My Kitchen Rules

[TV.Cynic]

Round two redemption in ruins

Maria and Bailey fail to impress as their bland ragu goes sideways

Last night on MKR, Maria and Bailey returned to the kitchen seeking redemption, but their second Instant Restaurant overpromised and underdelivered.

The boss friends from Adelaide ended the night with a disappointing score of 62 out of 110, six points lower than their first cook.

Determined to wow the table, Maria and Bailey presented a technically ambitious menu: Modern Moussaka for entree, Sous Vide Chicken Skewer with Celeriac Purée and Salsa Verde for main and a Dulce de Leche Chocolate Whisky and Pear Tart for dessert.

Maria, proud of her Greek heritage, infused the entrée with a modern twist, substituting the traditional base with a potato rosti. Colin scored the dish a seven and noted the textures were promising, but the flavours fell short. Manu called it a “bland ragu” and scored the dish a five.

Tensions simmered around the table as Michael and Rielli backed their OG teammates while Amy and Lara stirred the pot, questioning whether the OGs had strategically lowballed the Gatecrashers at Danielle and Marko’s Instant Restaurant.

Gatecrashers Mark and Tan weren’t intimidated, cheekily dismissing the OGs’ culinary prowess, but as the table banter escalated, Lara openly hoped the OGs would “fall flat on their face.” Michael confidently declared he’d be thrilled to see Amy and Lara, or Mark and Tan, go home.

Back in the kitchen, Maria stepped in to rescue the chicken marinade with extra seasoning, and they were hopeful the sous vide method would deliver moist, elegant skewers.

While Michael and Rielli praised the dish, others found the chicken dry and uninspiring. Both judges questioned the cooking method used for the skewers. Manu scored the main a seven and praised the purée and salsa verde, but admitted the chicken was missing a charred flavour. Colin scored a five, suggesting grilling the chicken would’ve been a better method.

By dessert, cracks were forming. Literally. The tart’s base broke during plating, forcing a last-minute change to a more abstract presentation. Manu and Colin both scored dessert a five: while they acknowledged the ambition, the flavours were muddled, and the technique overreached.

Colin summed it up: “Sadly, that is not redemption for you.” Bailey admitted, “It’s really heartbreaking that we’re not as good as we said we were.”

Judges’ Scores	Entrée	Main	Dessert
Manu Feildel	5/10	7/10	5/10	17/30
Colin Fassnidge	7/10	5/10	5/10	17/30
Total Score	34/60

MKR Team Scores
Mark and Tan 5/10
Michael and Rielli 6/10
Danielle and Marko 6/10
Amy and Lara 5/10
Lol and Lil 6/10
Total Score 28/50

Tonight on MKR: Michael cops a serve from Manu as competitive mates Mark and Tan hope their rustic Thai menu can topple fellow Gatecrashers Danielle and Marko from the top of the leaderboard.

[Radiohead]

If that’s the case, it’s no wonder that teams are delivering below par dishes if they are expected to fly, shop, set up and cook three courses all on the same day. That would be very tiring.

[JBar]

@JohnsonTV

@Radiohead

I heard one contestant in last night’s (Tuesday’s) episode refer to the previous instant restaurant as “last night”

It’s possible in theory that the instant restaurants in Perth and Adelaide were shot in consecutive days,

The contestants have only started doing that this year. In previous years they always said “last time" but it seems to me like a directive from producers.

Considering some of these dinners can go late into the night, I can’t see how they logistically could be leaving one city, arriving in another city, then shopping, setting up their dinner and cooking in the same day. Anyone would be physically exhausted and quite unrealistic to do it all on consecutive days of one week.

[Apple75]

This season I think the team from Logan QLD said they visited the Zoo in Adelaide. So I think they probably have 1 rest day between restaurants.

[JBar]

Yeah. I’d say that’s the way they have always filmed it. If they ever did consecutive days it would be when two teams were from the same city.

[Radiohead]

Also possible they flew from PER to ADL in the morning and went to the Zoo in the afternoon (which is only just out of the city centre) and the restaurant that evening.

[TV.Cynic]

Pardon your French

Manu lays down the law to Michael

Tonight on MKR, Gatecrashers Mark and Tan started their Instant Restaurant, Charmed, with a bold ambition: to beat the highest score in MKR history. While they didn’t rewrite the record books, the competitive friends landed second on the leaderboard with a score of 80 out of 110.

