Latest news with #MattPreston
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
ABC in talks of new show with original MasterChef judges
MasterChef Australia's three original judges – Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris – are in talks to reunite for a mystery television project. Six years after Preston, Mehigan and Calombaris last collaborated, executives at the ABC are hoping the three can be brought together to recreate the MasterChef magic in a new culinary program on the public broadcaster. Industry sources last week said the trio hoped the yet-to-be-greenlit program would relaunch their prime time television careers. Flamboyant food critic Preston and restaurateur/chefs Calombaris and Mehigan enjoyed 11 seasons as presenters and judges on MasterChef before the three made a pact in 2019 to jointly walk away from the Ten Network reality series if they couldn't extract a better deal. Industry claims, reported by your scribe at the time, had it the men had each demanded a million dollar contract from Ten. This was 18 months after the financially embattled network had been acquired by American media company CBS (later rebranded Paramount) after entering into voluntary administration in 2017. Despite the program's consistently high ratings, Ten refused the trio's demands and the presenters left the program. The following year Preston and Mehigan were signed to Seven's short-lived cooking show, Plate of Origin, alongside chef Manu Feildel. The program lasted just four weeks and was cancelled due to poor ratings however both would be invited to appear on the 2022 season of Seven's My Kitchen Rules. The two have remained regular collaborators and this year have joined forces to conduct food adventure tours in Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as a tour of India. Meanwhile prior to and after his departure from MasterChef Calombaris was sunk in financial scandal after it emerged he had underpaid restaurant staff $7.83 million. Following the closure of his 21 restaurants his company went into voluntary administration. He eventually made his return to television in 2022 on Ten with a six-part docu-series entitled Hungry after working diligently to rehabilitate his career and reputation. All three men are said to be keen to re-establish the chemistry that made them household names from 2009 and to relaunch their on-screen partnership, even with the expected downsized ABC pay cuts. SEVEN'S POWER MOVE Departed Nine Network journalist Chris O'Keefe has received an approach from the Seven Network to return to television. Former Seven Perth news director Ray Kuka was only days into his new job as replacement for recently departed national news boss Anthony De Ceglie when Kuka started canvasing for an experienced hand to take the reins of his Sydney newsroom. The approach follows this column's revelation Seven's Sydney news director Sean Power, promoted under De Ceglie to move across from executive producer of Sunrise to run Seven's Sydney newsroom, is headed home to Melbourne. We hear the well-regarded Power is currently without a job to go to in Melbourne but is hopeful Kuka will find him a role. It's news that has to be unsettling for the network's appointed-under-De-Ceglie Melbourne news director Chris Salter. Power's impending departure would be less of a problem for Kuka were he now permanently relocated to Sydney. With his family remaining in Perth – and Kuka apparently in no hurry to quit Perth for Sydney – he's under pressure to appoint a strong and loyal 'number two' to helm his newsroom in the nation's news capital. O'Keefe, who was a reporter for Nine for over a decade before trying his hand at talk radio on Nine-owned Sydney station 2GB, quit the media, and Nine, at the end of last year. After announcing he was to start his own political advocacy business he surprised former colleagues by joining the Clean Energy Council as its national spokesman. According to our Seven sources, O'Keefe didn't hesitate in declining Kuka's offer leaving the Perth news veteran, another chairman's pick by Kerry Stokes or so we hear, to go hunting for a new contender. JULIE'S ANGUISH CONTINUES Julie Martin's heartbreaking statement to a coronial inquest has confirmed claims the mother-of-three has become a virtual recluse in her eastern suburbs home since her daughter died in a random attack at Bondi Junction 13 months ago. Friends of the lawyer say she has been held up in her eastern suburbs home for over a year refusing to leave the house or take phone calls. Sources say the grieving mother has, since her 25-year-old's daughter's tragic death, stopped leaving the house to shop for food and provisions and now has groceries and supplies delivered to her home to help avoid public scrutiny or contact. A second statement tendered to the inquest this week also contradicted media reports the soon-to-be married Dawn had been at Westfield Bondi Junction to shop for make-up for her upcoming wedding. Friends of the deceased have previously informed this column Dawn was set to have her makeup done by a