My Kitchen Rules is back in 2014 and a bigger hit that ever. In case you’ve missed the first dramatic weeks of the cut throat cooking show, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know to catch up on the competition and the My Kitchen Rules 2014 teams.
The Competition:
The fifteen teams spend the first weeks of the competition competing in instant restaurant rounds. In each episode, a team cooks, sets up a restaurant and serves a three-course dinner in their own home. The variety of cuisines and skill levels on show is vast, and the knives come out as the contestants critique each other’s meals as well as receiving scores from judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.
Once the instant restaurants are wrapped up, the competition really heats up with teams being eliminated on a regular basis with people’s choice challenges, rapid cook-offs, showdowns and sudden death rounds. The contestants’ culinary prowess is put to the test until after one team prevails in the finals.
My Kitchen Rules 2014 Teams:
Josh & Danielle, VIC
Kitchen experimenters Josh and Danielle love to add a little molecular gastronomy to a meal. ‘I like creating a whole sensory experience,’ says Josh. ‘Instead of putting something in your mouth, why not stimulate the nose and the eyes and ears?’ The couple met through work, and have been happily dating since.
Bree & Jessica, SA
Mums Bree and Jessica have big cooking dreams, they’d love to do food tours with South Australia tourism. The pair from South Adelaide both have two daughters and love to cook – they believe their time management and organisation skills as mothers will be an advantage in the competition. They’ve catered for up to 100 people at their kids birthday parties, and are putting all those skills to the test for My Kitchen Rules.
David & Corinne, QLD
Laid back couple David, 53, and Corinne, 31, love to joke about their 22-year age gap. David says ‘my son, David (30), loved to introduce Corinne as his step mum. Jaws drop.’ The pair have been together for two years, and describe themselves as ‘ridiculously in love’. Based in Cairns, David and Corinne love a barbecue and to dine al fresco.
Harry & Christo, VIC
Melbourne bachelors Harry and Christo (both 25) believe that women like a man who knows his way around the kitchen. They like to bring people together with food, love family and creating memories. Both boys learned everything they know in the kitchen from their mothers. The pair hope to set up food trucks in Victoria, offering unique dining options.
Jess & Felix, WA
Friends Jess, 28, and Felix, 34, have known eachother for a decade. Jess described Felix as ‘kind of like my big brother’ and says tat he is a big ‘softie’ despite his tough exterior. The pair love food and text each other pictures whenever they cook at home.
Thalia & Bianca, TAS
The youngest competitors in this year’s My Kitchen Rules bunch, Thalia and Bianca from Hobart are just 21 years old. Now university students, the pair met in high school and dream of starting a food business together. ‘I think we’re very experienced for our age,’ says Bianca. ‘And I think it’s an advantage in some ways because a lot of people aren’t open to criticism if they’ve been cooking for 20 years.’
Uel & Shanelle, NSW
Newlyweds Uel, 25, and Shanelle, 23, fell in love when they began to cook together on a weekly basis for mutual friends. The Sydney couple are both youth workers and love comfort food. ‘My parents were born in Indonesia and Uel’s are from Singapore so I think our heritages are an advantage,’ says Shanelle. ‘We know what authentic flavours taste like.’
Andrew & Emelia, ACT
Canberrans Andrew, 32, and Emelia, 29, have only been dating since February 2013. The couple call themselves the ‘sparkly ones’ and have a quirky approach to life. Andrew and Emelia share a passion for spices, and are proud of their ability to cook a wide range of food.
Annie & Jason, NSW
Married couple Annie, 24, and Jason, 26, met at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. Jason comes from six generations of dairy farmers and owns a boutique cheese factory with his parents. Annie is a graphic designer and helps out with the cheese factory. ‘I dress up as a cow,’ says Annie. ‘I also do all the marketing of the factory. I get paid in cheese.’
Chloe & Kelly, WA
Best friends Chloe, 28, and Kelly, 27, enjoy the finer things in life, and aren’t afraid to let their fellow contestants know it. Kelly is proud to say that she’s visited 42 countries, and dined at Michelin star restaurants. ‘When we cook for friends, we’ll spend a fortune,’ says Kelly. ‘It’s really important to us, so we’ll go all out.’
Deb & Rick, SA
Married for 38 years, Deb, 54, and Rick, 56, were childhood sweethearts. The couple were married at 16 and 18, after the birth of their first son. With four children and ten grandchildren, Deb and Rick are used to cooking for a crowd. ‘at home, we’re just Nana and Pa and that’s sweet,’ says Deb. ‘The family come around and the first thing they do is hug us and say, ‘What have you been cooking?’
Helena & Vikki, VIC
24 year old twins Helena and Vikki are determined to succeed. Vikki studies graphic design, whilst Helena is a student at radio school and sells desserts at a market stall. ‘Food is now our life,’ says Vikki. ‘Coming from a Greek family, food is around you 24/7’. The twins specialise in Mediterranean food, and want to do their mother proud.
Paul & Blair, QLD
Paul, 46, and Blair, 37, describe themselves as ‘surfer dads’. The Gold Coast based fathers and high school teachers love to experiment in the kitchen. ‘Before we both had kids, there was a group of three of us and every Tuesday we’d have a rotation where we would cook at one of our houses,’ says Paul. The pair love sports and cook food that’s both healthy and flavoursome.
Cathy & Anna, NSW
Mother Cathy, 55, and daughter Anna, 26, believe that ‘honesty is the best policy’ when it comes to critiquing food. Cathy raised Anna on a sheep and cattle farm in Northern NSW and cooking has been a strong part of their family history. Their food bible is a Stephanie Alexander book. Anna now lives in Sydney , editing a website called Best Restaurants, but the pair speak two or three times a day to catch up.
Carly & Tresne, NSW
Housemates Carly, 32, and Tresne, 29, always look on the bright side of life – so much so that they dream of becoming motivational speakers. The pair love music festivals, travelling, French food. Tresne works in real estate and the pair both own investment properties. Carly likes to add a twist to dinner parties, entertaining dinner guests with magic tricks.
