It started with twelve teams and now it’ s down to two. Tonight it’s an all South Australian battle between the Italian stallions Nic and Rocco and the girls Leigh and Princess Jennifer. In a suspenseful and exciting not-to-be missed grand final, who will be crowned My Kitchen Rules 2012 champions and walk away with the $250,000 cash prize?
Both teams enter MKR HQ – it’s the last time anyone will cook here for 2012. The teams instant restaurant names are behind their respective benches – “Burlesque” for the girls and “Double Trouble” for the boys. Manu welcomes them and congratulates them – it’s girls vs boys – who will win? The boys are quite calm and their inspiration tonight is their mums, while Jen also sees her mum as her inspiration while Leigh taught herself and her mum to cook.
The final test is faultless food. Each team must cook 5 courses and produce 100 plates of food. This is a different ball game tonight. They have 2 hours for the first course.
Leigh & Jennifer:
1st Course – Crab Congee
2nd Course – Scallops in XO sauce
3rd Course – Quail with Barberry and quinoa
4th Course – Wagyu beef ribs with bone marrow and cauliflower puree
5th Course – Chocolate Hazlenut cake
Nic & Rocco:
1st Course – Seared Moroccan Tuna with cured salmon
2nd Course – Bug tails with fennel puree and chorizo essence
3rd Course – Spatchcock two ways with heirloom carrots and thyme crumbs
4th Course – Poached pork belly with potato discs and fresh horseradish
5th Course – Chocolate raspberry pop delight
Leigh & Jennifer: The girls start making the stock for their congee – Pete is impressed as is usually a chinese breakfast course and they are using mud crab – mmm. The girls are making their own XO sauce and it’s Jen’s dish and she’s nervous – pete says it’s a very tricky dish to get perfect – but I bet Jen can do it! The girls are curing the scallops so they aren’t too watery. The congee isn’t boiling and as the judges arrive the girls get stressed – especilly Jen, who denies she is.
Nic & Rocco: The boys start on the mayo for the tuna and have an adventurous menu. The boys start their jus as last time it was too watery and Nic is deboning the spatchcocks.
All the former team mates arrive at MKR HQ
Leigh & Jennifer: The crab isn’t coming out of the claws and Leigh is smashing them – risking damaging the meat and shells. Oh, oh – the girls have burnt the XO! This could destroy the whole dish – but the girls are 100% it’s ok. CRAP – they burnt the XO AGAIN!
Leighs mum enters and she’s overwhelmed. The parents arrive and it’s quite emotional as Jennifer hasn’t seen her mum from Thailand for a year. It’s a proud moment for mothers and daughters. The boys mum’s are their too!
Nic & Rocco: Nic sears the tuna and he wants it as rare as he can – everyone in the gallery is impressed. The boys are under time constraints and Rocco’s mum is freaking out!
Everyone (except the chefs) are screaming with excitement! The XO sauce is really burnt and the judges are worried – will they have time to fix it? Now it’s time to serve to the judges. Jen and Leigh hope they get their version of congee.
1st Course
Leigh & Jennifer: The judges like that it’s delicate and a perfect starter – Manu and Karen want more rice and flavour though. It was elegant, but was it too subtle?
Nic & Rocco: It has a punch and is a big way to start. Both fishes are amazing and has great intensity – everyone loves it.
Round 1 – Nic and Rocco (Pete’s opinion)
Leigh & Jennifer: The girls sear the ribs, add the braising liquid and place in the oven to slow cook. The girls wrap the quails in pork fat and the crowd goes wild – Princess Jen is stepping it up! Oops – banged her funny bone – so not funny! Jen deep fries the scallops to get rid of extra moisyure. Manu is stressed for them that they have to cook 30 scallops perfectly. OMG – they have run out of scallops and with 1 minute to go Jen has to deep fry them, mix with the XO and plate – Arrrrgghhh – I am sooo stressed! They have pulled it off and mum’s are crying and I can slightly breathe again.
Nic & Rocco: The boys are pressure sealing the spatchcock breasts and are doing their fennel puree. The fennel tastes good but Pete is worried it’s such a watery veg. Suprise – it’s come out watery and looks like a sauce. Everyone is telling (especially Megan) how to cook the bug tails – but Rocco is confident. The boys plates look great.
2nd Course
Leigh & Jennifer: The sauce is amazing. It’s a happy dancing dish – it’s perfectly cooked and can not be faulted – there is no burnt taste, just a sweet caramelisation.Of course the villians complain though – SHUT UP.
Nic & Rocco: The ingredients work together, they love the way the sweetness of the bug compliments the smokiness of the chorizo. Pete says maybe a little more seasoning?