professional on her wedding day, and had no need of wedding-day cosmetics. Having received a stern rebuke from Dawn's younger sister Daisy for granting an interview to 60 Minutes, Dawn's father John Singleton has taken a lower profile since the inquest began on April 28. PAY PARITY TAKES BACKWARD STEP AT NINE The last word for the week must surely go to a report in The Australian earlier this week that Sarah Abo is earning $800k-a-year as co-anchor of Nine's Today show. The figure is roughly a quarter (or 28.5 per cent based on the lowest end of his estimate) of the salary currently being paid to her co-host Karl Stefanovic whose salary has been put at between $2.8 million and $3 million. Now this injustice should stick in the craw of Nine's news boss Fiona Dear, the first woman ever installed to run Nine's TV news division. If Dear (and Nine CEO Matt Stanton) has crunched the numbers, as indeed we have, the gender pay gap between the two Today co-hosts has grown since former anchor Lisa Wilkinson lost her job at Nine in 2017 for fighting hard – some have claimed too hard which we reckon is nonsense – to achieve pay parity with Stefanovic. While comedian and radio host Dave Hughes will always be a hero in our eyes for taking a pay cut in 2017 to ensure his co-host Kate Langbroek, who was on 40 per cent less, was given an equitable salary bump and even Kyle Sandilands insisted early in his radio partnership with Jackie 'O' that his 2DAYFM increase her salary from $80k to an equitable arrangement, it seems sexism is still king in television or at least in Nine's light news division.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
MasterChef Legends Reveal Why Biryani Is So Much More Than Just A Dish
Last Updated: A delightful video of Aussie food icons Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan enjoying India's beloved biryani is going viral. Indians share a timeless and passionate bond with biryani, a dish that's not just food, but emotion. Be it Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, or Chennai, each region has its iconic version. Now, a heartwarming video featuring Australian food legends Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan indulging in India's beloved biryani is going viral. Shared on Instagram on May 25, it has already racked up over 2 lakh views, striking a nostalgic and emotional chord with fans across the country. The viral video captures two familiar faces from MasterChef Australia — Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan — joyfully exploring India's culinary treasures. Known for their discerning palates and love for global cuisine, the duo are seen going from one eatery to another, soaking in the bustling Indian food culture. Their recent gastronomic journey took them to Hyderabad, the legendary land of biryani, where they visited iconic places like Shadab Hotel. The video captures their excitement as they dig into aromatic biryanis and slurp down Hyderabadi marag — a spicy mutton soup best enjoyed with warm naan. Watching them relish each bite, laugh, and banter, one thing is clear: these two are loving every minute of their food adventure. The charm of the video lies in its authenticity. It's not staged or scripted. It's just two food-loving friends discovering new layers of flavour in every bite, interacting with the locals, and celebrating a dish that unites millions of Indians. The video has also amassed more than 17,000 likes and sparked over 200 lively comments. Social media users flooded the comments with love and nostalgia. A user wrote, 'I first saw these two on Master Chef Australia when I was in school… Today I'm a mother of two children, even today, when I see them there's only love." Another user expressed her joy by saying, 'It's amazing to see how much you enjoy Hyderabadi cuisine." 'If you're in Hyderabad, don't miss out on tala hua gosht, khatti daal with plain rice, and mandi. Wishing you a fantastic trip!" an individual proudly identifying as a local, recommended. Others encouraged them to try the Kolkata-style biryani, with a user pointing out, 'Surprised you haven't been to Kolkata to try the Kolkata biryani." Fans are thrilled to see their food heroes in India, embracing local flavours and falling in love with biryani firsthand. First Published:
Time Out
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Michelin-star chefs and Aussie icons are turning up the heat for Port Douglas' hottest food festival
