Celebrity chefs Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge have returned with a new season of MKR, featuring a fresh batch of cooking duos.
The beloved pair has spent more than a decade hosting Australia’s greatest dinner party, but this year promises more culinary highlights than ever before.
Manu and Colin say they have been served some of the best home-cooked meals in the competition’s history this season, including what Manu declared to be “the best dish I’ve ever had on MKR”.
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WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge in the new season of MKR.
But what about the contestants themselves?
Well, ahead of the new season beginning on Monday, all six duos shared with 7NEWS.com.au just what audiences can expect.
Rob and Liam: Competitive brothers from Victoria
Rob and Liam learned to cook by helping their mother, “an absolute weapon in the kitchen”, they tell 7NEWS.com.au.
They describe their style as “cooking with fire” with Rob a master of the grill and Liam passionate about technique and polish.
“I’m confident and creative, always striving to improve,” Rob says, calling himself the “pit master”.
Meanwhile, Liam admits he stresses more of the two, but is equally creative and passionate.
Simone and Viviana: Modern Italians from Queensland
Best friends Simone and Viviana are ready to serve their opinions and “traditional Italian with a twist” dishes.
The pair said they were “horrified” by some of the so-called “Italian dishes” they have sampled in Australia and are eager to show us their true Italian cooking.
“I learned to cook in my dad’s pizzeria when I was younger, cultivating a passion for food from a young age,” Simone says.
Cooking alongside her family, Simone went on to teach Viviana everything she knows.
“He taught me everything,” she says.
Ash and Cassie: Young mums from South Australia
Ash and Cassie are on a two-woman mission to educate Australians about healthy eating.
Calling themselves “food science nerds,” the friends are keen to showcase their “Mediterr-Asian” offerings, which use healthy ingredient substitutions where possible.
“As a fertility, pregnancy and postpartum dietitian, my mission is to inspire Australians to get into the kitchen and cook with tasty and nutritious whole foods to influence the health of future generations,” Ash says.
Together with macrobiotic cookbook author Cassie, the two believe they can show audiences “that tasty meals can also be healthy”.
Danny and Sonia: Siblings from Queensland
Growing up in a small town, Danny and Sonia were raised learning how to hunt, fish and cook their own food.
They have absorbed their home-style cooking and work ethic and now “cook from the heart”.
“We grew up cooking at Nonna’s place,” Sonia says.
“A lot was self-taught once I got a bit older, but the love of food definitely stems from my childhood.”
Danny’s kitchen skills also came from those around him.
“I am a butcher by trade, mainly self-taught with some lessons from family and friends,” Danny adds.
Hannah and Lawrence: Couple from Western Australia
Loved-up couple Hannah and Lawrence are on the show with the hope of winning the $100,000 prize money, and using it to tie the knot.
“Let’s make it official,” Hannah says with a laugh.
“It’s no secret I want to marry Hannah,” Lawrence adds.
“If we won, we’d put the money towards a wedding and buying a house together.
“$100,000 is a lot of money and could really kick-start our lives.”
The couple describes their cooking style as “erratic and messy but full of love”.
“There’s always a 50 per cent chance my meals might fail!” Hannah says.
But Lawrence is the complete opposite, liking to follow recipes closely and stick to measurements precisely.
He only took up cooking after meeting Hannah, and Lawrence says he is still “too new to use instinct”.
“I’m full of questions, trying to catch up on lost time.”
Mike and Pete: Friends from Western Australia
Long-time friends Mike and Pete have Italian heritage and a passion for authentic, home-style cooking.
Pete promises to bring flair to the plating, while Mike’s unfiltered banter will add spice to the conversation and ruffle feathers at the table.
“Pete and I have a great friendship. Being friends for over 20 years, we know our strengths and weaknesses,” Mike says.
“We work well together and are great communicators.”
He warns that “my mouth goes faster than my brain, it can get me in trouble for sure!”
Pete responds that their team can be “explosive at times” but they are constantly “learning how to work better together”.
MKR returns to Channel 7 and 7plus 7.30pm, Monday 9 September.
