If you were to go on “My Kitchen Rules“, you’d better be prepped for some hard knocks. You see, when you create your instant restaurant, each feed you cook gets rated, both by the judges and your fellow contestants. Then, your “My Kitchen Rules” scores get placed on a leaderboard.
Every meal you cook counts — if your restaurant has the lowest score on the leaderboard, you’ll be eliminated from the competition, your dreams crushed.
What’s more, if you survive the instant restaurant gauntlet, you have to compete in the quarter-finals, then the semi-finals, and then the finals. All of which could be your downfall.
This brings us to the 2023 series of “My Kitchen Rules”. Earlier this year, six teams competed in a “My Kitchen Rules” leaderboard warzone. At the end of this competition, Radha and Prabha scored first place, while Coco and Pearls were excommunicated. So it goes.
However, these six teams only competed in the first round of the leaderboard battle. That’s right, there was a round two. In round two, three new teams went up against three old teams in a series of instant restaurant cook-offs.
Like last time, the worst-placing team was eliminated. Patricija and Brigita got booted from this competition.
But, as previously noted, this cooking series doesn’t end here. The remaining teams were then thrown into the final few rounds. Starting with the quarter-finals, followed by the semis, then the finals.
So, who won the final “My Kitchen Rules” cook off? Let’s get into the details.
The “My Kitchen Rules” Leaderboard: The Finals
The Finals
In the finals, Radha and Prabha went up against Nick and Christian. Both of these teams cooked valiantly.
Radha and Prabha cooked up some classics, such as a spicy fish fry with yellow dhal and mango chutney. They also plated a very impressive pistachio ice cream chocolate domes with almond and orange crumbs.
Meanwhile, Nick and Christian went hard mode. To kick the night off, they created some scallops with black pudding and a bloody Mary butter. This was followed by some crayfish with Vadouvan butter and a witlof salad. Both of these dishes were loved by the judges.
However, there could only be one winner. That one winner being Radha and Prabha.
“Oh my gosh, we did it,” said the twins, after the win.
“I’m so proud of you,” they said to each and then embraced.
The Final Leaderboard
| The My Kitchen Rules Leaderboard: Finals | |
| Radha and Prabha | Winner |
| Nick and Christian | Eliminated |
The Semi-Finals
In the semi-finals, Radha and Prabha, Sonia and Marcua, Tommy and Rach, and Nick and Christian all battled to the best of their abilities. However, there could only be two winners. What’s more, those two winners will compete in tonight’s finals.
To kick things off, these contestants had to present the judges some stellar one-bite canapés. This led to our first eviction of the night, Tommy and Rach. They served up a bunch of stuffed mushrooms that underwhelmed the judges.
Meanwhile, the other team to hit the stands were Sonia and Marcus. This team was let down by the consistency of their hazelnut mousse.
This means that Radha, Prabha, Nick, and Christian are all going to finals. But which team will win? We’re all on the precipice of knowledge.
The Semi-Finals Leaderboard
| The My Kitchen Rules Leaderboard: Quarter-Finals | |
| Nick and Christian | Winner |
| Radha and Prabha | Winner |
| Sonia and Marcus | Eliminated |
| Tommy and Rach | Eliminated |
The Quarter-Finals
In the quarter-finals, the teams competing for glory were Amber and Mel, Claudean and Anthony, Aaron and Chris, Nick and Christian, and Tommy and Rach. Only two teams could move on, while the other three teams would be eliminated.
To kick things off, Amber and Mel cooked up some lamb kibbeh with yogurt sauce. Unfortunately, the pair spilled this sauce, which was enough to get them eliminated from the competition.
Additionally, Claudean and Anthony’s servings of zeppoles were raw as the timer ran down. Likewise, Aaron and Chris’ chocolate fondants weren’t winners. These two teams were also eliminated from this comp.
Therefore, Nick Christian, Tommy, and Rach all scored leaderboard glory. Nick and Christian cooked up some delicious blue cheese cigars with red wine figs, while Tommy and Rach made a bunch of excellent sticky date pudding with butterscotch sauce.
