My Kitchen Rules’ ‘modern Italian’ pals  earn highest Instant Restaurant score in show’s history – after fans dubbed new season ‘scripted and fake’

My Kitchen Rules is back on television screens for a new season in 2024. 

On Monday’s show, modern Italians Simone and Viviana made MKR history with the highest Instant Restaurant score in the show’s 14 years.

The best friends served precision on a plate, resulting in a total score of 104 out of 110, including a near perfect 58 out of 60 from judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge.

Cooking for redemption after a dessert disaster unravelled their first Instant Restaurant score, Simone and Viviana’s cuisine, creativity and technique eclipsed even their own high expectations.

Their entrée of Beef Tartare with Crumbed Yolk and Crostini put a twist on a traditional French dish. 

The risk paid off, with the inclusion of apple in the tartare and use of lasagna sheets instead of bread impressing the judges.

Manu admitted: ‘I’m a classic guy when it comes to French food. Why apple? Why have I not thought about this before? It is clever.’

Colin also ‘loved the apple with the beef.’

My Kitchen Rules is back on television screens for a new season in 2024. On Monday’s show, modern Italians Simone and Viviana made MKR history with the highest Instant Restaurant score in the show’s 14 years. Both pictured

The main – Simone’s own creation of Prawn and Potato Ravioli with Prawn Bisque – wowed the whole table. 

Manu declared it the ‘best dish’ on MKR, leaving Simone speechless, and Viviana so proud of her friend.

After initially questioning the addition of potato in the dish, Manu admitted it made complete sense, saying: ‘I am jealous of people like you that can make pasta like this because I can’t.’

Colin agreed: ‘It’s not a normal dish but I tell you, after today, it should be.’

Simone and Viviana’s nerves were high taking on a complicated dessert of Millefoglie: a puff pastry layered with cream, with origins in France and Italy.

The ‘gorgeous’ dessert was a total hit, and according to Colin: ‘the crown on the meal we got tonight. You should be so proud of yourselves.’

The best friends served precision on a plate, resulting in a total score of 104 out of 110, including a near perfect 58 out of 60 from judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge

The best friends served precision on a plate, resulting in a total score of 104 out of 110, including a near perfect 58 out of 60 from judges Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge

Wiping away tears, Viviana said: ‘This is the best critique we could possibly get. It means the world to us’.  

Simone was left lost for words, sharing: ‘I can’t manage my emotions right now. I’m just freezing. I feel like this is the highest emotion that I felt in my life. Thank you.’

The show got off to a shaky start earlier this year. 

Some viewers tuning in at home were less than impressed earlier this season, and shared their thoughts on X. 

‘I’m so over the fake contestants chat to the camera, but it’s most likely recorded days later. So unnecessary’ one person wrote. 

‘Have I just joined the wrong program? This is scripted Married at First Sight b***hiness, paraded as a cooking show’ another said. 

One more wrote: ‘I was really hoping the reboot of this show would not include having good guys and bad guys. It’s so scripted and fake. Take a lesson from MasterChef and just cook’. 

Another posted: ‘All of a sudden they’re talking about the crust of steak. Scripted bulls***t’ with one more adding, ‘This is so boring, I just can’t’.

Wiping away tears, Viviana said: 'This is the best critique we could possibly get. It means the world to us'. Pictured with the judges

Wiping away tears, Viviana said: ‘This is the best critique we could possibly get. It means the world to us’. Pictured with the judges 

MKR has had some teething issues since its return to television screens in recent years. 

In September 2023, the premiere of the cooking competition’s 13th season managed to draw in just 470,000 viewers in the major capitals.

MKR did not even finish in the top ten most-watched programs overnight, a far cry from its ratings heyday a decade ago when it would pull in well over a million viewers an episode.

MKR returned to Channel Seven in 2022, two years after it was axed.

Debuting to just 500,000 viewers, the show has continued to shed fans in the metro centres.

Channel Seven axed My Kitchen Rules: The Rivals from Sunday night’s programming back in 2020. 

The show’s ratings, which plunged to a record low, were said to be untenable and Seven executives were ‘pushing’ to cancel it in 2020.

A source told the magazine: ‘MKR is no longer safe. There are people in power pushing to end the show for good.’

However, it returned in 2022, but has continued to struggle in the ratings.

MKR continues 7.30pm Tuesday on Channel 7 and 7plus

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