Northland's Zee Tana is still in the running to be New Zealand's next MasterChef after finishing in the top two in the latest highly competitive round.
The top nine became the top eight in a round judges considered the highest standard of food was produced in the history of the show.
Mr Tana and fellow competitor Dave Mckinnon were the top two and were rewarded with an exclusive meal at an award winning vineyard.
The episode saw the nine wanna be top chefs take a road trip to Hawkes Bay and shop at the local farmers market.
Each cook was given $50 and just 30 minutes to chose their ingredients including lamb which was the feature of the dish.
"That fennel is one of the best things I've ever tasted. Mate love your work."
The other judges complemented Mr Tana by saying they were struggling to find anything wrong with the plate of food.
Mr Tana a former Whangarei Boys' High School student entered the show when he was caring for his ill mother at Hukeranui last year. Since the show he has moved to Australia and has dreams of opening a food business selling gourmet fast food. He was also a winner in the fast food challenge in an earlier episode of the series.