The Quarter-Final Leaderboard
| The My Kitchen Rules Leaderboard: Quarter-Finals | |
| Nick and Christian | Winner |
| Tommy and Rach | Winner |
| Amber and Mel | Evicted |
| Claudean and Anthony | Evicted |
| Aaron and Chris | Evicted |
The “My Kitchen Rules” Leaderboard: Round Two
Patricija and Brigita
My pals, Patricija and Brigita’s instant restaurant flopped. In fact, it was such a disaster that they were awarded last place on the leaderboard. What’s more, they were subsequently eliminated from the competition.
To begin with, Patricija and Brigita made Lithuanian Šaltibarščiai, a cold beet soup with potatoes and dill. Now, the dish tasted alright, but one of the judges wasn’t impressed. Manu Feildel was appalled that it featured packet beetroot.
Additionally, Patricija and Brigita’s main was also not warmly received. They served up some potato sausages with bacon sour cream sauce that the other judge, Colin Fassnidge, disliked. He even called the sauce “a disaster”.
Fortunately though, Patricija and Brigita were able to end the night on a win. Everyone enjoyed their medaus tortas, a honey cake.
Yet, this cake was not good enough to save them. Patricija and Brigita scored 59 points and left the competition defeated.
Patricija and Brigita’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entrée | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 7/10 | 5/10 | 7/10 | 19/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 6/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 17/30 |
| Total Score | 36/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Aaron and Chris | 4/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 6/10 |
| Amber and Mel | 3/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 5/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 5/10 |
| Guest Score | 23/50 |
| Total Score | 59/110 |
Sonia and Marcus
On September 26, South Australia’s Sonia and Marcus had the redemption arc of the century. This mother and son team learned from their instant restaurant attempt, and served up some delicious meals in round two.
For instance, their entree of ricotta and spinach ravioli with butter and sage sauce received a literal standing ovation from the judges. That’s right, both Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge loved this dish that much.
After scoring such praise, Sonia and Marcus began work on their main: Rib-eye steaks with salsa verde and mash. When they served these beauts to the table, Manu was particularly impressed.
“I’ve gotta take my hat off because I really thought that was gonna be a nightmare,” Manu said.
Sonia and Marcus then delivered a stunning dessert. Basically everyone loved their passionfruit cheesecake with almond crust.
Overall, Sonia and Marcus scored 85 points.
Sonia and Marcus’ Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entrée | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 9/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 24/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 9/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 23/30 |
| Total Score | 47/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Aaron and Chris | 8/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 7/10 |
| Amber and Mel | 8/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 8/10 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 7/10 |
| Guest Score | 38/50 |
| Total Score | 85/110 |
Nick and Christian
On September 25, Nick and Christian slayed the competition. They cooked three dishes so well that they shot up the “My Kitchen Rules” leaderboard.
To begin the evening, Nick and Christian cooked up chargrilled octopus with eggplant puree and pickled cucumber. It was a dish that both the judges, Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, frothed over — even if it did need a tiny bit more salt.
This entree was then followed by a killer main. These boys created a number of short-rib souvlakis that everyone enjoyed. However, like last time, there was just one small problem — it was almost too big to put in one’s mouth.
“You’ve got a toilet roll of meat and bread kind of thing,” Manu said.
Last but not least, we had Nick and Christian’s dessert. A choc malt semifreddo with hazelnut praline, it was a light and sweet way to end the night.
After the judging took place, Nick and Christian scored a total of 75 points. For just a moment, they were the ones to beat.
Nick and Christian’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entrée | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 24/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 24/30 |
| Total Score | 48/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Aaron and Chris | 5/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 5/10 |
| Amber and Mel | 6/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 6/10 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 5/10 |
| Guest Score | 27/50 |
| Total Score | 75/110 |
Amber and Mel
On September 20, two childhood friends, Amber and Mel, flopped. Their “My Kitchen Rules” restaurant was a bust.
Amber and Mel began the night with an entree of spiced lamb with hummus, pomegranate, and pita bread. Unfortunately for this dish, and for Amber and Mel, it was basically just hummus with minced lamb sprinkled on top. This upset both of the judges, Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.
