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.”
