Stav Naftali and Emma Rachel Oron Win "MKR VIP" Grand Finale

The grand finale of Keshet 12's popular culinary competition "MKR VIP" delivered an unforgettable showdown last night as Stav Naftali and Emma Rachel Oron clinched the championship title. The dynamic duo finished the evening with an impressive 97 points out of 110 possible, triumphing over Itay Turgeman and his brother-in-law Eli Mazuz, who secured 90 points.

A Dramatic Culmination

Turgeman and Mazuz had entered the final stage with high expectations and an exceptional track record, having previously earned the highest score ever recorded in the show's history. Meanwhile, Stav and Rachel secured their ticket to the final after earning 86 points, narrowly beating out Judy Nir Mozes and Ron Levin. The decisive gap between the finalists opened early during the very first course.

Stav and Rachel impressed the judges immediately by serving a delicate white fish ceviche accompanied by purple grapes, earning 27 out of 30 points. Renowned chef Haim Cohen praised the dish, stating: "This is a beautiful dish, and I deeply appreciate the precision of the knife work." Fellow judge Ruthie Broudo added: "I was initially afraid of the sweetness of the grapes, but the balance was absolutely magnificent."

This is a beautiful dish, and I deeply appreciate the precision of the knife work.

The Final Deciding Moments

In contrast, Turgeman and Mazuz served a spinach pastry with fish and a poached egg, which scored 24 points. Their decision to skip making the dough from scratch ultimately cost them crucial points. For the second course, Turgeman struggled with gnocchi dough preparation but managed to serve fish kebabs with gnocchi in a sour herb broth, earning 40 out of 50 points. Stav and Rachel responded with a brilliant chicken musakhan paired with homemade pita, tahini, and spicy condiments, which netted 43 points and sealed their ultimate victory.