants but MKR judges, Pete Evans and Manu Feildel. For the first time in My Kitchen Rules history, a New Zealand team is hosting their dinner event on home soil. Tonight, it's the Kiwis turn as we travel to Auckland to see Simon & Meg prepare their three-course menu. And it's trans-Tasman war when they put pavlova on the menu. There will be thrills and spills as they battle the clock and their nerves to plate up on time.

Group One: NZ

Tonight, solider mates David and Scott host their instant restaurant. The boys are used to high-pressure situations but how will they go under fire in the kitchen? They'll serve up a three-course menu designed to impress not only their fellow contestants but also judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

Group One: QLD

Tonight, the final team from group one host their instant restaurant. Close mates Thomas and Carla prepare their three course menu. The pair are 'just friends', who insist there are no sparks between them. They share a volatile relationship so will there be fireworks when they enter the kitchen? The lowest scoring group normally faces elimination, but judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel announce a giant twist the teams don't see coming and one that will turn the game on its head.

Group One: VIC

Group one have shown what they can do in the kitchen and now it's group two's turn to plate up. Tonight, potential in-laws Sam and Jillian prepare their three-course menu. The pair love to look good but will their sense of style translate to the plate? They get along like a house on fire but will they reach boiling point before the competition's over?

Group Two: NSW

Engaged scientists Emma and Andrew host their instant restaurant. Will they have the right formula to win? They'll serve up a three-course menu designed to impress not only their fellow contestants but also judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel. In a hilarious episode, Andrew's clumsiness threatens to get the better of them as they spend more time tending to his wounds than their menu.

Group Two: WA

With four more instant restaurants to go, the pressure's on to stay out of the bottom three and avoid the danger zone. It's childhood mates Nic and Rocco's turn to put on the ritz with their casino-themed restaurant as they try to impress judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

Group Two: SA

Tonight, engaged sales reps Megan and Andy have the chance to show Australia and judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel, what they're made of.

Group Two: TAS

Every team has felt the sting of their biting critiques, now it's time to turn the tables as Peter and Gary put their money where their mouth is. Are they up to the challenge?

Group Two: QLD

Tonight, it's Victoria's turn to cook. Will competitive sisters Carly & EMILY do enough to stay out of the bottom three? At the end of the night, the two groups are re-united as hosts PETE EVANS and MANU FEILDEL drop a bombshell no one sees coming.

Group Two: VIC

Tonight begins the round of elimination kitchens as we go around the county again. To start things off Thomas & Carla (VIC) from Group 1. After failing to impress the judges and fellow contestants with their dessert, they're desperate to make amends. Will they make the most of their second chance or crumble under the pressure?

The pressure to avoid last place in the elimination round is reaching fever pitch. Tonight one team attempt to recover from their near disaster instant restaurant which was hampered by time management and nerves. They've got their eyes on the prize but will history repeat itself?

Tonight, one team attempts to dazzle the judges and their fellow contestants after failing to deliver the right flavours during their first instant restaurant. Will they learn from their mistakes to create a winning culinary composition? And with the threat of elimination biting at their heels, one team takes the game to a whole different level, with the shock power play threatening to change everything.

Elimination Kitchen: Emma & Andrew (WA, Group 2)

It's the penultimate instant restaurant of the elimination round tonight, and with only two teams left to cook, the pressure is high to impress fellow contestants and judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

Elimination Kitchen: David & Scott (QLD, Group 1)

They opened their kitchens to Australia and cooked with everything they had and stress levels are sky high as one team will be eliminated at the end of tonight's instant restaurant. Who will be the first team to go home?

Elimination Kitchen: Peter & Gary (QLD, Group 2)

After an emotional first elimination, the remaining teams are about to be taken completely out of their comfort zone. The teams set off on an adventure of a lifetime with challenges in amazing Australian locations where partnerships are tested and tempers ignite. First stop is the scenic Blue Mountains for a bed and breakfast challenge. The weakest team - as chosen by judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel- will head straight to a Sudden Death Cook-off where they will face elimination. It's a struggle in unfamiliar territory and it's no holds barred in a dash to win the People's Choice to avoid elimination.

Offsite Challenge: Bed & Breakfast

Tonight, the teams must cook at Kitchen Headquarters for the first time where the judges have a few tricks up their sleeve. Who will rise to the challenge? And who will miss the mark? The team with the least impressive dish will go to the sudden death cook off.

Challenge at MKR Headquarters: First Challenge

It’s the first elimination at Kitchen Headquarters tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES. The pressure is mounting as two teams battle for survival. With the arrival of the MKR guest judges – Guy Grossi, Karen Martini, Tobie Puttock and Liz Egan – getting it right will be even tougher. At the end of a frantic three courses, one team will be eliminated. Who will be going home?

