If you loved MasterChef, then get ready for the new, exciting Celebrity MasterChef. Gary Mehigan spoke to us about what to expect from the new series plus who his early favourites are.
Do you remember the first time you cooked something and thought, “This is what I want to do”?
My grandad was a chef; he used to spoil me rotten as all good grandparents do. He had a beautiful English garden full of fruit and vegetables; he’d bake bread and make gorgeous things that as a kid I thought were magical. I remember bottling home made plum wine at the end of one summer taking a little sip here and there as I siphoned it into the bottles. We laughed a lot that day, I remember mum telling Grandad off about it. I giggled all the way home. I could have only become a chef.
What is your favourite recipe to eat and favourite to make?
I love to cook food that takes time – to make and to eat! A good braise or stew or a great sauce, something that develops in the pot, it’s the alchemy and control followed by great reward. “Braised oxtail, Osso Bucco or a bolito misto”
With Celebrity MasterChef about to launch, what can you tell us about it?
We all love that little window through which we can peer and see what our celebs are really like. We have found some great cooks and why not they travel, they eat out in some of the best restaurants - they are competitive and love to win – what a fantastic combination.
Do you have an early favourite?
Rachel Finch and Eamon Sullivan believe it or not our two youngest competitors have a natural affinity with food and have the skills to match
What should we expect?
As with the first series some great cooking and challenges sent to test the steeliest of souls.
Did you expect the first season of MasterChef to take off like it did?
No one could have guessed that master chef was going to be the hit that it was. It is something about food that has bought this show to life. No mean judges – ordinary people doing something creative and against the odds. Makes us feel great. The nicest thing of all is that we have bought food to life for many including children who have loved the show.
What was your favourite moment of the first season of MasterChef?
The Croqembouche challenge was amazing – watching these four amateur cooks battle it out against themselves was inspirational. I remember Adriano Zumba standing on the side lines with his mouth open willing Julie to get that thing out of the mould he was bursting out of his skin! That’s saying something!
What is your favourite type of wine? What do you recommend coming into summer?
My favourite wine is a once in a life time treat Chateau Yquem 1967 from Bordeaux France – the year of my birth. OMG! An explosion in you mouth sweet, sticky bursting with apricot, marmalade and orange. Summer I like a lightly chilled Grenache such as a Deisen from the Barossa Valley – rich fruit, chocolate and leather – hmmm!
Can you share the cooking tip you’ve been given?
Buy the best ingredients you can afford and learn what is in season. Everything has its season not just fruit and vegetables but seafood, milk, meat – sounds weird but true. When there is plenty of something about the rule of thumb is it will be good value. That means don’t buy cherries from California in the middle of winter!
Worst tasting meal you’ve made/disaster in the kitchen?
I can’t think of one particular thing – probably because I try so hard to forget the big mistakes! But I can tell you I have learnt to use a timer – never do I say – I’ll remember those 150 portions of lamb in the oven if they only need a couple of extra minutes!
What’s your food weakness?
Everything – I can’t say no if it’s good – no matter how full I am.
What are you most proud of?
Other than the birth of my beautiful baby girl with which nothing compares – opening and running my two businesses and of course branching out into a little TV!
What makes you nervous?
Complacency
Who do you think is a master chef?
Ground breakers and lateral thinkers in the industry that take food to another level – Careme – August Escoffier - Paul Bocuse, Alain Sanderens, The brothers Troisgros, Ferran Adria, Andoni Aduriz, Stephanie Alexander – the list goes on.
Head to the Brisbane Good Food & Wine show, Nov 6-8 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to see Gary, George and a host of other celebrity chefs including Ben O'Donoghue, Tobie Puttock, Alastair McLeod and Matt Moran.
Brisbane Good Food and Wine show
Tickets
Adult: $20.00
Child (6 - 16yrs): $16.00
Concession/Groups (10+): $18.00
* Tickets to LG Celebrity Theatre sessions incur an additional $2.50.
Tickets are available now through Ticketek or www.goodfoodshow.com.au
Catch Gary, George, Matt and a host of your favourite celebrities on Celebrity MasterChef, Wednesday, 7.30pm Network Ten.
Your say: Who is your favourite MasterChef judge? Which celebrity do you think has what it takes to win the title? Share with us below...
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