With a menu rooted in Tan’s Thai heritage and Mark’s flair for theatrics, the duo promised a night of flavour and a little bit of magic.

Tan, who manages two restaurants but is not a chef, took charge of the entrée and main: Grilled Octopus with Thai-style Chimichurri and Chicken Khao Soi. Mark handled the Passionfruit Crème Brûlée dessert.

The food impressed, but tensions around the table stole the spotlight as Manu laid down the law after Michael interrupted his critique.

Michael launched into a fact-finding mission against Amy and Lara, accusing them of misrepresenting their culinary background. He pulled out printed research, questioned Amy’s Instagram profile, and tried to expose her as a professional chef.

Amy held her ground, clarifying she’s a cook, not a chef, and called the attack a “cheap shot.” Manu reminded everyone that MKR is about passion, not paperwork, stating: “You all have skills from different places at different times. The rule is you shouldn’t have any professional qualifications.”

The Grilled Octopus entrée impressed both judges, scoring a nine. Manu called the sauce “absolutely delicious” and noted it should be bottled and sold, while Colin praised the char and balance, saying he’d order it again.

After tasting Tan’s Chicken Khao Soi, a dish close to his heart and rooted in his Thai heritage, Michael interrupted Manu mid-critique to question whether it was served in Tan’s family restaurant and accused him of hiding professional chef experience.

Michael wouldn’t let it go, prompting Manu to cut in firmly: “Listen, you either accept the rules and you play with everyone, or you don’t accept the rules and goodbye.”

The room fell silent as Michael pressed on. “I’m not going back to this again,” Manu said. “You are either a professional and you don’t belong here, or you are an amateur and you belong here. That’s it. Done. Move on.”

Tan responded with grace, saying the dish was made with love and family tradition earning applause around the table.

The main dish was a triumph, scoring a perfect 10 from both judges. Colin said it “put a smile on my face,” and Manu declared it “just perfect. Warm, comforting, and packed with flavour.”

The Passionfruit Crème Brûlée was a misfire, earning a six from Colin and a five from Manu.

Mark felt responsible, admitting he let the team down but the experience only fuelled their drive to go higher next time.

Judges’ Scores	Entrée	Main	Dessert
Manu Feildel	9/10	10/10	6/10	25/30
Colin Fassnidge	9/10	10/10	5/10	24/30
Total Score	49/60

MKR Team Scores
Danielle and Marko 8/10
Michael and Rielli 6/10
Maria and Bailey 5/10
Amy and Lara 6/10
Lol and Lil 6/10
Total Score 31/50

Leaderboard

Danielle and Marko 84
Mark and Tan 80
Maria and Bailey 62

Monday on MKR: The competition returns to Logan as Lol and Lil hope to elevate their menu with technique and flavour, while Mark and Tan look to settle the score with Meat-master Michael.

[TV.Cynic]

Lol and Lil rise to the challenge amid shock MKR exit

Mark walks out after “low blow” height comment

Tonight on MKR, OG duo Lol and Lil returned to Logan with a mission to prove they’re more than just big personalities.

Their second Instant Restaurant earned a total score of 69 out of 110, a solid improvement from their first cook and a testament to their growth.

Determined to silence their critics and demonstrate that they could bring both technique and flavour, the best friends presented a bold and elevated menu: Pan-Seared Scallops for entrée, Pumpkin and Ricotta Ravioli for main, and a Lamington with a twist for dessert.

The scallops impressed the judges, earning a score of seven from both. Colin called them “spot on”, and Manu praised their sweetness, though he missed the lemon garlic butter.

The main dish – a vegetarian ravioli – was a risk that paid off, scoring an eight from both judges, although meat-master Michael was less than impressed.

Colin said they were “on the road to redemption” and praised the pasta as “beautiful”, while Manu called the dish “delicious” despite wanting more filling.

The night took a dramatic turn when Gatecrasher Mark walked out mid-dinner after Rielli made a joke about his height. The comment came after a tense exchange between Mark, Tan and Michael pushed Mark to his limit: “I don’t need people talking to me like s**t.”

The walkout stunned the table, with Marko calling it a “low blow” and Rielli later apologising, admitting: “I should not have stooped that low.”

