Three couples fought out the first of four heats, using core ingredients pork and pistachios to create a main meal and dessert.

The winning pair cooked up a storm, creating a pork and potato rosti stack followed by chocolate crepes with caramel pistachio sauce.

They squeezed in ahead of Phill Griffin and Gabbi Mavin by just one point to win a ticket into the finals.

Third-placed Jillian Stocks and Jordan Bartter were a hit with the crowd, spending as much time entertaining the masses as creating their culinary masterpieces.

Griffith Central centre manager Cheryl Wood said the 100-strong audience had witnessed a great start to an entertaining competition.

“I think having couples is really going to be a lot of fun – they all brought their own cheer squads with them and the crowd really got into it,” Mrs Wood said.

“Having teams means we can run with a shorter format, with 75 minutes to cook instead of the hour-and-a-half they had last year.

“It was all very interactive and a lot of fun.”

Members of the audience were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite couple, with the $1 donation from each vote going to the Griffith Comm-unity Hospital fund.

One audience member will win a 520-litre fridge at the end of the competition.