Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - Manu Feildel From MKR Was Almost A Circus Performer!

Episode Date: October 30, 2023

There is a brand new MKR NZ and we chat to judge Manu!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Kitchen Rules MKR New Zealand back on the screens, TBNZ2. Tonight is on again at 7.30 and it's hosted by and also judged by Manu, who joins us right now on 0800 The Hits. Bonjour! Hi, how are you? Bonjour, bonjour. Bonjour! Bonjour! How are you? You good? I'm very well, yourself?

Yeah, we're going alright. We're very excited about My Kitchen Rules New Zealand. You're back on our, your handsome face is back on our screens. Yes, indeed. very excited about My Kitchen Rules New Zealand. You're back on our, your handsome face is back on our screens. Yes, indeed. Very excited indeed. Deep diving on you over the weekend. Didn't realize you trained as, you wanted to be in the circus, juggling, riding unicycles. That was in another life. You can still juggle and ride a unicycle?

Yes, indeed, I can. That's impressive. That's a wonderful party trick. Yes, indeed. Especially when you drink too much, it just comes out. Do you? Because, I mean, you go around a lot of eating.

That's kind of collateral damage of the role on My Kitchen Rules. Are you ever like, whew, I can't do any more eating? Was it salmon and asparagus? That gets made for you a lot, apparently. It seems to be one of those combinations that we get served a lot, yes. It's a bit boring, but you know, if it's done well, it's done well.

What is the tackiest food that Manu enjoys? Like, are we getting a bloody 3 a.m. cheeseburger? Do you go to the kebab shop? Yes, all of the above. All of the above. All of the above. Two-minute noodles sometimes. Two-minute noodles, do you? I love it.

What do you think New Zealand, generalising here, but what do you think we do when it comes to cooking well? Like is there anything that particularly, like is it seafood? Is it meat? Is there anything that stands out? I'd say you've got an amazing array of seafood, which is fantastic, really. And things that we don't necessarily get here in Australia, you've got great produce, full stop.

Even the land is amazing, so the list goes on. Because the cost of living is obviously hitting everyone hard at the moment in New Zealand and Australia, around the world. Do you have any advice for people that want to make healthy, amazing meals for their family, but also want to try and keep things tight with the budgets? I think there's one cuisine that works for me. It's Italian. Lots of pasta.

Fills you up, and it's cheap. It's a bloody great cuisine, isn't it? We've got an Italian producer, Taylor Lombardi, or Taylor Montoya. She vouches that Italian is the best cuisine. Well, I wouldn't say the best, but one of the best. Well, you're going to back the French, obviously, aren't you? Of course I am. Okay, let's get some rivalry.

I know you do have an association and an affinity with Aussie. You've been there for a number of years now. Who's the best? Ooh, you can't ask that question, mate. Come on. But hey, just so you know, no one in't answer a question like this. Come on. But hey, just so you know, no one in Australia is going to hear this. I've got it back up the country that I've been living in for 25 years.

Okay, okay. Throw one at you. Pavlova. We always say it's New Zealand and Australia says it's Australian. Who's taking the pebble over? Who gives a shit? Is that what you've got to battle about? To be honest,

it's okay. I'll give it to you if you want it. That's what we wanted you to say. Now Colin, who does a great job judging the show, hosting the show with you, I didn't realize that when you first started, you and him, you weren't the best of friends. And you've obviously, friendship has blossomed. But at the start, you guys were kind of not that friendly.

We were young, egoistic chefs. You know, I thought I was better than him. He thought he was better than me. You know, stupid young kids. But I was a long time ago. I was better than him. He thought he was better than me. You know, stupid young kids. But that was a long time ago. That was 15 years ago. So we've definitely had a few whisky scenes, and we did, mate.

Oh, right. You came in with a lot of young ego and gusto back in the day. You do learn to chill out, don't you, the older you get, though? That's right, indeed. Yeah, because looking back at your younger days as well, you were in the National Service in France. So you had to do mandatory service and you hated it so much. Is it true that you put laxatives in one of your officer's meals?

Yeah, indeed, 100%. 100%? What was the idea behind that? Well, he was just being such an arsehole with me when I first got there. He didn't realise I was going to end up in the kitchen and I got my little revenge. Oh, you got your revenge? You're like, you want to be an arsehole?

Well, I'll do something to yours. Yeah, exactly.