Queensland couple Michael and Rielli brought plenty of confidence to their Instant Restaurant, Perfect Pair on My Kitchen Rules, but their bold menu choice left judges divided and guests unsettled.

Michael and Rielli’s high-stakes cooking strategy backfired as their risky choice of beef tongue split the table and sank their chances on My Kitchen Rules. (image – Channel 7)

The outspoken pair unveiled an ambitious spread – Beetroot and Feta Cheesecake, Buttered Beef Tongue, and Raspberry Gel with Chocolate Mousse Domes. By the end of the night, only dessert had the room on side, and the couple landed at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Rielli, describing herself as a perfectionist, admitted the pressure was high:

“I’ve always struggled with perfectionism. I don’t want to be average.”

Both were determined to impress, with Michael declaring “We are here to win”, while Rielli echoed “We are going to win”.

The entrée set the tone. It arrived with striking presentation, but the flavours fell short. Manu Feildel thought the feta overpowered the beetroot and the base was “a little too thick”, scoring six. Colin Fassnidge called it “halfway there”, praising the onion jam but noting the beetroot lacked punch, giving five.

Then came the dish that split the table: beef tongue. Some diners baulked at the idea, with Lol visibly struggling to eat it. Undeterred, Michael insisted, “It’s going to be perfect”. But when the first batch was overcooked, Rielli insisted they start again. The second attempt was plated with confidence, but the feedback was far from glowing.

Manu described the tongue as “spot on” in texture, yet felt the dish lacked seasoning and sauce, awarding three. Colin echoed his disappointment, giving four.

A daring move to serve beef tongue proved disastrous for Michael and Rielli on My Kitchen Rules, overshadowing their eventual dessert triumph. (image – Channel 7)

Away from the plates, tensions simmered. Mel and Jacinta revisited the previous night’s butter knife incident, sparking pushback from Maria and Bailey, who leapt to the hosts’ defence. Bailey summed it up bluntly:

“They do give it just as much as they get it. I think they are being a little sensitive.”

Relief finally came with dessert. With her baking skills on display, Rielli served a mousse dome that Manu described as “you could sell in a French pastry shop, it was that beautiful”. The dish earned a perfect 10 from Colin and a nine from Manu.

Despite the sweet recovery, their combined tally of 65 out of 110 left them trailing the pack.