Lately Bob and I been watching a number of cooking shows. Most of the shows we’ve been watching are from Australia. We even say Aussies must be into cooking. We watched show like Masterchef Australia and the Junior Masterchef, My Kitchen Rules and others. I like most of the food they prepared and it looks so yummy. Bob and I noticed that Aussie are more friendly people and forgiving too, like the contestants would be sad when the other contestant is eliminated. When competing, mostly I’ve seen they were so helpful of the other contestant during the competition. I’ve noticed they are more similar in their attitudes like the Filipinos. I haven’t seen that much of swearing words when they made mistakes.
It’s a week or two ago that Bob downloaded this show about convicted people given a second chance. The name of the show and the restaurant was “CONVICTION KITCHEN”. The owner, his name is Curley, was a felon over 30 years ago. He made himself better and became a rich guy. Now he wants to give another chance to these other convicted people. He had over a dozen convicts who came for a screening/audition. Curley and his assistant, Lisa, chose who is good in working with him in the kitchen, then Lisa chose who will help her in the front of the house. It was really a tough decision for them. They both want all of contestants, but they have to chose 2 at the end I think. Right now they have 11 people and they will chop them until it will get down to the 2 best and really learned from the training. Even if one person be eliminated every week at least that person already had some knowledge in the kitchen and front of the house. And hey, the trainer was one of the best chefs in Australia. Somebody will hire them.
On the last episode we watched, Lisa brought the people she chooses for a make over. And as you know some people from prison just look rugged and just a bit dirty looking, with the piercing all over the place. Lisa told the person, before accepting him that she will remove his piercings to make himself presentable to the customer. He agreed and he had to sacrifice his piercing, and he did it as he promised to Lisa that he will agree. So at the make over they had to follow what the expert wanted to do with changing a little of their look, and they did, they all looked amazing. They were trained for 2 weeks before the opening of the restaurant. The front of the house was trained by Lisa on how to set the table and how to handle the customers.
The ones in the kitchen were trained by Curley on cooking veggies, meat and seafood. They had some notes to study to bring home. They had to learn what to be put in the salad. They tried, some were a bit frustrated and Curley would talk to them and he tried to be patient with them. When the restaurant finally opened to the public, people did come and supported the place.
The customers were just so happy to see these convicts try to work to make their life better. The convicts even gave some advice to the kids, to not do bad things so that you will not end up in jail. Which is good. Some other customers said that their friends had some reservations if they would come to the restaurant, scared to come I guess. I can understand the reservation too.
All in all it was a good show. I really wonder if other countries will imitate that show. I wonder what would happened? I wonder if we will have that show here, would the people go to the restaurant and support. I wonder would the TV stations here be interested to have like that kind of show. It might be interesting to see how the people here react. What do you think guys? Would you guys go to that restaurant with those convict around you?
Feyma: I really like junior master chef. Amazing how good those kids are! When I first watched I was afraid they would be nasty to the kids, but not so. I’ll even say the kids show outstanding sportsmanship in addition to talent. Far better than the adults on some other shows.
Hi John – Yes they really are amazing. Just shocking to see the knowledge they have when it comes to ingredients. I know you know a lot about ingredients. Gosh, I’m learning a lot from them.. :-)… I just can’t believed what recipe they can come up with, with the short amount of time too. They are amazing… Love them…
Take care John!
Hi Feyma _ I had to laugh at your article not out of any badness just the comedy of it.
Australia in its early days when it was first a British Colony was also a penal colony.
The British Government of the day sent convicts there in order to inhabit and establish the original settlements.
It’s ironic that the current convicts are being given an opportunity to become useful members of society unlike most of the original ones.
Having recently visited Australia I can vouch for the fact that they can certainly produce excellent food particularly dishes containing sea food and beef. I gained
10 Ibs in the month I was there.
Regards.
Jim.
Jim,
That is correct, Australia was a dumping ground for convicts from England. That is how the “Pome” ( English person) got the nick- name, “Prisoner of Mother England”. Next time you visit Australia, come to Melbourne, food is great. There is a place in Lygon St.,Carlton, the whole street is full of restaurants. South Bank is another place for great restaurants, Crown casino at the conservatory, it has seafood buffet. Little Burke St., China town in Melbourne or CBD. The only thing I miss from Melbourne is the great food and restaurants. We live 3 hours away from Melbourne and where we live, good restaurants and food are scarce.
