MKR Episode 2 Recap: Alisha storms out as Angus and Simon score 70 on Channel 7 – South Australian best mates Angus and Simon have taken second place on the early MKR leaderboard after serving elevated pub food at their Instant Restaurant, Last Orders.
The Adelaide pair finished with 70 points out of 110. That put them only two points behind opening-night leaders Krysten and Lucy. However, their food was not the only talking point as tensions at the table ended with Alisha walking out.
The episode deepened a class divide that began during the season premiere. While Jane and Shane spoke about wine bars and long visits to Italy, Alisha felt that she and Deanne were being judged for having a different background.
MKR Episode 2 Recap: Angus and Simon open Last Orders
Angus and Simon built their menu around gastro-pub classics with Asian flavours. They began with a Wagyu sausage roll, caramelised onion chutney and homemade kimchi.
For the main course, they prepared a gochujang chicken parmi with enoki fries and green apple slaw. Dessert was coconut panna cotta with sesame snap and butterscotch sauce.
The entree made a strong first impression. Manu Feildel praised the buttery, salty and crunchy pastry, while the homemade kimchi was described as top-notch.
Yet the centre of the sausage roll was too dry. The Wagyu filling let down the stronger surrounding elements, leaving both Manu and Colin Fassnidge to award six out of 10.
Class divide boils over at the MKR table
Before the judging moved to the main course, the conversation at the table exposed a growing divide between the teams.
Jane and Shane admitted that pubs were not normally their scene. They said they preferred a wine bar or a French bistro. Alisha responded by calling the pair “a bit snobby”.
The tension increased when Shane said he had never eaten a chicken parmi. Jane also said she had never tried the Australian pub staple. Later, they discussed their extended stays in Italy.
Alisha replied that she and Deanne travelled too, adding: “And guess what? I love Bali.”
Feeling insecure and underestimated, Alisha explained why the comparison had upset her.
“Me and Dee didn’t have that sort of lifestyle. We grew up real. We grew up a bit rougher.”
The disagreement escalated when Tiffany said the green apple slaw needed more “acid or vinegar”. Alisha questioned the term. Colin later used “acid” in his own critique, and Alisha believed the exchange had made her look foolish.
“We’ve been made to seem like we’re pretty much idiots. People think we just have no idea what we’re talking about.”
Alisha then reached breaking point and left the table.
“I’ve been made to look like an absolute idiot. I’m just done with it. I’m absolutely done.”
Chicken parmi needs a bolder gochujang hit
In the kitchen, Angus and Simon cooked the chicken well. Manu and Colin agreed that it was juicy and tender.
Nevertheless, the dish needed a stronger gochujang flavour. The enoki fries were also inconsistent, while the apple slaw lacked the lift needed to balance the rich parmi. Colin called the slaw an afterthought.
The judges again scored in agreement. Manu and Colin each awarded six out of 10 for the main course.
Coconut panna cotta delivers a sweeter finish
Dessert gave Angus and Simon their best response of the night. Manu praised the panna cotta’s creamy, silky texture, although he thought the sesame snap was too sugary. He awarded seven.
Colin wanted more sesame flavour and better balance in the butterscotch sauce. His score of six left the judges’ combined dessert result at 13 out of 20.
MKR Episode 2 scores
| Judge | Entree | Main | Dessert | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manu Feildel | 6/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 19/30 |
| Colin Fassnidge | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 18/30 |
| Total | 37/60 |
The five guest teams contributed another 33 points.
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- Alisha and Deanne: 8/10
- Jane and Shane: 6/10
- Mary and Golden: 7/10
- Krysten and Lucy: 6/10
- Tiffany and Giancarlo: 6/10
The guest score of 33 out of 50 combined with the judges’ 37 out of 60. Angus and Simon therefore finished on 70 points, two behind Krysten and Lucy’s opening-night total of 72.
MKR continues at 7.30pm Monday 5 October on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Catch up on TV Central’s MKR Episode 1 recap. Watch MKR on 7plus.