Mike and Pete risk it all on My Kitchen Rules with a bold menu—did it secure their spot?
Tuesday night’s episode of My Kitchen Rules (MKR) saw high stakes in the Ultimate Instant Restaurant, with self-described “fussy friends” Mike and Pete aiming to show they’re more than just traditional Italian cooks. Armed with a bold, eclectic menu, the duo managed to dodge elimination, scoring a respectable 63 out of 100.
Their confidence was palpable as Mike rallied in the kitchen, declaring: “We are going to kick ass. Aprons on, knives out!” It was a risky culinary gamble, but their efforts ultimately secured a spot near the top of the leaderboard.
The pair’s ambitious menu kicked off with a choice of Fish and Chips with Chilli Sauce or a Mushroom Risotto for entrée. For the mains, diners could choose between Cauliflower Steak with Cannellini Bean Puree and Chimichurri or Squid Ink Pasta with King Prawns, followed by either Crème Brûlée or Apple Custard Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert.
Tensions simmered as Janey and Maddie revealed to Simone and Viviana that Mike had labelled their previous night’s entrée as “crap.” Mike had also boldly claimed he could cook a better risotto than the Italian team. Unsurprisingly, the news didn’t sit well with Viviana, who called the remarks “disrespectful.” Simone added: “You might think we are overreacting, but that’s what we feel. We got a fire inside. He’s Italian, he knows.”
Hoping their risky entrees would deliver, Mike and Pete met with mixed reviews. Judge Manu Feildel found the fish and chips “very underwhelming,” awarding it just a four. Judge Colin Fassnidge was slightly more impressed with the risotto, scoring it a six and commending the cooked rice and field mushrooms, though he added that Simone and Viviana’s sauce had “a lot more oomph and a bit more flavour.”
Determined not to lose momentum, Mike and Pete pushed forward with the mains. Their cauliflower steak, described by the pair as “ballsy,” was a bold choice that caught Rob and Liam off guard. The brothers, currently at the bottom of the leaderboard, opted for the vegetarian option, expecting a higher margin for error.
Colin rated the squid ink pasta a six, noting: “I want more sauce. I want it dripping in sauce. It was a half-half dish for me.” Manu was more receptive to the cauliflower, rewarding the daring choice with an eight, although Rob and Liam felt differently.
Dessert was where the duo shone. Manu found the crème brûlée “absolutely delicious,” scoring it a nine and only critiquing the caramel topping as slightly too thick. Colin, awarding a seven for the apple custard pie, noted a few minor faults but praised the overall quality.
As the scores were revealed, Pete remained upbeat about the team’s second-place position, remarking: “We are pumped about being second on the leaderboard. We didn’t pip the Italians off the post, but we gave them a pretty good run for their money.”
Judges’ Scores
Entrée Main Dessert Total
Manu Feildel 4/10 8/10 9/10 21/30
Colin Fassnidge 6/10 6/10 7/10 19/30
Total Score 40/60
MKR Team Scores
Team Score
Caz and Fergus 6/10
Janey and Maddie 5/10
Simone and Viviana 6/10
Rob and Liam 6/10
Total Score 23/40
Ultimate Instant Restaurant Leaderboard
Team Score
Simone and Viviana 68/100
Mike and Pete 63/100
Caz and Fergus 62/100
Rob and Liam 57/100
With just one Ultimate Instant Restaurant remaining, the competition now heads to Melbourne, where mother-daughter team Janey and Maddie will fight for a coveted place in the final four. Will they outscore Rob and Liam and sidestep elimination?
