A Plate to Call Home

Artist, chef and actress Poh Ling Yeow was a contestant on the very first Masterchef exactly ten years ago, but what a lot of people don’t know is that Poh grew up as a member of the Mormon religion. After years of questioning her faith, she decided to leave the church and explore the world. Poh shares with Gary Mehigan the cultural guilt she experienced leaving the Mormon church, how cooking simple food with her aunt changed her relationship with food and the rollercoaster the first series of Masterchef took on. Gary’s food tips and tricks: Best practices for buying from your local Asian market.  http://pohlingyeow.com/

Chef and host of My Kitchen Rules, Manu Feildel’s path to food has not been straight forward. From joining the circus at age 13, to dealing with crazy chef’s and making it to the small screen Manu is a born entertainer. He openly speaks about the heartache of his failed restaurant with Gary Mehigan and shares how he had not known his father until they worked together. It’s an emotional and often hilarious chat where Gary, whose known Manu for years, found out so much more than he ever knew about Manu. Gary’s food tips and tricks: how to make your own vinaigrette.  http://manufeildel.com.au/

Businesswoman Janine Allis has seen it all, from working on David Bowie’s boat to creating a billion dollar company and now as a host on TV’s Shark Tank, Janine’s story is as fascinating as they come. Gary Mehigan and Janine discusses how yoga transformed her life, the health benefits of Boost Juice and the controversies surrounding her company.  Gary’s food tips and tricks: Make your own smoothies at home. http://www.janineallis.com.au/

Life on a kibbutz in Israel taught OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn the power of social movements and how sharing what you have can be a transformational experience. Oz Harvest is a “for-purpose” aimed at solving food waste. Ronni opens up to Gary Mehigan about the death of her brother in law during conscription, her belief in nourishing yourself with things other than money and how she has managed to find meaning in her own life and she hopes, in the lives of others. It’s people like Ronni Kahn who are actively participating in the War on Waste and in this episode you’ll learn how you too can join the cause. Gary’s food tips and tricks: how to save money and the environment at the same time. https://www.ozharvest.org/

Kylie Millar was on her way to becoming a physiotherapist when suddenly something inside of her told her she need to try being a chef. Winner of the 2018 Josephine Pignolet award, Kylie Millar has achieved some amazing things in her short career. Her emotional chat with Gary Mehigan reminds us to appreciate our roots and how a simple recipe from our grandmother from can transport us back to our childhood. Gary’s food tips and tricks: How to make a quick caramel sauce at home. https://www.kyliemillar.com.au/

Three decades ago Alla Wolf Tasker and her husband Allan set up The Lakehouse regional dining experience on the outskirts of a small country town known as Daylesford. Back then the town was little more than a road stop on the way in and out of Melbourne, but now it’s a bustling hive of activity filled with wineries, day spas and a thriving food scene. Now Alla and her daughter Larissa run The Lakehouse and in this episode, the two of them discuss with Gary Mehigan, the tension of running a family business with Gary Mehigan and how they solve disputes when things get a little heated in the kitchen. Plus they admit that as a mother and daughter they said some things in this interview that they had never told each other before. Gary’s food tips and tricks: going seasonal and chatting to your local grocer. http://www.lakehouse.com.au/

Joanna McMillan is a doctor and a nutritionist whose TedX talk has racked up nearly half a million views on YouTube. In the talk Joanna debates why food goes beyond just the nutrients in it and how it can be a gateway to our memories our community our culture. While Joanna and Gary Mehigan may disagree about the benefits of deep fried food (occasionally), the two share a love of nutrition and of food as a symbol of coming home and of feeling connected. Joanna also laments the lack of respect for food that has seemingly overcome our society and the enjoyment that food can bring. Gary’s food tips and tricks: making meal time an important daily ritual. https://drjoanna.com.au/

Tv chef and lawyer Adam Liaw and Gary Mehigan discuss family and food. In this interview Gary and Adam discussed how central and important Adam’s grandmother was in his life. Since the recording of this interview, sadly, Adam’s grandmother passed away somewhat unexpectedly. What you’ll hear is a time capsule of Adam’s feelings about her and the depth and meaning she brought to his and his family’s life. It’s a reminder for us all to cherish those we love with all our hearts because you never know what tomorrow might bring. Gary’s food tips and tricks: the art of using a mortar and pestle & how to get the most out of your spices. http://adamliaw.com/

Paul West is the presenter of the Australian remake of River Cottage and the way he found himself as the host of the show is quite extraordinary. A farmer from Tassie who worked at Vue De Monde for a stint until he decided he needed a change and left for greener pastures with his family. Paul wants to encourage people to learn how to garden and believes in the adage “if you don’t cook, you don’t care”. His aim is to change the way we relate to our food and wants to bring the experience of cooking what you grow into homes all around Australia. Paul explains to Gary Mehigan how his role as presenter of River Cottage would eventually give him the opportunity to teach people the wonders of food through television and show people that growing your own food can be a life changing experience.  Gary’s food tips and tricks: building your own home garden.

