Tonight, MKR’s supercharged week continued with the first Ultimate Instant Restaurant scoring an impressive 75 out of 100, securing Justin and Will’s place as serious contenders in the competition.
The best mates celebrated heritage, ambition and bold flavours, earning two 10s from Manu.
With a menu that spanned continents, from Cape Malay spices to Parisian patisserie, Justin and Will rose to the epic challenge of preparing two entrees, two mains and two desserts.
Strategic gameplay was evident at the dinner table, as Maria and Bailey chose dishes they thought might trip up Justin and Will.
Maria and Bailey admitted to being “hyper-critical”, hoping to expose weaknesses, but the judges’ scores told a different story.
Manu awarded Justin and Will a perfect 10 for both the main and dessert, while Colin gave solid marks across the board.
Tensions rose as the open scoring twist meant all teams revealed their score and feedback to the whole table, including Justin and Will.
Their entrée set the tone with Cape Malay Beef Samosas with Tomato and Chilli Chutney and Kingfish Crudo with Black Caviar. Colin praised the samosas scoring the dish a seven. He noted “a few tweaks could elevate them from good to great”.
Manu scored his Kingfish entrée a six, remarking, “It was missing something. A good dish, but I expected more.”
The mains: Dong Po Rou with Asian Greens and Rice, a rich pork dish, and Ouma’s Seafood Hotpot, a treasured family recipe, were standouts.
Justin became emotional after Manu scored the seafood hotpot a 10.
Manu praised: “It was the ugliest dish you’ve ever served, but also one of the most delicious. The depth of flavour is hard to describe. You’ve honoured your family, and I’m honoured to be here tonight.”
Colin commended the Dong Po Rou, scoring an eight.
The dessert of Paris-Brest with Pistachio Crème initially faltered, collapsing in the oven, but a second batch wowed the judges. Manu declared it: “a big surprise – such a dainty little number,” awarding another perfect 10.
Colin, who judged the New York Cheesecake, appreciated the texture but wanted “a little more sparkle”, scoring it a five.
Teams scores:
Danielle and Marko: 9
Mark and Tan: 8
Lol and Lil: 6
Maria and Bailey: 6
