16. Real food, reality television, and resilience with Manu Feildel

How can we combine two seemingly different passions into one successful career? In episode 16 of the B-side, I speak to award-winning chef, and co-host of ‘My Kitchen Rules', Manu Feildel.

Manu is one of the most popular personalities on Australian television, besides his work on MKR, he’s appeared on Boys Weekend, Ready Steady Cook, Dancing with the stars (which he won) and is a judge on Australia's Got Talent. He is joining forces with good mates, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan in a new cooking show for Channel 7 – called 'Plate of Origin'.

Not one to shy away from being busy, he’s a couple of other projects on the boil too, like a new studio space called 'La Botanique' in Botany Sydney, and has launched a classic French sauce range ‘The Sauce by Manu’.

We chat about his humble beginnings, being raised by a single mum, quitting school at 15, and working in his father's restaurant. And how his work ethic was forged in fire through a gruelling apprenticeship under a tyrant of a boss.

He shares how through his resilience and a burning desire to make a better life for himself and his family, he became a 3 hatted chef. And how fate would see his life-long love of entertainment and cooking converge to create a career he once only dreamed of.

We jam on some of the trends developing in the entertainment industry, and the foodservice sector. He shares his views on the need for simplicity, authenticity and education in our culinary culture. And we go behind-the-scenes of MKR, and we have a frank and open discussion on the reality of being a celebrity in Australia.

Manu Feildel is a real down-to-earth, genuine, and super nice dude. I thoroughly enjoyed our chat, and I'm certain you will too. Cheers.

You can find Manu here: manufeildel.com.au
Learn more about The Sauce by Manu here: https://www.bymanu.co
And check out his new studio space 'La Botanique' here: https://labotanique.com.au