My Kitchen Rules (MKR) semi-final showdown on Monday night was one for the books.
From New South Wales, we had Radha and Prabha, going head-to-head with Nick and Christian from Victoria. These dynamic duos gave viewers quite the spectacle as they battled it out in Kitchen HQ.
In an unexpected twist, the semi-finalists were asked to ditch the classic entrée for amuse-bouche, essentially one-bite canapés. As Nigella expressed, “What we are looking for is one single bite of joy.”
However, not all teams could rise to this challenge. Tommy and Rach found themselves at the bottom, with their entrée Stuffed Mushroom failing to impress. Colin highlighted a potential alteration: “they could have deep fried the mushroom instead of baking it.” Tommy, while disappointed, expressed, “I just felt an overwhelming sense of pride that we had made this far.”
Sonia and Marcua presented a main course of Pork Cotoletta Tonnato with Fennel Salad. While the dish got a nod of approval, their dessert faced criticism. The Chocolate Hazelnut Dacquoise had a hazelnut mousse that missed the mark. As Nigella noted, the inconsistency was likely “due to poor time management.”
On the other side, Nick and Christian pushed boundaries with their main: Ox Tongue with Tuna Gribiche. A bold move by Christian, who commented, “This is such an outside of the box dish. We are taking a gamble.” Their risk was rewarded, as Colin dubbed their creation “restaurant quality.” Their dessert, Poached Apple with Whisky Caramel, also impressed, though the judges found the presentation lacking.
Radha and Prabha impressed with their main course of Chilli Masala Crab. Both Manu and Colin voiced their approval, with Manu simply calling it “yum” and Colin adding he “would happily eat that dish again.” Their dessert, Rosewater and Cardamom Panna Cotta, saw a marked improvement from their previous rounds but had room for enhancement.
Post-cooking, Nigella Lawson announced the finalists. Radha and Prabha secured their spot with Prabha sharing, “I think I’ve got goosebumps right now. We’re just so grateful.” Nick and Christian, against their own expectations, joined them, with Nick firmly stating, “We are not gonna let this opportunity go to waste.”
The grand finale of MKR airs 7.30pm Tuesday on Channel 7 and 7plus. With Radha and Prabha and Nick and Christian preparing 100 plates, they’re vying for the judge’s favor from Manu Feildel, Colin Fassnidge, and Nigella Lawson. With a $100,000 prize at stake, it promises to be a captivating end to the season. Who will emerge as MKR champions?