Mark returned to the table, accepted the apology, and said he just wanted to get back to the competition, but the tension lingered.

It was clear the rivalry between Michael and Rielli and Mark and Tan was far from over. Mark mused: “They are not going to be in the competition long, so it doesn’t really bother us too much.”

Dessert divided the table, as Lol and Lil put their own spin on a classic lamington using coconut cake instead of sponge, but not all the elements paid off.

Manu found the mousse delicious, but the base dry. Colin liked the sharpness of the jelly but felt that the thick base detracted from the dish.

Judges’ Scores	Entrée	Main	Dessert
Manu Feildel	7/10	8/10	5/10	20/30
Colin Fassnidge	7/10	8/10	5/10	20/30
Total Score	40/60

MKR Team Scores
Mark and Tan 6/10
Michael and Rielli 6/10
Danielle and Marko 6/10
Amy and Lara 6/10
Maria and Bailey 5/10
Total Score 29/50

Leaderboard

Danielle and Marko 84
Mark and Tan 80
Lol and Lil 69
Maria and Bailey 62

Tuesday on MKR: Meat-master Michael and Rielli serve up a bold French-inspired menu with high hopes of topping the leaderboard.

[JohnsonTV]

The above photo showed Colin in the kitchen with Lol and Lil who were making vegetarian ravioli. It was not shown on TV at all.

[JohnsonTV]

Monday 6 October

Tonight in Brisbane, gate-crashers Amy & Lara hope to serve up three courses fit for an A-lister so they can avoid elimination and send Maria and Bailey home.

[Apple75]

The synopsis reveals that the team cooking today doesn’t get the lowest score

[TV.Cynic]

Pastry perfection

Dessert queen Rielli outshines meat-master on MKR

Tonight on MKR, Michael and Rielli hosted their second Instant Restaurant, serving up a bold French-inspired menu with high hopes of topping the leaderboard.

More composed than their previous cook, the self-proclaimed meat-master and dessert queen were determined to impress.

Although their goal of topping of the leaderboard fell short, Rielli’s pastry skills stole the spotlight, helping them secure a total score of 72 out of 110.

Safe from elimination, they have locked in a spot at Kitchen HQ, but with Mark and Tan scoring higher, Michael lost the shoey bet and must drink from Manu’s shoe at the next Instant Restaurant.

They received the lowest guest team score so far – 26 out of 50 – a “disappointing” result, leading them to believe that Amy, Lara, Mark, and Tan strategically lowballed them.

Michael and Rielli’s ambitious menu featured a Confit Duck Tart with Caramelised Onion for entrée, a Pistachio-Crusted Lamb Rack with Leek Purée and smashed, crispy potatoes for main and a Paris-Brest with hazelnut praline cream for dessert.

The choice to serve French dishes to Manu had the other teams talking. Was it a bold move or a risky gamble?

Around the table, tensions simmered. After hyping himself up all season, this was the Gatecrasher teams’ first chance to taste Michael’s meat. Amy didn’t hold back: “He’d better put his meat where his mouth is.”

The table talk also turned with the last Instant Restaurant as Mark recounted his walkout from Lol and Lil’s. Maria said: “You get what you give.” Bailey compared Mark and Michael to schoolchildren.

Back in the kitchen, Michael was thrilled with the duck, declaring: “I have absolutely nailed this duck. It is perfect.” The entrée impressed visually, especially Rielli’s puff pastry, earning an eight from Manu and a seven from Colin.

Manu called it “top notch”, “a lesson on making puff pastry” and “perfect”.

Colin agreed: “A lot of work went into that pastry, and you can taste it,” though he noted the duck lacked moisture. Michael was visibly disheartened, insisting it was juicy.

For the main dish, ever modest Michael again believed the lamb was cooked perfectly. His rival, Mark, disagreed, declaring it undercooked. Michael stood firm: “That is exactly how lamb should be cooked, take a lesson from the meat-master.”

Colin backed him, calling it “beautiful and pink,” though he felt the meat and three veg dish was “missing the sparkle” Manu agreed the lamb was well-cooked but reminded them: “You cannot serve a piece of meat without a sauce.”

Both judges scored a seven for the main.

Rielli, a perfectionist who dreams of opening her own patisserie, felt the pressure most when it came to dessert.

