Miguel Cascales Maestre (born 5 November 1979) is a Spanish and Australian 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.
Maestre has presented TV programmes Miguel's Feast, Miguel's Tropical Kitchen and Boys Weekend. He participated in, and won the sixth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! on Sunday, 2 February 2020.
In October 2013, Maestre became an Australian citizen.
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, where he was originally working under Manu Feildel. Following a meeting with Spanish chef Ferran Adrià at elBulli, Maestre opened Australia's biggest Spanish restaurant named El Toro Loco at Manly Beach. 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.
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.
In 2019, Maestre competed in the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars, where he was paired with Megan Wragg. He was first to be eliminated.
In 2020, Maestre won the sixth season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia.
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.
Television Year Title Role Notes 2009 Miguel's Tropical Kitchen Presenter 13 episodes 2009 Boys Weekend Presenter 13 episodes 2009 Ready Steady Cook Guest chef/himself 1 episode 2011 MasterChef Australia Guest chef/himself 1 episode 2011 Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield Guest chef/himself 2 episodes 2014–2015 Miguel's Feasts Presenter 13 episodes (1 unaired) 2012–2022 The Living Room Presenter 2016 All Star Family Feud Contestant 2016 Have You Been Paying Attention? Guest quiz master 2019 Dancing With The Stars Contestant 2020 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant 2024 Thank God You're Here Waiter 2024–presentReady Steady CookHost2023–2025The Cheap SeatsHimself4 episodes
Books Miguel's Tapas, Hardcover (2010): , , Paperback (2014): , Spanish Cooking, Hardcover (2012): , Life Force by Barry Du Bois and Miguel Maestre, Paperback (2018) :
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.
Charity work Maestre is an ambassador for Cancer Council Australia, CARE Australia and R U OK? since 2014
Personal life
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) and a son (born 2014). Maestre has a younger brother who is a restaurant manager.
References
External links Miguel Maestre's Official website Maestre Family Food Official website Miguel Maestre's Profile