What do you get when you combine a Singaporean Michelin-star chef, the owner of one of Asia's oldest cocktail bars and the pastry extraordinaire from Fortnum and Mason? The sizzling line-up for Taste Port Douglas – and that's just a taster. Australia's favourite tropical food festival is returning to Far North Queensland for its ninth year in 2025, flying in a world-class roster of talent for four flavour-packed days from August 7 to 10. Surrounded by two World Heritage-listed wonders – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – Taste Port Douglas will see the return of its signature seaside long lunches, exclusive restaurant takeovers, expert masterclasses, a star-lit music festival, and the iconic opening and closing cocktail parties. The hottest ticket in town is always for 'A Night of Fire', which takes place under the flickering candlelights at Flames of the Forest, Australia's only rainforest dining experience. Many of Australia's biggest culinary names and favourite television personalities will be firing up the kitchens at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort festival village, including Matt Preston, Manu Feildel, Colin Fassnidge, Nelly Robinson and Alanna Sapwell. They'll be joined by three international rock star chefs who will keep the food and drinks flowing. Pâtissier extraordinaire and executive head chef at London's Fortnum and Mason, Roger Pizey, will re-create a tarte tatin that has been praised as one of the best ever made. Michelin-starred chef of Singapore's Marguerite restaurant, Michael Wilson, will host an exclusive masterclass with paired wines. Meanwhile, Ryan Clift, chef and owner of The Tippling Club, one of Singapore's oldest cocktail bars and a regular on The World's 50 Best Bars list, will demonstrate how to make his signature dishes to just 24 guests.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Celebrity chef Matt Preston reveals how to get the viral Dubai chocolate much cheaper as retailers sell a small bar for up to $29
Celebrity chef Matt Preston has recreated a TikTok viral dessert for a fraction of the price. The cooking connoisseur, 63, who rose to fame as a judge on MasterChef Australia, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share his version of Dubai chocolate, a sweet treat that is trending on social media. The indulgent dish, which is, in simple terms, a chocolate bar wrapped around a crispy pistachio filling, was dreamed up by Dubai local and Fix Dessert Chocolatier's Sarah Hamouda and costs $29 - and that's without the expensive delivery fee. However, Matt has made the delicacy a little easier to nab and a lot cheaper to eat thanks to making his own recipe inspired by the viral chocolate. 'We made a heavy brick of Dubai chocolate for same price as two scrawny bars!' he captioned the clip, which has amassed 33.6K views. 'Think chunky chocolate, loads more crispy filling. It's like Dubai Chocolate got jacked and swole,' he humorously added. The indulgent dish, which is, in simple terms, a chocolate bar wrapped around a crispy pistachio filling, was dreamed up by Dubai local and Fix Dessert Chocolatier's Sarah Hamouda and costs $29 - and that's without the expensive delivery fee Matt explained that he did pay $25 for a jar of pistachio paste but said it would be even less pricey to make his own version. 'In retrospect, it would have been cheaper to grind my own paste, which would have been a bit of palaver, but also would have pretty much halved the cost' he told Delicious. He also ordered some silicone chocolate moulds to set his bars which he said 'only cost a few bucks'. Once he had all his ingredients, the bar he ended with cost $40 to make - but it also weighed a whopping 500 grams - which is half a kilo, about twice the size of many on the market, including the viral Fix Dessert Chocolatier bar which weighs 200 grams. If that was still too expensive, Matt suggested using a cheaper nut paste - such as walnuts or hazelnuts, ending up with a bar that costs $20 per 500 grams. Few foods in recent memory have caused such a global stir as the renowned Dubai chocolate bar. The delectable treat, which found fame on social media last year, contains a mix of pistachio and crispy kataifi pastry known as 'angel hair'. Also known as 'Can't Get Knafeh Of It', it was created by Sarah Hamouda as a new way to satiate her pregnancy cravings. Like Willy Wonka's golden ticket, chocolate fans around the world are clamouring for a taste of the confection, which is in desperately short supply. In the UK, Lidl and Waitrose are among the supermarkets flogging their own versions of the original creation – prompting long queues and empty shelves. However, it appears this exclusivity is leading to a chocolate black market, as manufacturers are producing cheap and dangerous knock-offs. According to an investigation in Germany, Dubai chocolate bars imported from the Middle East are filled with nasty additives and contaminants. This includes palm oil, green food dyes, toxins produced by moulds and even chemical compounds thought to be carcinogenic. The investigation was conducted by Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) Stuttgart, an office in Baden-Württemberg focusing on food safety. Following Can't Get Knafeh Of It's viral attention last year, the experts tested eight imported samples of copycat Dubai chocolate – five from the UAE and three from Turkey. As well as ground pistachio and kataifi, the Dubai chocolate bar's filling contains tahini, a smooth paste made from ground sesame seeds. But the investigation found traces of palm oil - a cheap and accessible oil high in saturated fat, which has long been linked with health issues like heart disease.
