Israeli, Indian and Southern restaurant-owning families compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to win $10,000. In the first round, Valerie Bertinelli challenges them to make a seafood feast under an intense time crunch. In the second round, the two families that remain try to impress judges Clinton Kelly, Aarti Sequeira and Jet Tila with their signature meat and potatoes meal, but host Valerie Bertinelli adds one final twist.
The five remaining finalists are excited when Giada reveals they will cook their all-time favorite signature dish and present it to the camera, but surprise - there's a twist! It's not that easy. They have to add their least favorite ingredient, which was delivered by the family members of each finalist. After recovering from the emotional reunion of seeing their families, finalists are each assigned "an emotion" and must cook a dish and tell a story inspired by that emotion for special guests Eva Longoria and Todd English at their restaurant, Beso.
Ina's got a date with Tyler Florence and they're baking a towering chocolate Birthday Cake for Tyler's son, then checking out the local farming scene to get chicken and vegetables for Tyler's signature Fried Chicken and Ina's Winter Slaw.