Miguel Cascales Maestre (born 5 November 1979) is an Australian and Spanish 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]
In October 2013, Maestre became an Australian citizen.[5][6][7]
Career
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 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]
Life Force by Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre, Paperback (2018) : ISBN9781760682996
Awards
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]
Miguel Maestre and his wife Sascha attend the Emerald and Ivy Ball to raise funds for Cancer Council Australia in Sydney in 2012.
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
^ abcKorpesio, Kelly (December 2011). "Interview - Miguel Maestre". Australian Good Food and Travel Guide. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^ abStaff writer, Regional Flavours South Bank. "Miguel Maestre". Regional Flavours South Bank Parklands. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
^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.