Her skills shone bright, scoring a nine from Manu, who noted again the “pastry was perfect,” while Colin scored an eight for the “very Moorish dessert.”

Judges’ Scores	Entrée	Main	Dessert
Manu Feildel	8/10	7/10	9/10	24/30
Colin Fassnidge	7/10	7/10	8/10	22/30
Total Score	46/60

MKR Team Scores
Danielle and Marko 6/10
Mark and Tan 5/10
Maria and Bailey 6/10
Amy and Lara 4/10
Lol and Lil 5/10
Total Score 26/50

Leaderboard

Danielle and Marko 84
Mark and Tan 80
Michael and Rielli 72
Lol and Lil 69
Maria and Bailey 62

Monday on MKR: In the final Instant Restaurant, Amy and Lara pull out the big guns but their A-list party gets out of control. Who will be eliminated?

[JohnsonTV]

A photo from Seven’s media release, shows Manu talking to Rielli and Michael in the kitchen, while the couple was preparing the confit duck tart (based on the tart shells on the bench). This scene was not shown on TV either.

[aarontvcentral]

@JohnsonTV

A photo Seven provided to TV Blackbox,

It was in the media release.

[JBar]

Seems like they’re editing the episodes down so they are not bloated and dragging on.

[TV.Cynic]

They still finish after 9pm. All of Seven’s reality shows seem to have 90-minute run times when aired while 9 and 10 have most run around 70 minutes.

[Radiohead]

I reckon there is A LOT of footage they shoot in every episode of MKR that never gets to air. Probably the same with most shows?

[JBar]

A shoey ftom Manu’s boot tasted disgusting apparently. No joke.

[TV.Cynic]

Only Pans fails to sizzle

Amy and Lara eliminated from MKR

Tonight on MKR, Amy and Lara’s Instant Restaurant Only Pans was the most anticipated of the season, but despite their bold confidence and devilish theme, they fell short and were eliminated from the competition.

Amy and Lara came out strong with their entrée but the momentum didn’t last. They finished with a score of 58 out of 110, unable to surpass Maria and Bailey’s 62.

Their “delicious” entrée of Ceviche Betel Leaf with Pork Crackling and Peanut relish earned a nine from Manu, who praised the textures. Colin scored the dish an eight and noted, “You promised us flavour and that’s what we got.”

Things unravelled during the main course: a luxury-inspired Surf and Turf featuring Eye Fillet, Lobster, and Truffle mash.

Chaos in the kitchen led to undercooked lobster, gluey mash and a lack of seasoning, prompting Colin to score the dish a two, while Manu gave it a three, saying: “When you panic, the wheels fall off.”

The smashable upside-down White Chocolate and Passionfruit Cheesecake dessert was playful but flawed, with a thick base and sparse filling. Colin and Manu both scored it five.

Around the table, reactions were mixed: some teams hoped for their downfall, others were surprised by the chaos.

Maria and Bailey, desperate to avoid elimination, scored Amy and Lara a three and admitted they were going to do whatever it takes to stay in the competition.

With low judges’ scores for main and dessert, and a combined team score of 26 out of 50, Amy and Lara’s fate was sealed.

Amy said she felt “mortified, embarrassed and gutted”, while Manu offered encouragement: “The pressure of the night was clearly too much to overcome, but I have no doubt that you are great cooks, so please keep sharing your love and skills with friends and family.”

Lara remained proud of their efforts, while Maria and Bailey celebrated their survival, admitting: “Going to Kitchen HQ is huge for us. This is the reason why we are here.”

Judges’ Scores	Entrée	Main	Dessert
Manu Feildel	9/10	3/10	5/10	17/30
Colin Fassnidge	8/10	2/10	5/10	15/30
Total Score	32/60

MKR Team Scores
Mark and Tan 7/10
Michael and Rielli 5/10
Danielle and Marko 6/10
Lol and Lil 5/10
Maria and Bailey 3/10
Total Score 26/50

Final Round Two Leaderboard

Danielle and Marko 84
Mark and Tan 80
Michael and Rielli 72
Lol and Lil 69
Maria and Bailey 62
Amy and Lara 58

Tuesday on MKR: After two gruelling rounds of Instant Restaurants, all the surviving teams come together for the first time in Kitchen HQ.

[JohnsonTV]

It will be the return of pick a fridge challenge.