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
MasterChef Australia's Matt Preston: 'Cuisines are like children – I love them all'
The Speaker's Lounge at Jaipur Lit Fest (JLF) was filled with the delectable aroma of freshly baked chocolate au pain as the pale afternoon light filtered through the curtains and into the space where I was supposed to meet Matt Preston, one of the MasterChef Australia jury members who happened to be my co-panellist in an upcoming session. Looking around, I noticed the enigmatic Preston sitting at a distance, his face half lit by soft light, familiar expression on, and his signature scarf around his neck. Over his masala chai and my espresso doppio we got down to talking about food. Having published his memoir Big Mouth recently, Preston was more than buoyant. To add to that he was in a part of the world that he loves — South Asia, India, Middle East, East Asia — and there was much to talk about. Cue the questions, including where Preston's journey really began. 'Literally from my grandfather's greenhouse to pick tomatoes in the low golden rays of the end to a summer's warm day. The hempy herbaceousness that filled the glasshouse and the warmth of the plump flank that had been basking in the sun for the afternoon. It was, however, a World Cup Willy nougat bar that I saved four weeks of pocket money to buy [that made an impression]; I can vividly remember standing on the top step of the local corner store holding the bar to the sky like I'd just drawn Excalibur from the stone. It actually wasn't very nice when I tried it — it was dry and teeth-pullingly chewy. The tomato was way better.' Preston's career in food was cemented with his move to Australia, 'It was a Cinderella moment, a friend suggested to her partner (who needed a restaurant writer for her new magazine) that I might fit the bill. I'd been writing about TV (specially about Australian soap operas like Neighbours and Home & Away for UK magazines) since arriving in Australia and so getting paid to eat out seemed as good a lurk (just like getting paid to watch TV).' Australia was perhaps his lucky charm for MasterChef Australia, world's OG food reality show, would happen soon. 'I was rung by the daughter in law of my mum's best friend in Australia — they had been kindergarten teachers together in London back in their 20s. She wanted to pick my brains about chefs to audition for the two judging roles on MasterChef Australia. I must have impressed her with my knowledge because she asked to see a picture and the story goes as we were talking she sent it to the launch producer, who sent it to EP (the executive producer) who sent it to the head of the network. They all loved my rather shabby chic appearance and the rag around my neck. Without asking for a CV or any reference or a list of the awards I'd won, they decided to create a third judging role just for me. I know this story to be true because that casting agent ended up being my manager — still is after 15 years.' Eleven seasons later, Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan have transformed the way the world looks at food and are responsible for more people wanting to cook. MasterChef Australia made cooking an oomphy affair, beautiful, hard and gratifying all at once. But did the show transform Preston's idea of food, as he went on from being a 'third' judge to one of the best and most popular television jurors? I notice a glitter in Preston's eyes. 'It was to live in a wonderland where any food nerdery wasn't just encouraged but cherished. We'd be talking with each other, the MC team and the contestants 12 hours a day about food, helping crystallise ideas. I learnt a lot from all these follow travellers.' Preston's presence at the JLF had already caused a flurry; autograph and selfie hunters swarmed him. From a Rajasthani grandmom who came all the way to meet the OG master chef to aspiring Gen Zs who wanted a moment with Preston often declaring how the man in a pink neck scarf had changed their lives, the fans were varied. That Preston along with his mates Calombaris, and Mehigan influenced millions is perhaps one of the biggest feats in television history ever. 