Hi Susan – We did want to visit Melbourne whilst we were there but our daughters work schedule was hectic which prevented us from travelling outside Sydney. We shall return one day no doubt and make Melbourne and Canberra must see destinations and take your advice on where to find good food.
Best wishes.
Jim.
Hi Jim – Hey, I’m glad I gave you a good laughed there. 😉
Just nice for Ian Curley to gave another chance to other convicts. I’m sure its a big gamble on his part. But luckily he gave it a try. I think people there liked it too. Do you think if somebody opens a restaurant here (P.I.) and the ex convict will be the server, do you think people will come to the restaurant? I hope that people will be as open minded as the Aussie though.
Just watching the show, I could tell they have good stuff there. Hey next time you visit Australia you might try to starve for 2 weeks before going there… lol… Just kidding…
As always Jim happy to see you here.
Take care!
hahahaha! Howya doin mates???
I love Australia. The people are awesome. The cooking shows are surreal. Specially Junior Masterchef. Kids cooking French dishes like they are monsters in the kitchen. Like waht Jim said that food is just crazy-delicious and equally spectacular. I was 70 kilos when I left, now I’m on the verge of 90 kilos. Although I will still admit that seafood sweeter and more flavor in the Philippines, Australian food cannot be ignored.
Here’s a kangaroo adobo recipe for y’all:
http://www.myfilipinokitchen.com/kangaroo-adobo-recipe/
Ziggy.. you in Sydney? They have good Restuarants there! Best beef I’ve tasted came from butcher shop. Oh and Resto called Porters- baby back ribs and steaks yum! But Kangaroo Adobo? People eat Kangaroo?
Hi Ziggy/Sugar – I’m getting back to my normal weight right now but one place we visited to eat whilst in Sydney was restuarant called Churrasco on William Street which specialized in Brazilian styled BBQ.
You paid a set ammount but could eat as much as you wanted as staff just continued to bring to your table skewer after skewer of freshly BBQ’ed meat, which was so tender it melted in your mouth. The bill per head including beer and wine was equivilent to PHP2,100. each. When I left the table that evening I had to walk around Sydney for a while just for the excercise.
Regards.
Jim.
Jim
We have those Brazilian Steakhouses her in Florida. I think they had about 10 different kinds of meat. Never went home hungry. The price is higher here than in Australia. Have a nice day!
Feyma
There’s a cooking show on the Food Channel called “Take Home Chef”. Its about a Australian Chef named Curtis Stone who goes into a Super Market and just walks up to a woman thats shopping and offers to cook a dinner for her family/friends in the womans home. He buys all the food for the meal and rides with her to her house. Cooks the meal when her family/friends are away from the house and than surprises them when they get home like a surprise birthday party. I think the show is filmed in California. Curtis Stone is pretty funny. Good article. I think its great to give a 2nd chance to convicts who want to turn there life around.
HI Papa Duck – I like that show “Take Home Chef” and I like Curtis. Been watching that here on our local cable. I’ve been watching him before. He had some show in Australia that his cooking outdoor. I forgot the name.
I hope that Ian Curley will choose the right person at the end for him and his restaurant.
Thank you for stopping here.
Take care!
Hi Ziggy – I reckon you in Australia mate. 🙂
Really just watching the kids cooking just amazed me of how much stuff they know. The parents should be very proud. One of those kids will be the next Curtis Stone, Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, and other big name chefs. They are awesome.
Thank you for the recipe. I have to find kangaroo meat here in the Philippines.
Nice to see you here.
Take care!
*seafood is sweeter and has more flavor*
sorry guys I am dyslexic on print.
Hi ziggy
Did you try the King George Whiting fish on your visits to Australia? Thats a very sweet smooth fish although extremely expensive now. Getting back to meat, i love a Wombat casserole but one has to be careful now on purchasing the meat as most states have made the Wombat a protected species. However as its a traditional food of the aboriginal native they still have the right to hunt Wombats and on occasions i have been given some by an aboriginal friend.
Hi ziggy – Not a problem mate….
Hi David. Yep, in fact, I just had whiting for dinner last week. At the moment they are at $16 a kilo, around 2 pieces. That’s in the market though. If you order it in restaurants, it’s as expensive as a 500 gram steak.
