During the second week of October 2026, candidates on the VTM reality program Mijn Restaurant faced intense jury scrutiny during their opening test rounds, where logistical failures, forgotten ingredients, and kitchen accidents immediately threatened multiple culinary duos across Belgium. The remaining pairs from Halle and Oostende took their turns before the judging panel on Wednesday, following an initial round on Tuesday.
The evaluation brought strict assessments from judges including Marc Coucke, Marcelo Ballardin, and other figures who monitored every move. While some participants earned praise for individual dishes, others struggled with basic preparation, inventory management, and kitchen safety under high-pressure conditions.
Elroy and Gaetano Tackle Mechelen Jury Test
Elroy, 31, and Gaetano, 29, worked through their jury test in the second episode. After Gaetano received criticism during the previous episode for being too intense as a host, the jury again warned him to stop apologizing without clear reasons.
Sarocha and Bas Miss Rice and Dress Code in Halle
Best friends Sarocha, 28, and Bas, 38, representing Halle, aimed to introduce traditional Thai flavors combined with French-Belgian influences to Flanders. However, the jury immediately criticized Bas’s appearance, remarking that the host looked unkempt with stained T-shirt fabric. Although Sarocha impressed the table, the meal collapsed during the main course. Sarocha forgot to cook the rice. We are the rice forgotten cook, so it are only mussels,
Bas confessed to the jury. The panel expressed severe disappointment, noting that serving solitary shellfish without a starch base amounted to a fundamental planning failure that reduced the concept to a specialty seafood spot rather than a complete dinner.
Bahir and Clémence Forget Equipment and Mussels in Oostende
In Oostende, Bahir, 34, and Clémence, 23, prepared to open an authentic fish restaurant on the zeedijk. Their enthusiasm quickly hit logistical snags when Clémence realized she lacked a corkscrew, cutting board, and ice cubes, which Marcelo personally provided from his kitchen. Despite these omissions, their sharing plates of ceviche, shrimp croquettes, and brioche with crab stunned the judges. Marcelo called their ceviche the best he had ever eaten on television.
The momentum shattered when Bahir admitted he left the main course mussels in his car. Here stand mussels on the card?
the jury asked upon checking the menu, prompting a confession from the pair. Compounding their errors, Clémence noticed red matter in the dough while baking dessert. There sits blood on the dough,
she observed, after which Bahir discovered his finger was bleeding and discarded the entire batch. Clémence initially asked why the dough looked red, to which Bahir joked that it was just peppers before realizing the injury. Bahir rapidly improvised a replacement dessert, winning praise from the jury for his flexibility.
Restaurant Locations Assigned Across Belgium
Following the tests, the participating pairs visited their assigned brick-and-mortar locations. Indra and Marco toured their space in Hasselt, describing it as a palace. Kelly, 50, and Zeno, 25, received Marcelo’s former restaurant in Ghent, viewing it as their child. Sarocha and Bas received a historic post office building in Halle, while Bahir and Clémence secured a waterfront venue directly on the Oostende sea dike.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Jury Tests
Who serves on the judging panel for the culinary tests?
The evaluation panel features Marc Coucke, Marcelo Ballardin, Sarah Renson, and Shannah Zeebroek, with Wim Opbrouck acting as foodie host.
Which network broadcasts the series?
New episodes air every Tuesday and Thursday evening on VTM and streaming platform VTMGO.
What specific mistakes did the Oostende duo make during their test?
Bahir and Clémence forgot a wine opener, cutting board, ice cubes, and left their main course mussels behind in a parked car before an accidental finger cut ruined their initial dessert batch.
Worth a look