My Kitchen Rules contestants Mary and Golden have said they were left hurt after the low score given to their mango float ice-cream sandwich, which failed to win over the judges or their fellow diners.
The Victorian nurses finished second with their instant restaurant, Aming Kusina — meaning “our kitchen” in Filipino (Tagalog) — where they served traditional dishes inspired by their heritage.
Mary said the response to the dessert was particularly difficult because it was a dish the pair had grown up eating.
“We love our food and we love it because we grew up eating it, but we always have this thing at the back of our mind: Is it good enough for this competition? Is it good enough for Australia?” she said.
“But you know what? We love it and we’re happy to show it and share it with everyone, if they don’t like it, it would hurt, but we’re still proud of our cuisine.”
Their Filipino family recipes were sent from home throughout the competition, with Mary saying her relatives had been “very supportive from day one”. Cooking the food also brought back strong memories for Golden, who recalled growing up on a farm with her brothers.
“My tears wouldn’t stop crying. I was laughing, but at the same time, I was actually just crying. It wouldn’t stop. It was like it had a mind of its own,” Golden said.
The pair were already feeling the strain before opening their restaurant. Mary said they were “literally shaking in our seats” while watching another team’s dinner, knowing they would be cooking next.
“I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare you, but we had a plan. We always come with a plan,” she said.
Golden added: “You might not see it, but we actually could not eat properly.”
Their entrée of shrimp fritters was well received, but their Cebu lechon belly was overcooked. Mary also admitted that describing herself and Golden as the “queens of pork” had increased the pressure, particularly while serving Colin Fassnidge, known to the contestants as the “king of pork”.
“My regret is calling myself the queen of pork without proving myself first,” Mary said. “We are used to cooking for just our family, our friends, not like on a big scale. But next time, maybe I won’t let the pork stay in the oven for that long.”
Despite being labelled the team to watch, the nurses said they still felt they had something to prove. Golden said they wanted to showcase their culture and hoped Australia would embrace their cuisine.
The pair declined to comment on the table drama, with Golden saying: “We stay out of the drama and you know, keep our head in the game.”
My Kitchen Rules returns on Monday at 7.30pm on Seven and 7plus.