'We were just three chubby fellas who hardly fill the chisel-jawed model looks of most people who end up on TV. We were making a show in an old chicken shed out by the airport. We had no sense of any impact we might be creating. It is however lovely now to meet people who enjoyed the show and took inspiration from it — in fact, it's actually a little humbling, charming but humbling. We all love how the positivity of the show shone through we all abhor that ugly style of reality TV,' he said. One is curious to know Preston the author and those little-big elements of his life, like his grandfather's greenhouse. I ask about Big Mouth... wasn't it a bit early in life to write a memoir? Pat came the reply, 'I needed to tell my kids all about the personal family stuff that was also part of their story too. That seemed like the easiest way to do it. Preston also wanted to raise awareness about sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). 'This is what killed my brother when he was 22. It's still such a little-known problem, but risks can be dramatically reduced with the right advice. If I can help to raise understanding of this (especially with those who advise people with epilepsy, or PWE), help chase more research funding, and help PWE to adopt practices that can lessen risk a little that would be a worthy use of my time,' he added. But which Preston do the readers find in Big Mouth — the judge, the food critic, the columnist, or a man whose world is food? In a little mischief-filled voice came the words: 'The stuff you know about me, the stuff you think you know about me, and the other 80 per cent of the book is stuff you never knew about me. I'd never really addressed it before.' A conversation with Preston cannot conclude without a chat about favourite cuisines. 'Cuisines are like children — I love them all but at different times I like some more than the others. At home, I make pasta, pizzas, one-dish salads that work as a main course, and now that it is getting chilly, simple flavourful braises. I have a soft spot for Indian and Vietnamese. The clean, fresh and sparklingly bright nature of some Japanese food too, and Italian obviously, but really Australian cuisine ransacks all the best kitchens for inspiration, so pair that with my constant travel and I am well fed! Having said that if you can't find something to love everywhere, you just aren't looking hard enough.' That said, does he have a Middle East food connection? 'In Melbourne we have a deep love for food from across the Middle East and my pantry is full of locally sourced molasses, scented waters, and spices like sumac, cinnamon, and saffron. Iconic chef Greg Malouf (and all his skilled acolytes) came from here so we had loads of good local exponents too. Dubai is so much more than jami, madroob and Mandi chicken (still one of the best three ways to cook chicken). Taste of Dubai was immensely enjoyable as much for the inspirational young cooks I got to work with as for the excellent food that I ate across Dubai. Orfali Bros was world class, the fish at BordoMavi (and the service with a lovely familiar Aussie twang!) and the nyama choma at Hashimi BBQ were both most notable. Jun's was a lot of fun too. And I really loved the whole madness of Davib Munoz' Street XO which has just opened. Hanging out with Vineet Bhatia after 20 years was a special treat. Would like to come back and dig a little deeper into Middle Eastern dishes as I know how rewarding this can be after the time spent in Dubai filming MasterChef Australia and what I learnt from local chef and cooks.' Before we part, I asked Preston what's next for him. He said: 'I am dedicating more time towards my interest in attacking food insecurity, by minimising food waste. Shockingly for such a rich country, Australia has a growing problem with food insecurity but last year the charity that I have worked with for 12 years, Second Bite, rescued over 35m kg of fresh nutritious food going to a landfill and re-directed it to NGOs and charities that need it to feed people" 'Shockingly for such a rich country, Australia has a growing problem with food insecurity but last year the charity that I have worked with for 12 years, Second Bite, rescued over 35m kg of fresh nutritious food going to a landfill and re-directed it to NGOs and charities that need it to feed people. 'Then there's my weekly food column that after 15 years has been expanded to run across another 15 Aussie newspapers. I am also travelling to research food tours to key world destinations for fellow food lovers and then leading these tours; Gary and I are in India with a group in March. We (Gary, George, and I) are doing a rolling series of dinners with our friends at Conosh.' While it seems like a lot, perhaps for Matt Preston, from MasterChef Australia, the author, and the critic, it's all in a day's work.
