Table two steps up to the plate in My Kitchen Rules SA!
Last Sunday My Kitchen Rules SA completed its first five-week cycle in which five teams hosted five very different Instant Restaurants, and there was as much action at the table as in the kitchen. The cycle ended with the elimination of the team that posted the lowest score.
Now it’s time to introduce a brand-new group of contestants, who will battle it out over the next five weeks in the second Instant Restaurant phase of the competition, in the hope of making it through to MKR HQ… and walking off with a cool R1-million!
Here they are:
Maj and Joleen
Their backgrounds are poles apart. Maj (pronounced “My”) is Danish and the owner of ROOM, a home décor store, while Joleen (or Joy to her friends) is Afrikaans and hails from Pretoria, with her professional career playing out in the fast-paced digital innovation space.
When they join forces in the kitchen they give Nordic flavours a South African twist. And their secret weapons in the quest for a competitive edge? Maj’s highly developed palate and creativity and Joleen’s knowledge of quality produce and advanced planning skills.
The moms also share a love for good wine and exploring different types of local gins.
Donald and Luyanda
Donald and Luyanda believe that food creates experiences and that one should be aware of the context of the food one consumes. It would be irresponsible to judge a plate without knowing its backstory.
Their love for and appreciation of cuisine from a range of cultures have solidified their relationship. Now they want to get even closer together in the kitchen, with one goal only – to bag the money!
Dirk and Bahia
Even though Bahia is an Attorney and soon graduates with a Master’s Degree in Law, she has always enjoyed learning about the art of cooking and gained some valuable lessons about experimenting with ingredients and creating taste sensations from her mother, who puts an international spin on Indian food.
It has been Bahia’s dream to learn as much as possible from top chefs on a cooking show. Dirk, who is rather modest about his skills in the kitchen, was the perfect partner. They bring out the best in each other.
They love adding a modern touch to their respective rich food histories and traditional dishes. Expect some eclectic food experiences!
Ash and Chris
Go-getter single mom Chris, a Risk Manager at a major financial institution, and Ash, who served as a youth advisor for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and now as a project manager at a charity providing services to special needs children and families, are both seasoned travellers.
Now they aspire to bring the world’s flavours to Manenberg’s doorstep and showcase Manenberg’s resilience. Homely and hearty Cape Malay-inspired dishes, infused with global flavours, is how the cousins describe their food style.
For them, food brings people together, while sharing meals represents love, comfort and unbreakable familial bonds. Their drive to serve has inspired them to start a community development project with a focus on the power of food to bring people together.
Maritsa and Maradine
They are farm girls at heart and attribute their culinary skills to their mothers and grandmothers – and a weight loss programme that launched their adventurous cooking journey!
While Maritsa loves experimenting with lamb, rosemary, thyme and lemon, Maradine is the avid dessert maker. Any excuse to combine sugar, butter, eggs and chocolate for a taste sensation will do. However, whether it’s sweet or salty, Maritsa or Maradine, there’s one thing they steadfastly insist on: food should look and taste great!
In this week’s episode (Sunday, 8 July), Table Two heads to Bloemfontein where Maritsa and Maradine are the lucky pair to host the first Instant Restaurant of the second table. Are they ready for some pressure-cooker rivalry in My Kitchen Rules SA?
My Kitchen Rules SA is broadcast on M-Net channel 101 every Sunday night at 18:00. Viewers can also visit www.mnet.tv/mkr to watch exclusive interviews with the judges and contestants and follow all the breaking news and conversations about the show on Twitter @MNet / #MKRSA or on the official M-Net Facebook page.