Miguel Cascales Maestre (born 5 November 1979) is a Spanish-born Australian chef, restaurateur, author and television presenter, who is currently the host of Network 10's Ready Steady Cook Australia, and has co-hosted the lifestyle television series The Living Room.[1][2]
Miguel Maestre | |
|---|---|
 Miguel Maestre at a pop-up food event in Adelaide in March 2016 | |
| Born | Miguel Cascales Maestre 5 November 1979 Murcia, Spain |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2000-present |
| Employer | Network 10 |
| Known for | The Living Room |
| Spouse |
Sascha Newport (m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Maestre has presented TV programmes Miguel's Feast, Miguel's Tropical Kitchen and Boys Weekend. He participated in, and won the sixth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! on Sunday, 2 February 2020.[3][4]
In October 2013, Maestre became an Australian citizen.[5][6][7]
Career edit
At the age of 21, Maestre travelled to experience the world and moved to Scotland where he began cooking and learnt to speak English. Maestre worked at Indigo Yard, Montpelier's Partnership. Maestre then returned to Spain, before moving to Australia. He worked in some of Sydney's premier kitchens including Bather's Pavilion, Bel Mondo, Cru and Minus 5 at Circular Quay. At the age of 27, Maestre worked as Head Chef of Tony Bilson's Number One Wine Bar in Sydney's Circular Quay,[8] where he was originally working under Manu Feildel.[9] Following a meeting with Spanish chef Ferran Adrià at elBulli, Maestre opened Australia's biggest Spanish restaurant named El Toro Loco at Manly Beach.[8][10] Maestre was head chef at El Toro Loco until he departed in 2010 following a legal stoush and the restaurant's name was changed to El Poco Loco.[11][12]
In May 2018, Barry Du Bois and Maestre released an autobiographical book called Life Force about Du Bois's family, friendships, living with cancer and includes nutritional advice and recipes by Maestre.[13][14]
In 2019, Maestre competed in the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, where he was paired with Megan Wragg. He was first to be eliminated.
In 2020, Maestre won the sixth season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia.[3][4]
In October 2023, Network 10 announced that Maestre would host the forthcoming revival of the cooking competition show Ready Steady Cook Australia, which would air at 7:30pm on Friday nights.[15][16]
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Miguel's Tropical Kitchen | Presenter | 13 episodes |
| 2009 | Boys Weekend | Presenter | 13 episodes |
| 2009 | Ready Steady Cook | Guest chef/himself | 1 episode |
| 2011 | MasterChef Australia | Guest chef/himself | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield | Guest chef/himself | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Miguel's Feasts | Presenter | 13 episodes (1 unaired) |
| 2012–present | The Living Room | Presenter | |
| 2016 | All Star Family Feud | Contestant | |
| 2016 | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Guest quiz master | |
| 2019 | Dancing With The Stars | Contestant | |
| 2020 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! | Contestant | |
| 2024–present | Ready Steady Cook | Host |
Books edit
- Miguel's Tapas, Hardcover (2010): ISBN 978-1742570600, ISBN 1742570607, Paperback (2014): ISBN 978-1742575438, ISBN 1742575439
- Spanish Cooking, Hardcover (2012): ISBN 978-1742570617, ISBN 1742570615
- Life Force by Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre, Paperback (2018) : ISBN 9781760682996
Awards edit
In 2014, Maestre was honoured by the King of Spain, Felipe VI, with the Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil (Officer's Cross - Order of the Civil Merit) for his "outstanding profile and representation of Spain in the Australian media" which was presented to Maestre by the Spanish Ambassador to Australia, Enrique de Viguera, in Canberra.[2][17]
Charity work edit
Maestre is an ambassador for Cancer Council Australia, CARE Australia and R U OK? since 2014[18][19]
Personal life edit
Maestre met his Australian partner Sascha while he was living and working at Indigo Yard in Edinburgh and where she was working as a waitress. They married in 2010 and have a daughter (born 2011)[1] and a son (born 2014).[20] Maestre has a younger brother who is a restaurant manager.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Korpesio, Kelly (December 2011). "Interview - Miguel Maestre". Australian Good Food and Travel Guide. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ a b Staff writer, Regional Flavours South Bank. "Miguel Maestre". Regional Flavours South Bank Parklands. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ a b Whitehead, Mat (2 February 2020). "Miguel Maestre Crowned King Of The Jungle in 'I'm A Celebrity' Finale". 10 Daily. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ a b Lynch, Jessica (5 November 2019). "'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!': Miguel Maestre Is Going From The Living Room To The Jungle". 10 Daily. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ Staff writer, Department of Immigration and Border Protection. "65th anniversary of Australian Citizenship". Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Staff writer, Opulentus Overseas Careers. "DIBP is Celebrating Australian Citizenship Through a Year Long Social Media Campaign". Opulentus Overseas Careers. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Staff writer, The Global Indian. "Australia Celebrates 65 Years of Citizenship". The Global Indian. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ a b Staff writer, Miguel Maestre. "Miguel Maestre: bio". Miguel Maestre. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Staff writer, Lifestyle Food. "Miguel Maestre: Celebrity chef". Lifestyle Food. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Durack, Terry (1 February 2010). "El Toro Loco". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Gardiner, Stephanie (8 April 2011). "Off the boil: TV chef's AVO stoush at El Toro Loco". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Dale, Amy (8 April 2011). "Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre AVO taken out by Nelson Ng dismissed in court". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Du Bois, Barry; Maestre, Miguel (1 May 2018). Life Force by Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ Du Bois, Barry; Maestre, Miguel (1 May 2018). "Life Force by Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre". Dymocks. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "2024 Upfronts: 10 / Paramount+ | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Airdate: Ready Steady Cook | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (28 October 2014). "Spain honours Miguel (just for being Spanish)". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Casamento, Jo (25 May 2014). "Living Room star Barry DuBois on cancer and life: My twins matter most". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Staff writer, The Daily Telegraph (26 August 2014). "Celebrity chef Miguel Maestre cares enough to be an ambassador for CARE Australia". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ Staff writer, The Daily Telegraph (22 September 2014). "A son out of the oven for chef Miguel Maestre". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2016.