Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge are great mates. The two chefs and My Kitchen Rules hosts even refer to themselves as “brothers”.

That wasn’t always the case.

“He hated my guts, he was jealous, when we first met,” Manu said on a group call with Food & Wine earlier this month.

“We were both young, egotistical chefs with attitude. Now we’re friendly,” added Colin.

“We’ve worked out what keeps each other sane. It’s a long three months on the road for MKR, and if you didn’t have a good friend with you, it wouldn’t be a good time. There’s a lot of travel, a lot of time away from home.”

(The two men have just returned from hosting events at Taste Port Douglas 2025. Colin admitted he was “mentally a bit behind the eight ball; we did a lunch together up there, and let’s just say we gave it a nudge”).

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The 15th season of My Kitchen Rules kicks off next week, with Manu and Colin again sharing the hosting and judging duties. The premise of the show has changed little since its inception: each team, comprising two home cooks, sets up a “restaurant” in an ordinary home and prepares three courses for the judges and fellow contestants.

Votes are cast. Teams are eliminated. The winners take home $100,000.

It can get catty, it can get emotional, it can tug at the heartstrings. It can also dish up some very good (and very bad) food.

From cherished family recipes passed down through generations to bold new twists on traditional favourites, this season is a celebration of heritage, heart and homegrown talent.

Viewers can expect big personalities, bigger flavours and a whole lot of sugar and spice on the plate – and around the table.

“This year’s MKR contestants bring new recipes, fresh ingredients and innovative tactics and techniques. We’re in for a very interesting season around the dinner table,” Manu said.

“You can expect more down-to-earth recipes and real food with amazing flavour. Many people get caught up in the debate between fine dining and good food, but MKR is all about home cooks creating delicious meals.”

Added Colin: “There are many different personalities at the table, all firing at 110 per cent. Also upping the ante this year, we have some controversial dishes, one in particular that will divide the table and the nation.”

He wouldn’t (couldn’t) elaborate, but did single out “Michael the meat master … this guy, when he’s unleashed on the world, woah, get ready”.

“There’s always a good balance between sugar and spice on the show, and that’s how we like it! There’s a lot of sweet, but there’s always one or two characters that like to throw a little grenade under the table,” Manu continued.

“We’ve got some big characters, some amazing dishes, and some not so amazing, which is sometimes the case.

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“What they put on the menu and what they put on the plate is sometimes very different.”

So, what are the essential skills of a great home cook?

“A great home cook needs to know how to cook protein, such as a good steak and a well-prepared piece of fish,” Manu said.

“As I’ve said since the beginning of MKR, they also need to master the basics – making a sauce, jus or stock – and never underestimate the importance of seasoning. Keep it simple and stay true to yourself, put your personality on the plate. Taste everything you cook and make sure it’s seasoned properly.”

Colin agreed: “A great home cook cooks from the heart; you taste and season your food. It sounds simple, but seasoning is essential.”

And the biggest mistake a team can make in the MKR kitchen?

“Trying to do fine dining,” Manu said.

“The challenge with fine dining is that it takes years of experience to refine even the simplest dish. My advice is to stop trying to show off, keep it simple and make it delicious.”

Having a great personality and a love for cooking is important, Colin said, but becoming an MKR champion comes down to practice and tasting.

“It’s all about putting in the hard work and consistently honing your skills. I have to say, some of the more homely, simple dishes really stood out, ones you wouldn’t expect to be that impressive. There are a few classic recipes this season that truly shine and are definitely something to look forward to.”

When they’re not filming MKR, or hosting events, or presiding over their respective restaurants, the pair are likely to be found sharing a meal at each other’s homes.

“Over the years, we’ve shared thousands of meals,” Colin said.

“We take turns cooking and doing the washing up, but when [Manu’s wife] Clarissa is in the kitchen, you can bet I’m there.

“We also travelled around New Zealand in a very small, smelly caravan together for our new show Off The Grid.”

Manu describes it as “a damn good show”.

“It’s basically two best friends, two brothers, travelling together and having a good time with a couple of arguments along the way. And the best thing is, we’ve signed another series for it,” he said.

My Kitchen Rules returns to Seven and 7plus at 7.30pm on Monday, September 1.