The Victorian nurses told 7NEWS that the response to their dessert on My Kitchen Rules had left them disappointed. Mary described herself as “still hurt” by the low scoring.
At their Instant Restaurant, Aming Kusina, meaning “our kitchen” in Tagalog, they wanted diners to try flavours they had grown up with. Their families helped by sending recipes for the competition.
Mary said unfamiliar diners’ reactions could make them question whether their food belonged in the competition, but she remained determined to share it. Golden likewise wanted Australians to enjoy the cuisine they were proud to represent.
A Pork Lesson Alongside The Dessert Disappointment
The night also brought a cooking lesson the pair were happy to acknowledge. Their shrimp fritters went down well, but the Cebu lechon belly was overcooked.
Mary regretted declaring herself a queen of pork before proving it to the judges, particularly with Colin Fassnidge at the table. Golden had tried to talk her out of the boast.
They were used to cooking for loved ones rather than serving an entire competition dinner. Mary’s practical fix for another attempt was to give the pork less time in the oven.
They Were Nervous Before Their Turn Even Began
During Tiffany and Giancarlo’s preceding dinner, Mary and Golden were already mentally preparing their own menu. They told 7NEWS that the nerves made it difficult to eat, even while they were sitting at someone else’s table.
For Golden, the familiar dishes brought back memories of childhood on a farm with her brothers. Being apart from their children added another emotional layer.
She told TV WEEK that the separation had been especially hard on her. Mary found a little humour in the tears, recalling her husband joking, “Good job, Golden, for crying!”
The pair have preferred to watch the dinner-table drama unfold, but criticism of a family dish hit closer to home. Their next cook will still have Filipino food at its heart, with a little more caution around that oven.
