Three keen amateur cooking couples compete to lay on the best food for a series of parties and win a big cash prize. It's the first day of the competition and Sharon's throwing a 1980s themed party to celebrate her 50th birthday. Providing the catering are perfectionists John and Carolyn, spice lovers Rav and Janita and confident Rob and Ana. There's a crisis of confidence when two couples choose to serve the duck a l'orange, and slapdash presentation gets a slating from the opinionated guests.