“To me, the lamb, which is the bride who’s getting married, was sort of the bridesmaid to the hummus,” Colin said.
What’s more, Manu called it a “little underwhelming”. Brutal stuff.
However, after receiving this feedback, Amber and Mel rallied. They cooked up some baked fish with tahini sauce, roasted almonds, and caramelised onion. This dish was also a mess. The flavours weren’t all that cohesive.
“It’s a bit of a mess,” Manu said.
Fortunately though, this is where the bad comments end. Their dessert, upside-down orange cake with orange and ginger ice cream, scored some good feedback.
As the night concluded, Amber and Mel scored 61 points.
Amber and Mel’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entrée | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 5/10 | 5/10 | 9/10 | 19/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 6/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 19/30 |
| Total Score | 38/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Aaron and Chris | 5/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 5/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 6/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 6/10 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 5/10 |
| Guest Score | 23/50 |
| Total Score | 61/110 |
Claudean and Anthony
During Claudean and Anthony’s instant restaurant, they paid homage to a whack of old-school Italian cuisines. What’s more, unlike last time, they pulled most of this cook-off with aplomb.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. When cooking their entree, stuffed zucchini flowers on basil pesto, it burst while being deep fried. Fortunately though, the pair switched up the batter, saved the dish, and presented it to the judges, Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel.
During the tasting, both Colin and Manu adored it.
“This is what I want to eat when I come to your house,” Colin told them.
For their main dish, Claudean and Anthony cooked some rabbit stew with thyme, black olives, and citrus. This too received a sparkling review from the judges.
But, like last time, this is where the compliments end. ‘Cause their dessert of Tiramisu was a flop. The homemade savoiardi biscuits weren’t fluffy, and soaking them in coffee couldn’t fix them.
As the night ended, Claudean and Anthony were awarded 68 points.
Claudean and Anthony’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entrée | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 9/10 | 9/10 | 2/10 | 20/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 9/10 | 8/10 | 2/10 | 19/30 |
| Total Score | 39/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Aaron and Chris | 4/10 |
| Amber and Mel | 6/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 6/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 6/10 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 7/10 |
| Guest Score | 29/50 |
| Total Score | 68/110 |
Aaron and Chris
Aaron and Chris are the barbeque boys. They specialise in American-style meats and really care about their craft. What’s more, they kicked off round two with an impressive three-course meal.
To begin with, Aaron and Chris cooked up an entree of crispy pork belly tacos. The two judges, Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, enjoyed the flavours, but unfortunately, the lads’ pork was not crispy enough. Aaron and Chris were devastated, and went to the kitchen to rally.
This brings us to their main: A buckwild barbecue plate that included chicken wings, lamb necks, and pork ribs with coleslaw, pickles, and cornbread.
Now, some of their fellow contestants thought that this was the best meal of the competition. However, while Manu and Colin enjoyed it, they thought that the lamb was a little too dry.
Last but not least, we had dessert. Aaron and Chris ended things on a strong note, with a stunning lemon and lime pie. The two judges loved the pastry and the curd, but they also thought that the pie was a bit too sweet.
Overall, Aaron and Chris scored 72 points.
Aaron and Chris’ Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 7/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 21/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 7/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 21/30 |
| Total Score | 42/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Claudean and Anthony | 4/10 |
| Amber and Mel | 7/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 6/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 6/10 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 7/10 |
| Guest Score | 30/50 |
| Total Score | 72/110 |
The “My Kitchen Rules” Leaderboard: Round One
Claudean and Anthony
In Claudean and Anthony’s Instant Restaurant, they didn’t crush the competition. In fact, they didn’t do that well at all. But did they do so poorly that they dropped to the bottom of the “My Kitchen Rules” leaderboard? Let’s go through their three feeds.
To begin with, Claudean and Anthony made ricotta, spinach, and mushroom ravioli with a white wine sauce. This dish was well received by the judges, Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, but didn’t wow some of their fellow contestants, who thought that the sauce was too rich.
What’s more, Claudean and Anthony didn’t plan their time well. This led to the veal in their Osso Bucco with polenta being overcooked.
