From contestants to collaborators, proud dads and home cooks Justin Rolleston and Will Mataka have truly come full circle.
The NSW duo, fan favourites from the very start, narrowly claimed the My Kitchen Rules 2025 crown by a single point, taking home a life-changing $100,000.
Now, they’re flipping the script.
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The former competitors, who were judged by Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge, will now be cooking alongside the celebrity chefs on Thursday night.
Rolleston and Mataka will join the MKR judges for a special event at Manu’s Bistro Red Lion in Rozelle in Sydney’s inner west.
Guests have paid $200 for a five-course feast, promising an “unforgettable night of food, flavour and fun” described as “MKR brought to life at your table”.
Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au about life after the competition, the MKR champions revealed they were approached by Feildel to collaborate in his kitchen for the night.
“We’re basically doing a takeover,” Rolleston said, laughing.
“We’re taking over Manu’s kitchen.”
The NSW dads added the event feels like a “full circle moment” after their time on the Channel 7 cooking competition.
Guests can expect a mix of the MKR champions’ own creations alongside Feildel’s signature dishes, including their infamous red duck curry from the show.
Rolleston promised the curry would be “insane and full of flavours”, revealing the duo spent a full day preparing in Feildel’s kitchen.
“This is something we’ve always dreamt of doing,” Rolleston said.
“It’s phenomenal and great to know our food won’t be scored on the night.”
But that didn’t stop them from stepping into the judges’ shoes.
Rolleston shared they spent time learning new skills alongside Feildel’s expert team and couldn’t resist sampling some of the restaurant’s celebrated dishes, including the award-winning chicken parmigiana.
“I’ve been told the Red Lion bistro has won many awards for their parmi, so we’re going to give it a crack,” Rollleston joked in a video shared on Instagram.
He gave the dish 10 out of 10.
Since winning MKR, Rolleston and Mataka have been sharing their signature recipes online.
Rolleston recently launched his Instagram page, The Wild Plate, showcasing meals that can be made in 30 minutes.
“You don’t need 80 ingredients to make a delicious meal,” he said.
