‘My Kitchen Rules’ Australia 2017: Brothers Albert and Dave miss the mark in two dishes, redeem themselves with ‘to die for’ dessert

Following a set of record-breaking duos from Group 1, six new teams step up to cook for their lives in “My Kitchen Rules” Australia 2017. New South Wales siblings Albert and Dave Lau were tasked to go first from this year's Group 2 and the brothers sought to set the bar high with Cantonese cooking.

On Season 8 Episode 8, Albert and Dave hoped to make a first good impression with their instant restaurant called Laughing Out Lau. While they tried to maintain a fun and vibrant vibe, disaster struck early on with their entrée, which they called Eight Treasures Fortune Bag with Scallops. Albert and Dave originally wanted to tie the egg fortune bags with shallots, but they kept snapping so the two improvised with toothpicks.

After having a taste of the brothers’ entrée, the judges were left underwhelmed. Manu Feildel commented that the scallops missed in consistency, while Pete Evans observed that there was nothing exciting with the fortune bags. Some of the contestants shared the two gentlemen’s sentiments. Josh reckoned he could cook better scallops than what was served with his eyes closed. He also said that the fortune bags were quite unfortunate.

As the brothers’ rivals hurled out criticisms, one contestant took empathy to a whole new level. Court, a self-proclaimed recovering vegan and vegetarian broke down in tears as she listened to the negative feedback on Albert and Dave’s first dish. Speaking of Albert and Dave, the two went back to the kitchen, determined to redeem themselves with their main dish, Hainan Chicken.

Manu checked with them in the kitchen to give them a pep talk. He advised them to go the traditional way, which is to use the whole chicken. However, Albert and Dave decided to stick to their guns and give it their own twist, confident that the flavour would win over the judges and the contestants. Later, amid the chaos in the kitchen, Albert noticed that Dave had been awfully quiet. Albert felt like Dave was feeling down and tried to lift his brother’s spirit up.

Unfortunately, the main dish wasn’t a step up from the entrée, according to Pete’s comments. After explaining the technique of what makes a Hainan chicken tender and tasty, Pete panned the inconsistency again of Albert and Dave’s version. “There were pieces that were so dry… some were bordering on uncooked,” Pete said. The rest of the dish were also unexciting, except for the chilli and shallot sauce. Manu, on the other hand, revealed that the pieces he got were cooked perfectly and he enjoyed his plate. However, he’s still left wanting for a smashing dessert.

Speaking of Albert and Dave’s dessert, the two brothers only had their Hong Kong egg tart with warm banana to rely on for a spot in the competition. Recognising this, the brothers did everything they could to make their last dish perfect. Their rivals, upon seeing and smelling the dessert, got excited to have a taste.

Albert and Dave’s dessert definitely brought them back to the game. Pete called it sensational and technically perfect. “Welcome to the competition,” Pete said, much to the brothers’ delights. Manu agreed that it was a delightful dish, commenting that the pastry was ideally crumbly, which was held together by a perfectly set egg custard. While Manu said that it wasn’t a complicated dish, he claimed it was done with precision and love.

At the end o fthe night, Albert and Dave’s rivals gave them a score of 26 out of a possible 50 points. In total, the brothers kicked off the second round of competition with a total score of 60 points. Before leaving, the judges announced the team who’s next in the culinary line: Kelsey and Amanda.

Spoiler Alert! This article contains "My Kitchen Rules" 2017 spoilers. Read only if you want to know more about it.

It’s the turn of bubbly blondes Kelsey and Amanda to prove they are worthy to stay in the competition. Channel Seven posted a sneak peek of Monday’s episode, dubbed as the brightest night of the “MKR” calendar. In the trailer, the New South Wales sisters adorn their restaurant, which they call “The Bright Side,” with colourful balloons and décor.

It seems that with this cheery vibe, nothing can spoil this night. However, an incident wipes the smiles off the judges and the other guests’ faces. Newlywed Matt, who sits beside his wife Alyse, appears to have said something to Amy that will shock everyone. Someone comments that there are too many feminists in the table and one of them may be Tully, who asks Matt, “Ever been in a shark cage? You’re in one now.”

The second batch of competitors are gunning to serve an impressive three-course meal for a $100,000 prize. Find out what happens next on “My Kitchen Rules” 2017, which airs at 7.30 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday on Channel Seven.