Which brings us to the dessert. Claudean and Anthony made a choc hazelnut gelato with crostoli, but the gelato didn’t set.
When tasting this dessert, Collin said, “Unfortunately, I gotta judge what I got, and I got one-third of something that worked, and the rest didn’t.”
Likewise, Manu said, “I don’t think you’ve finished on a high note like we expected.”
In a tense finish, Claudean and Anthony scored 53 points. It was just three more points than Coco and Pearls, which meant they were saved from being eliminated.
On the other hand, Coco and Pearls were eliminated from the kitchen.
Claudean and Anthony’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 7/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 17/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 7/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 | 15/30 |
| Total Score | 32/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Tommy and Rach | 4/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 5/10 |
| Radha and Prabha | 4/10 |
| Coco and Pearls | 4/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 4/10 |
| Guest Score | 21/50 |
| Total Score | 53/110 |
Nick and Christian
Nick and Christian are a couple of VIC mates who talked a big game before their “My Kitchen Rules” debut. However, while one of their dishes was top-notch, the other two weren’t winners.
As an entree, kangaroo tartare with saltbush and potato crisps. One of the judges, Colin Fassnidge, liked this dish but was disappointed by the potato. However, the other judge, Manu Feildel, believed it was superb.
Nick and Christian were stoked with this success, but they couldn’t follow through. They cooked a main of chargrilled swordfish with jalapeno, corn salsa, and Nduja butter that received a mixed reception. According to Manu, the swordfish was undercooked and unseasoned.
What’s more, their dessert of Sokolatopita with orange crème fraiche fell to pieces before it even left the kitchen. Nick and Christian weren’t proud of what they served. Everyone called this dessert a wet mess.
Overall, Nick and Christian scored 66 points.
Nick and Christian’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 10/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | 19/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 9/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | 19/30 |
| Total Score | 38/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Tommy and Rach | 7/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 6/10 |
| Radha and Prabha | 4/10 |
| Coco and Pearls | 6/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 5/10 |
| Guest Score | 28/50 |
| Total Score | 66/110 |
Coco and Pearls
My pals, Coco and Pearls’ menu didn’t go as planned. While their dishes were ambitious, the duo’s execution was far from perfect.
To begin with, Coco and Pearls served up an entree of Champagne pasta roses. Delicious, right? Wrong. The pasta was raw.
To nobody’s real surprise, Colin Fassnidge was not impressed with this dish.
“A rose is something that blossoms,” Colin said. “This is a rose bulb.”
Fortunately though, Coco and Pearls were able to deliver a decent main. The other judge, Manu Feildel, rather liked their crispy pork belly with braised red cabbage and mash.
However, the whole event then crashed back down. ‘Cause Coco and Pearls served a dessert of their own creation called Coco Pearls. This dessert consisted of cream, tapioca pearls, and some other ingredients that clashed.
After the tasting was done, the judges noted that their dish was sickly, too sweet, and slop.
At the end of the night, Coco and Pearls had scored a mere 50 points, which placed the team at the bottom of the My Kitchen Rules leaderboard.
Coco and Pearls’ Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 5/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | 15/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 4/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | 14/30 |
| Total Score | 29/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Tommy and Rach | 4/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 4/10 |
| Radha and Prabha | 5/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 4/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 4/10 |
| Guest Score | 21/50 |
| Total Score | 50/110 |
Radha and Prabha
Identical twins Radha and Prabha have entered the “My Kitchen Rules” leaderboard on a high after using their instant restaurant to make their late father’s favourite dish. In fact, the twins’ Royal Dhaba was so good that it even made Colin Fassnidge tear up — and not just because of the spice.
Going into the challenge, Radha and Prabha were concerned about the spice factor.
“If they burn their taste buds, they can’t score us appropriately with the flavour that we’ve put in there,” a nervous Radha said.
But the critiques for their entree were nothing short of glowing, and Colin instructed them to not “hold back on the chilli” for the next course.
It was their main course of Lamb Rogan Josh (with extra green chillis), that left everyone emotional. Not only was it their late father’s favourite meal, it was also delicious. Manu went as far as to say that he had never tasted a better Rogan Josh in Australia.