Sudden Death Cook-Off

The teams must create a 'pop-up food stall' to feed the Melbourne lunch crowd with meals that are not only tasty, but quick and easy to eat.

Offsite Challenge: Pop-Up Food Stall

In tonight's challenges back at Headquaters, teams must trust each other and then cook a dish that represents them.

Challenge at MKR Headquarters: Trust & Representation

Enemies collide as the competition’s biggest rivals face off tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES. These sudden death rivals have history and their fight is personal. Tonight the score will be settled by the judges table as they face off in the ultimate Sudden Death Cook Off. Who will be the last team standing? And who will go home?

Sudden Death Cook-off

Tonight, the remaining teams find themselves in Ingham, a small quintessential sugar cane town. Their challenge is to create sweet treats for the town's annual Harvest Festival using an ingredient the locals know best...sugar!

Offsite Challenge: Ingham Harvest Festival

The teams are in for a shock when they're told they will be shopping for ingredients at roadside stalls and local markets.

Offsite Challenge: Roadside stalls & Local markets

It's the last chance of survival for two teams tonight in the tropical style sudden death cook off. The heat is on as the temperatures rise in kitchen. At the end of it all, one team will be going home.

Everyone is back at Kitchen Headquarters and tonight's challenge requires the teams to prepare a seafood banquet fit for kings and the guests of honour are the most important people they will ever cook for - surprise VIPs.

Challenge at MKR Headquarters: Seafood Banquet

Tonight, it's an episode full of surprise tests and temptations. First up, teams begins to cook with their most difficult ingredients used yet, but soon the tables are turned.

Challenge at MKR Headquarters: Childhood Dislikes

National pride is on the line as two teams go head to head in the sudden death cook-off. It's neck and neck in the closest battle so far. After a nail bitingly close contest, one team will be eliminated.

The judges have a shock announcement that shakes things up in the competition. In another surprise twist, the teams will face their harshest critics yet with the arrival of a jury. The teams are left dumbfounded when they see who's coming to dinner. The jury will determine one of the weakest teams while Pete and Manu will decide the other. No one is safe as the jury delivers their verdict. The two weakest teams will head straight to a sudden death cook-off, where the competition soars to a new level as contestants strive for perfection to plate up their best dish and avoid elimination. Who will be going home tonight?

Elimination Week: Elimination One

The remaining teams will battle it out in an all-in cook-off. The jury have their knives out again and together with the judges will determine tonight's lowest scoring teams. The two teams with the weakest dishes will then fight for their survival in an elimination cook off, which will ultimately see one team go home. The competition continues to heat up as the remaining teams storm towards finals week.

Elimination Week: Elimination Two

Tonight, teams continue to impress as they bring out their best culinary skills in a difficult challenge. The jury will determine the two weakest teams who will go straight into a sudden death cook-off. Who will buckle under the heat and go home?

Elimination Week: Elimination Three

The final four teams go to head to head in an all-in cook-off tonight. This last challenge, before finals weeks, will determine who will face off against each other in the all-important semi-finals. It's an opportunity for all to teams to showcase their skills and techniques with some outstanding results.

Semi-Final Placement

It's the first round of the semi-finals and two teams must cook their most impressive 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 reign supreme and go straight to the grand final. With $250,000 prize money at stake, it's a do or die battle to the very end.

Semi-Finals: Round One

One team has already earned their place in the all-important grand final and tonight their competitor will be decided. The remaining two teams must cook their most impressive three course meal for judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel, and guest judges Guy Grossie, Tobie Puttock, Liz Egan and Karen Martini. One team will be eliminated while the other will head straight to the grand final. With $250,000 in prize money, it's a battle to the very end.

Semi-Finals: Round Two

It started with twelve teams and now it' s down to two. They've cooked for their fellow contestants in their own homes, tantalised tastebuds across the streets of Australia and impressed the judges at Kitchen Headquarters. Tonight, in the ultimate test, the two final teams must prepare an impressive five-course meal for a full restaurant. With 100 plates to serve per team, the pressure is on. Judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel guest judges Guy Grossi, Tobie Puttock, Liz Egan and Karen Martini will score each team out of 10 to determine this year's winner. In a suspenseful and exciting not-to-be missed grand final, who will be crowned My Kitchen Rules 2012 champions and walk away with the $250,000 cash prize?

Grand Final

My Kitchen Rules is an Australian competitive cooking game show broadcast on the Seven Network since 2010. The series is produced by the team who created the Seven reality show My Restaurant Rules, and was put into production based on the success of Network Ten's MasterChef Australia. My Kitchen Rules has just been renewed by the Seven Network for a fifth series.

Elimination Kitchen: Simon & Meg (NZ, Group 1)

Seasons16

Season 3 Episodes37

Cast3

Discussion

Episode Summary