Retha and Tshepi, Karen and Tenille, and Izak and Wessel survived three sudden death cook-off courses in the penultimate episode of My Kitchen Rules SA season 3. Now they take their place in this week’s final – and the bid for the R1 million prize.

The sudden death cook saw a duo eliminated after each of the three courses, as the contestants cooked some of South Africa’s finest produce over nothing but primal fire. Each duo suffered unique struggles with cooking over fire during an arduous sunrise-to-sunset cook marked by plenty of running between stations through the sand on the banks of the Crocodile River, near the birthplace of humanity: the Cradle of Humankind.

Nevi and Craig fell first, as their starter of sesame-crusted seared tuna only scored 10/20 from judges David Higgs and J’Something because of its one-dimensional flavour profile. KB and Nadia’s time in the MKR kitchen ended with their main course of ostrich fan steak with mushroom red wine jus. Each judge scored them 5/10, with David left wanting more from the meat and J’Something finding the ostrich underdone and the dish over-salted. With four duos fighting for three spots in the final via the dessert course, Bernadette and Shaleeni stumbled with their braaiberry pie, scoring two points less than Retha and Tshepi – 11 – sending them home.

Retha and Tshepi were thrilled to progress through from both main and dessert rounds, finding themselves second from bottom in the scoring on both courses. An overall score across the three courses counted for nothing this week, but it was Izak and Wessel who scored most (47/60) to beat Karen and Tenille (45), while Retha and Tshepi picked up a total of 38.

Izak and Wessel impressed with their starter of smoked snoek, main of ostrich fillet with fire-roasted sweet potato, and dessert of grilled pineapple with coconut and lime mascarpone. Karen and Tenille impressed the judges with three courses consisting of snoek with spiced butter, sweet potato and peach salsa; stuffed venison fillet with umfino pap; and nuts for pumpkin, pumpkin fritters with peanut and caramel sauce. Retha and Tshepi’s meal comprised of mussel curry with phaphatha, ostrich with mielie ribs and pearl couscous salad, and a mini date and honey crêpe cake with citrus cream.

My Kitchen Rules SA is available on DStv Premium on M-Net channel 101 every Sunday at 6pm as well as live-streamed on the DStv App, and on DStv Catch up through the DStv App or DStv Explora.

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