And yes, aborigines are exempt from the law that prohibits hunting indigenous animals. The only time a non-aborigine is allowed to kill let’s say a wombat or olive pythons is when they are in life-threatening situation. and i think that includes when you’re dying of hunger. i think. haha!
Ziggy
We catch whiting her in florida, but i think its a different kind called English Whiting.
Weeh! I love Junior Master Chef! I always watch it! I also like to watch most cooking shows! I dunno how to cook. My only master piece is Adobo! Ha ha. If there’s one dish that any Filipino can cook .. that would be it. Sinigang too.. but one has to have the right sourness of the soup.
Hi sugar – I think we all love those Junior Master chefs. ;-). Hey, at least you know how to cook adobo and sinigang, you should be happy with that. Hey, I didn’t start cooking seriously until we came back here to lived. I always let Bob do all the cooking in the States. Ha ha ha.. Before just looking at the recipe freaks me out. But not anymore, I can pretty much cook anything now. Thank God.
Come on down here, you could sample some of our recipe. lol…
Good to see you here.
Take care!
Hi Ms. Feyma, I’m the only who likes my Adobo. Ha ha. I wish I can cook pretty much any dishes. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m doomed if I can’t cook. 😉 Most men are good cooks… most chefs are men, right? He he.
If I go to Davao , sure would try to sample your cooking. Thanks.
Hi sugar – Hey, if ever you have the time to come to Mindanao I will let you cook your adobo and we will taste it for you. 😉 … That was just the old saying. Lots of couple nowadays married and successful and both are not good cook. Back in the day, men were the famous chef, but now lots of women are chefs too. Don’t worry Mr. Right will come when you less expected it. He might just be right next door to you. You’ll never know. 🙂
Just let me know when.
Take care!
Sugar
I’m sure your Adobo and other dishes are good. I learned to cook by experimenting with different foods. A guy should not base a relationship on whether you can cook. Have a nice day.
The first Chef who did this with ex-convicted was : Gordon Ramsey .
Famous almost over the whole world .
Multimiljonair , but later almost bankrupt , because he opened to many restaurants
with his name , but with to little knowledge of the kitchen .
But untill now you can allmost every day see him on a TV channel in Europe .
Anton
Anton,
I always thought UK Chef Jamie Oliver was the first to do it with young offenders,but then again,i could be wrong.
I used to enjoy cooking shows,but there are so many now,its gone into overkill.
Regards,
Chas.
Anton
He’s on tv here in the States with 2 shows. Kitchen Nightmare and Hells Kitchen. Good Day!
Hi Anton – Really? I didn’t know that. I like Gordon Ramsay especially his Kitchen nightmares show in the UK and in the States. I also like The F word show (Gordon with Janet Street-Porter). He had so many shows in the States now too. I like him just minus the swearing part.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Take care!
At least the ones that get cut from the show have something to fall back on. They already know how to steal and commit felonies. Just being funny, it sounds like a cool show. We don’t get any aussie TV here in the US but I am a huge cooking show fan. Bobby Flay rocks!
Hi Eric – I also liked Bobby Flay and other US chefs.
Take care!
Australia seems like a friendly place
and we love to eat here Feyma and u love it here in tassie australia it is lovley and cool here too at this time off the year mate come on DOWN…..PETER MARTIN TASSIE
Hi peterjoy – Love to visit your beautiful country someday. Just watching some shows from there like “The Selling House Australia TV show” there, I can see some of the view of some areas of Australia. Really nice.
Hope to see you someday there mate.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
Its funny,i used to watch many cooking shows,my favourites though were Asian Cookery,lol.
Thai,Indian,Malaysian and Singapore Nonya cooking were my favourites.
Its extremely rare to see a PH cookery show in the UK,although Madhur Jaffrey (Indian Brit)did one a long time ago on her series Taste of Asia (i think it was called).
Enjoy the food,
Chas.
Hi Chasdv – What I would give for a good Birmingham/Bradford curry right now but alas not in the Philippines I’m afraid, unless you like a copy of a Thai green curry. I’d rather way till I’m back in the UK.
Regards.
Jim.
I’m with you there Jim,i love a good Indian Curry and Naan’s.
Most of the ingredients are available in Davao for cook your own,but i think i will throw substantial ingredients in a BB box when i move there permanently,as they are much cheaper to buy here.
