POPSUGAR Australia Celebrity

MasterChef Stars Kick Off the 2012 Series With a Food-Filled Launch in Melbourne

Jessica Chandra — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:20:37 EST

The launch event for MasterChef 2012 brought together the show’s judges, former contestants from the first three years, foodies and media at Luminare in South Melbourne last night. The dinner featured gorgeous table settings and the menu included dishes that had been inspired by previous contestants. Among the guests were newly-crowned Cleo Bachelor Hayden Quinn, Michael Weldon, Kate Bracks, Dani Venn, Alana Lowes and Ellie Paxton-Hall from last year’s series, and judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, who hammed it up for the cameras. Matt Moran will return to the show in a recurring guest mentor role. The launch also revealed the show’s premiere date: Sunday May 6, which puts it against Channel Nine’s ratings hit The Voice and Channel Seven’s Dancing With the Stars. Network Ten’s Chief Programming Officer David Mott promised that MasterChef will return with a “focus on real food, with real people, telling real stories.” And Jamie Oliver!

2011 Christmas Gift Guide: Celebrity Chef Cookbooks!

POPSUGAR Celebrity AU — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:20:54 EST

If the next person on your Christmas shopping list is a skilled chef, a cooking enthusiast, or perhaps a MasterChef wannabe, we've got just the presents you're looking for with our latest Christmas gift guide. We've rounded up 15 of the best cookbooks penned by celebrity chefs, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria, MasterChef stars Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Moran, and everybody's favourite Jamie Oliver. Chock-full of their best recipes inspired by their families, heritage, travel and experiences, these cookbooks will make the perfect gift this Christmas. Fingers crossed you get to enjoy some of the culinary results!

See All the Pictures From Princess Mary's Australian Tour!

POPSUGAR Celebrity AU — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:27:21 EST

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have wrapped up their official Australian tour with an appearance at the Starry Starry night gala ball on the weekend. Since their arrival two Saturdays ago, they’ve had a jam-packed schedule that’s taken them across state borders from NSW to Victoria. Their official engagements kicked off last Sunday, when they toured Sculptures by the Sea and got to work on promoting their commitment to sustainable means of energy. They also showed off their adorable 10-month-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (elder kids Prince Christian and Princess Isabella didn’t join them on the official part of their trip, but have apparently been reunited with them now), who are meeting Mary’s family in Hobart now that the official tour has come to an end. So for all the photos of Mary and Frederik’s visit, from meeting with politicians, to cooking demonstrations, to dinners with hundreds of guests, click through!

MasterChef Cooks Up Better Ratings Than the Logies

POPSUGAR Celebrity AU — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:11:09 EST

Considering most of you told us you’d be watching the season three premiere of MasterChef over the Logie Awards, it’s not surprising that the popular cooking show beat TV’s night of nights in the ratings. MasterChef pulled an audience of 1.57 million while the Logies averaged 1.32 million according to preliminary overnight metro ratings. Both programs started at 7:30 p.m. but MasterChef ended promptly at 9 p.m. and the Logies kept going until midnight, which may have led to people tuning out over the course of the night. (If you missed Karl Stefanovic accepting the Gold Logie you can watch it here.) Funnily enough, the MasterChef judges - Matt Preston, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and new recruit Matt Moran - were in Melbourne to enjoy the Logies festivities and were on hand to pick up the award for most popular reality TV program.

Fab Read: Fleur Wood Combines Food, Fashion and Friends

POPSUGAR Fashion AU — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST

Fashion designer Fleur Wood has expanded into cooking and entertaining with her new book, Food Fashion Friends. The passionate foodie has always had a penchant for entertaining as well as fashion, which is evident in her stores which stock a range of cute lifestyle products as well as her collections. The book includes a wide range of Fleur's favourite recipes, including soft shell crab burgers and rhubarb meringue cake; as well as styling suggestions and playlists for events such as an elegant afternoon tea. Fleur says the book "brings together three things that I have come to cherish and hold dear: food, fashion and friends." I have to say, the Martha Stewart inside of me is loving this combination stupid. Buy the book for $59.95 here!