Emotional, Colin added: “How am I gonna do a critique now?”
The twins’ winning streak hit its first bump in the road, though, when their dessert of Jalebi with Rabri wasn’t received well, but overall, they scored 87/100, which placed them at the top of the “My Kitchen Rules” leaderboard.
Radha and Prabha’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 9/10 | 10/10 | 5/10 | 24/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 10/10 | 10/10 | 4/10 | 24/30 |
| Total Score | 48/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Tommy and Rach | 8/10 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 7/10 |
| Coco and Pearls | 8/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 8/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 8/10 |
| Guest Score | 39/50 |
| Total Score | 87/110 |
Tommy and Rach
Tommy and Rach are best mates whose instant restaurant was a rollercoaster. However, this wasn’t obvious at the start of their journey, as their entree was received well. Both of Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge liked their Rottnest scallops with white puree, tarragon, and miso butter.
What’s more, Tommy and Rach’s main course was even better. They whipped up a crispy duck leg with blackberry, port jus, and potato gratin that Manu genuinely loved.
According to Manu, this crispy dish was “MKR on a plate.”
Yet, Tommy and Rach’s lives fell apart when they accidentally put garlic flowers in their dessert. Would you eat chocolate-coated pear ice cream with cookie crumb and garlic? Yikes.
Tommy and Rach’s Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 8/10 | 10/10 | 4/10 | 22/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 7/10 | 9/10 | 6/10 | 22/30 |
| Total Score | 44/60 |
| Team Scores | |
| Sonia and Marcus | 7/10 |
| Radha and Prabha | 7/10 |
| Coco and Pearls | 7/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 7/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 6/10 |
| Guest Score | 34/50 |
| Total Score | 78/110 |
Sonia and Marcus
Sonia and Marcus are a mother-and-son duo whose instant restaurant was good, but not great.
To begin with, their entree missed the mark. They made crumpets with buttered lobster, but the dish just wasn’t buttery enough. What’s more, their main course of squid ink linguine was dry and didn’t have enough sauce.
Fortunately though, Sonia and Marcus were able to end this experience on a slay. Both Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge enjoyed their margarita bombe Alaska. Colin even called it the “bomb.”
Sonia and Marcus’ Scores
| Judges’ Scores | Entree | Main | Dessert | |
| Manu Feildel | 7/10 | 6/10 | 10/10 | 23/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 5/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | 20/30 |
| Total Score | 43/60 |
| MKR Team Scores | |
| Tommy and Rach | 5/10 |
| Radha and Prabha | 6/10 |
| Coco and Pearls | 7/10 |
| Nick and Christian | 5/10 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 5/10 |
| Guest Score | 28/50 |
| Total Score | 71/110 |
The “My Kitchen Rules” Leaderboard Rankings?
| The My Kitchen Rules Leaderboard: Round Two | |
| Sonia and Marcus | 85/110 |
| Nick and Christian | 75/110 |
| Aaron and Chris | 72/110 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 68/110 |
| Amber and Mel | 61/110 |
| Patricija and Brigita | 59/110 |
| The My Kitchen Rules Leaderboard: Round One | |
| Radha and Prabha | 87/110 |
| Tommy and Rach | 78/110 |
| Sonia and Marcus | 71/110 |
| Nick and Christian | 66/110 |
| Claudean and Anthony | 53/110 |
| Coco and Pearls | 50/110 |
“My Kitchen Rules” aired Mondays through Wednesdays. It was on both Channel 7 and the 7plus app.
This article was originally published on The Latch. Click here to read the original.
Want more “My Kitchen Rules” goss? Check out the stories below:
- When and Where to Catch all the “My Kitchen Rules” Action
- Meet the Cast of “My Kitchen Rules” 2023
- “My Kitchen Rules” Is Set to Bring the Heat With an Exciting New Season
- Curious About “My Kitchen Rules” 2023 Start Date? Look No Further!
- Meet Sonia and Marcus, the Spicy Mother-Son Duo of “My Kitchen Rules” 2023