Round 2 – Leigh and Jennifer! (In my opinion)
Leigh & Jennifer: The girls are cooking their quail but Leigh is stressed as she has to do dessert while Jen does the ribs. The puree isn’t working but Jen tries all she can. Leigh knows she has no room for error as they are against the dessert kings. Jen is working on the quinoa
Nic & Rocco: The boys start on the spatchcock and broth. The boys two ways tonight is the maryland and the breast, Rocco’s mum is so nervous. The boys take the bags out of the water, but don’t know if will be cooked until they open them. The spatchcock marylands are a bit under cooked, the mash is too hot to pipe and carrots are still sauteing – time is running out.
With 11 minutes to go until they serve the third course – both teams are having freak outs.
Leigh & Jennifer: Dessert is not looking good, but the third course is looking great. It’s pleasure on a plate.
Nic & Rocco: The spatchcock is melting in Nic’s fingers it’s so tender and even though are stressed for time seem to be pulling it off. I take that back – The boys are trying to scoop the sauce onto their course with a slotted spoon and are creating chaos! The former contestants are having coniptions! The course looks s#%t house
Now it’s time to serve the judges the third course.
3rd Course
Leigh & Jennifer: The judges all want more, the quail is beautiful as is the marry with the berry. The contestants are disappointed though.
Nic & Rocco: A great combo, it wasn’t an easy technique. Bad presentation but great flavours. The former contestants love it
Round Three – Too close to call
I think the girls will win the ribs with this course and boys dessert and we will be left hanging! By the way the ex contestants all seem to be behind the guys!
Leigh & Jennifer: Leigh has so many stages for dessert, while Jen is finalising the ribs. The girls are really stressed about their dessert but the cauliflower puree is looking good. The marrow isn’t cooking so they decide to roast them off – which she has never done! Jen checks the marrow – it’s perfect., There is butter on the floor and they are slipping away! OH NO they are adding flowers to the dish.
Nic & Rocco: Rocco starts on chocolate mousse and still needs to do macaroons. As usual the dessert looks amazing – but their mum’s are hammering them with questions and advice. Rocco is busy checking desserts but Nic needs him – it’s stressy! Rocco’s mum wants the macaroons out – he says she’s never made them – a domestic ensues.
Now to judge.
4th Course
Leigh & Jennifer: The ribs are like butter, it sings and they have added their personality to a classic. Dr Evil and Gary – LOVE IT! WOWZA
Nic & Rocco: The pork is melting, the broth is perfect and has so much complexity – all the judges are in awe as are the contestants.
4th Round – Too close to call again
Leigh & Jennifer: The girls are already thinking of a back up plan but Leigh just needs more confidence. The girls are tempering chocolate and are taking a huge risk – but think why not? The girls are going great guns, but the tempering is VERY stressful. They add titanium dioxide to make the chocolate extra white – jeepers! The titanium (where the hell do you buy that!) wasnt sieved and now the girls have lumps – they can’t use it and start again.
Nic & Rocco: This is the boys signature dish and they have alot to do – but Manu thinks if they pull this off they may take the title. The guys are like pastry chefs – it loooks amazing – like a Zumbo creation. Nic is making the macaroons and is doing an awesome job.
Leigh & Jennifer: Leigh redoes the chocolate and they have seived the titanium – but will it have time to set? The chocolate is not going well but they perservere – with 5 minutes to go they think it’s no risk no glory – if these girls win (I hope they will) They have worked for it. The chocolate has failed – am so sad as thhey tried so hard. The chocolate doesn’t make the dish. Leigh feels she has lost it for the team.
Nic & Rocco: The boys put the desserts in the freezer to set more – but gosh it looks amazing. The boys think their dish is so good and will win.
5th Course
Leigh & Jennifer: It’s salty caramel and all love it – Karen doesn’t miss the tempered chocolate. Manu is not impressed – but contestants are iffy.
Nic & Rocco: It’s fun, beautiful and a delight. The mousse is beautiful and all love.
Round 5 – Nic and Rocco (In my opinion)
Now for the final results.
Nic and Rocco
Manu Fieldel –
9/10
Pete Evans –
9/10
Guy Grossi –
9/10
Karen Martini –
8/10
Tobie Puttock –
9/10
Liz Egan –
8/10
= 52/60
Leigh and Jennifer
Manu Fieldel –
10/10
Pete Evans –
10/10
Guy Grossi –
10/10
Karen Martini –
9/10
Tobie Puttock –
10/10
Liz Egan –
9/10
= 58/60
So the winners of 2012 MKR are the Princess “YEAH”! and her best mate Leigh – I don’t know if I am crying because they won – or I now have my nights back! Thanks to all who read this! x
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