Mark and Tan eliminated from My Kitchen Rules after dessert disaster, missing out on a semi-final spot

The final spot in the My Kitchen Rules semi-finals was decided after a dramatic Ultimate Instant Restaurant, which saw competitive mates Mark and Tan eliminated from the competition.

With expectations high, the duo’s ambitious Thai fusion menu couldn’t overcome a series of missteps — including two dessert disasters.

Going into the Ultimate Instant Restaurant, Mark and Tan told 7NEWS.com.au they were feeling good about their chances.

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“There hadn’t been any hiccups so far, which gave us even more confidence,” Tan said.

However, the team from Adelaide ultimately fell short, finishing with a total score of 56 out of 100 — making Perth couple Danielle and Marko the final team to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Joining them in the top four are NSW dads Justin and Will, Queensland besties Lol and Lil and South Australian friends Maria and Bailey.

Mark and Tan were eliminated on Tuesday night. Credit: Seven NetworkJustin and Will face-off against Danielle and Marko on Sunday. Credit: Seven NetworkMaria and Bailey will compete against Lol and Lil for a spot in the grand final on Tuesday. Credit: Seven Network

On Monday, Maria and Bailey – who have clashed with Mark and Tan since the beginning – survived their own high-pressure cook and remain determined to rise above their earlier admission of strategic scoring.

From the start of the competition, Mark and Tan have made their presence known, calling out teams they believed were “playing the game”.

But Mark revealed he wanted to stay true to himself and be upfront with others, even if that honesty came at a cost.

“Calling people out did make it easy for people to score us lower,” Mark admitted.

“I think being super confident too put a target on our back.

“But we believed in what we could do.”

Time pressure and being underprepared affected their dishes. Credit: Seven Network

Mark and Tan entered their final cook with bold intentions — a Thai-inspired menu featuring creative twists and a high-energy vibe.

Their entrées — pork and prawn dumplings and tuna tartare — impressed several guests and judges, with Colin and Manu both awarding eights for the starters.

While their entrées hit the mark, their mains didn’t land as well and the night quickly went downhill after the first course.

Both desserts proved their undoing, with the undercooked puddings and overbaked tarts failing to deliver the wow factor they needed to stay in the competition.

“We messed up once and ended up having to go home,” Tan said.

Hearing the judges’ critiques was “heartbreaking”.

“Looking back, I think we were underprepared … we thought we could smash it all out,” Tan admitted.

“There were some things on the menu we definitely could’ve changed.

“I always said if we do go out, we wanted to go out with a bang.

“I tried to do dishes that were competition worthy, so I don’t regret that part. But there has to be a balance between wanting to impress and what’s doable.”

Mark said despite the drama, there was a lot of laughter at the table. Credit: Seven NetworkThe judges gave the desserts a score of three and four, which shocked the table. Credit: Seven Network

Tan, who runs two family-owned restaurants, said time pressure made all the difference.

“When you’re cooking for friends and family you don’t have to be in such a rush,” he explained.

“In the restaurant, if there’s any mistakes we won’t send it out until it’s perfect.”

The team admitted knowing dessert was their weakness, they should’ve spent more time on their final dish — which earned a score of three and four from the judges.

While hearing they were eliminated was “shocking” both agreed the experience was “awesome”.

“To cook for some of the best chefs on TV was really amazing,” Tan said.

Despite the disappointment, Mark added “there was a lot of laughter at the table”.

So, what’s next for Mark and Tan?

“Opening a dessert shop,” joked Mark, who works in the fitness industry.

On Sunday, top-ranked team Justin and Will will take on Danielle and Marko in the first semi-final, battling for a place in the MKR grand final.

On Monday, Lol and Lil go head-to-head with Maria and Bailey, competing for the remaining spot in the finale.

My Kitchen Rules semi-finals start Sunday 7.00pm on Seven and 7plus.

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