Regards,
Chas.
Hi Chas – Ha ha ha… I’m watching shows from Australia and your watching shows from Asia. Oh well, we just want to broaden our horizon. More knowledge the better. I am not really into Indian food especially the curry. But glad you had some good cooking shows you enjoyed watching there. Have you been trying to cook some of the food they were showing?
Have fun eating.
Take care!
Feyma,
I love cooking and experimenting,always have,but i couldn’t do it for a living,i like to take my time with no hindrance.”Everybody out of the Kitchen”,Lol.
When i was with my ex wife,i always cooked Xmas dinner every year,but started to get bored with always cooking British food,so i became an accomplished Asian cook also.
My Adobo is awsome lol,i find the secret is using the best quality marinade ingredients.
Take care,
Chas.
Chas , i think that you are right ,
and only here in The Neherlands ,
we have cooking shows every working day , sometimes 3 on 1 evening .
I stopp watching them . Because only a little new things are coming out !
Anton
Glad you guys are liking the Aussie cooking shows… the finale of Australian Masterchef Season 1 was actually the highest rating non-sport television show in Australia since 2001 (third highest including sporting events) The kids on Junior Masterchef were amazing and I think the winner really deserved it but won’t spoil it for anyone… not sure if you have it in the Philippines but here they also had televised cooking lessons with well-known chefs for the kids who didn’t get to the top 20.
That said I think the food in the Philippines is amazing… the seafood, lechon, Tanduay, kalamansi, chicken inasal… but in my experience the steak was lacking (even though a lot of Philippines beef originally comes from Australia?)
Hi foxratpig – Love the Masterchef show. I learned a lot by just watching them. I also liked the masterclass a lot. We still need to watch the Masterchef Junior, we already had that down loaded. Just don’t have the time to sit down and watch. Pretty soon though.
Oh yeah the foods here are good and all the food you mentioned above are really good too. Also just know how to substitute some of the ingredients with the local stuff we have here. Its really hard to get a good beef here. I’ve been trying to aged the meat. It’s not as good as what you have there.
Thank you for the nice comment.
Take care!
Hi feyma well ill be dambed ,i would not have thought those shows would turn up in davoa city ,australia is a great place i should know i am an aussie (bias) you will find that there are a wide range of people and huge diversity of cutures here ,we have are loony lefts who think we are going to be overrun but the most of the population are pretty easy going and beleive that everyone deserves a fair go and a second chance ,i think that this is part of our makup of our nation just to give you an example my wife and i have been married for just on 3 years now ,she has just started her undergraduates cours for becoming a registred nurse to me you can do what ever you want here if you set your mind to it ,if you ever get to come to australia dont forget to visit adelaide “the city of churches” not as fast paced as the east coast sydney and melbourne but more layed back and we to have some very good resterants and also one of the most celebrated wine growing areas in australia . The program my kitchen rules is very good to each state plays of aganst each other and some of the cooking is very good and some very poor i am glad that you and bob are enjoying watching these programs ,but there is only one meal that every aussie knows and thats the humble meat pie .
chris
Hi chris – Hey, can’t helped it we like your shows and your people there. 😉
Good for you and your wife. Don’t worry I will remember the places you mention if ever I will have the chance to visit Australia. Yes, we really liked the My Kitchen Rules. It’s just a fun show to watched. Chicken pot pie or steak pie were the big hit in our household. Yummy….
Nice to see you again Chris.
Take care!
I know for a fact that there is a certain group of people that will not eat at that restaurant/establishment…..can you guess who?
yup, the Po-lice!
Hi JOJO – You’ll never know the police might go there and check it out.
Thank you for stopping by.
Take care!
Hi Feyma – I think if ex-convicts worked in restuarants here it would be no problem, provided their mates from Cebu gave a dance routine in between courses.
Your idea about going on a diet before our next trip to Oz sounds good to me.
Kind regards.
Jim.
Hi Jim – Ha ha ha… Good one there…
Let me know when will be your next trip there so that we can all remind you of your diet. ;-). lol…
Take care Jim and hi to Marilou from me…
i always…miss the ginataang gabi…the 3 kind of penakbet….n the native cakes in phil…such…patupat..n suman sa latik hmmmmmmm yummy……