Justin and Will have become the first team to secure a spot in the My Kitchen Rules grand final, after defeating Western Australian couple Danielle and Marko in the semi-final on Sunday night. The NSW dads impressed the judges with bold, high-risk dishes, including a Sri Lankan tripe curry and a technically challenging chocolate soufflé.
Despite their elimination, Danielle and Marko expressed pride in their performance. Danielle revealed that the show inspired her to leave her job as a disability support worker to focus on food and travel writing through her Instagram page, Dining with Danz. Marko said their attention remains on building their house.
The semi-final saw both teams deliver standout dishes. Justin and Will’s daring Sri Lankan tripe curry with carrot sambal and paratha was praised by Manu as “a very ballsy dish,” while Colin commended their ambition. Danielle and Marko served an Asian-inspired main of miso-glazed salmon with soba noodles and a smashed cucumber salad.
After mains, Justin and Will held a narrow lead, and their chocolate soufflé secured their victory. Danielle admitted the loss was “bittersweet” but said the boys deserved to advance. Marko noted that as underdogs, they focused on enjoying the experience.
The couple said the competition strengthened their relationship. Marko explained that they learned to balance each other’s approaches, with him being laser-focused and Danielle multitasking. Danielle added that cooking for judges Manu and Colin was “unreal” and deepened her love for food.
Tomorrow, the final grand final spot will be decided as Logan besties Lol and Lil face boss friends Maria and Bailey.