Nutritionist Rosie Mansfield thought that she would spend her life dealing with chronic stomach pain, having struggled with gut problems from a young age. But, when she modified her diet and saw things rapidly improving she realised just how strong the gut-mind connection was. Now, she co-hosts the TV show ‘Good Chef, Bad Chef’ and having coined the term ‘Food Hacker.’ Rosie discusses with Gary Mehigan how to take a more holistic approach to health and how our gut affects our entire body and they both reminisce about the indelible Anthony Bourdain. Gary’s food tips and tricks: balancing your diet and eating clean. https://www.rosiemansfield.com/

If you love Italian food then you’ll love what Paola Bacchia is all about. The former Masterchef contestant’s Instagram account ‘Italy on My Mind’ is a feast of Italian cuisines and shorelines that would make your mouth water and may get you hopping a plane straight to Venice. Paola was a contestant on Masterchef but left early on due to her Dad getting sick but explains to Gary Mehigan that afterwards she found her calling in the online world. Now her Instagram presence is allowing her the opportunity to travel the world and follow her culinary passions.  Gary’s food tips and tricks: how to make a beautiful and simple cacio pepe.  http://italyonmymind.com.au/

Known throughout the world as the "Domestic Goddess", Nigella Lawson is recognised both for her captivating style and charming demeanour. Beyond the headlines though, Nigella has spent her life dealing with insurmountable suffering and relentless challenges. From the shocking deaths of her mother, husband and sister, her tumultuous relationship with ex-husband Charles Saatchi and court case after court case with those she once trusted. Now rising from the ashes, Nigella is imbued with a new-found sense of confidence and an absolute appreciation for the life she has lived. In this episode, Gary and Nigella talk of love, laughter, the lighter side of life and what being Nigella Lawson is really like. https://www.nigella.com/books/at-my-table https://www.instagram.com/nigellalawson/ https://twitter.com/nigella_lawson https://www.facebook.com/NigellaLawson

Known throughout the world as the "Domestic Goddess", Nigella Lawson is recognised both for her captivating style and charming demeanour. Beyond the headlines though, Nigella has spent her life dealing with insurmountable suffering and relentless challenges. From the shocking deaths of her mother, husband and sister, her tumultuous relationship with ex-husband Charles Saatchi and court case after court case with those she once trusted. Now rising from the ashes, Nigella is imbued with a new-found sense of confidence and an absolute appreciation for the life she has lived. In this episode, Gary and Nigella talk of love, laughter, the lighter side of life and what being Nigella Lawson is really like. https://www.nigella.com/books/at-my-table https://www.instagram.com/nigellalawson/ https://twitter.com/nigella_lawson https://www.facebook.com/NigellaLawson

Arguably no-one has done more for female Muslim rights in Australia than Hana Assifiri. She's a staunch advocate for social justice, a compassionate protector of human rights and a down-to-eath boss lady. Hana has dedicated her professional and private life to removing barriers that prevent women from living prosperous lives. Hanas first restaurant, the popular Moroccan Soup Bar in North Fitzroy, has provided employment opportunities for marginalised members of the community and she now runs "Speed Date a Muslim" nights, a monthly event where nothing is off topic and all questions can be asked and answered to the Muslim community. In this candid chat, Gary and Hana go deep into the Muslim faith in Australia and the dark places she had to go there to reach the clarity she now has. http://moroccansoupbar.com.au https://www.goodfood.com.au/moroccan-delicacy-brunswick-east http://moroccansoupbar.com.au/product/moroccan-soup-bar-book/

Gary and Matt have known each other for a long time, well before Masterchef, but there's a lot that the two still don't know about each other. In this ep Matt talks playing dress ups as a kid, being a punk in his youth and why John Candy was the saddest interview he has ever done. https://twitter.com/MattsCravat https://www.instagram.com/mattscravat/ https://www.facebook.com/mattscravat/