Everything you need to know about the My Kitchen Rules contestants

my kitchen rules

• My Kitchen Rules premiers 7.00pm Sunday, 7 August

My Kitchen Rules is back to its original winning recipe with judges Nigella Lawson and Manu Feildel in an exciting brand-new season premiering 7.00pm Sunday, 7 August on Channel Seven and 7plus

It’s state versus state as the competition returns to its roots: real people cooking real food in their own homes, serving treasured family recipes and love on a plate to the judges and their fellow contestants.

Meet the 2022 My Kitchen Rules teams

Group 1

Peter and Alice, VIC
Dad and daughter

MKR

Nothing is off limits for this Victorian father and daughter team, Peter, 56, and Alice, 31. While the pair don’t often see eye to eye, both firmly believe that there is always room for “one more” at the family dinner table. Alice says winning MKR would bring her one step closer to realising her food truck dreams: Asian small eats with big flavours and no fuss. Former banker Peter wants to open a high tea room, combining his love for baking and entertaining.

Kate and Mary, QLD
Friends 

MKR

Radiation therapists and close friends Kate and Mary love to host dinner parties and long lunches, bringing people together through food. They have a passion for cooking with high-end premium ingredients and favour simple
cooking served on share platters. They don’t believe in wasting time on bad food or being timid with constructive criticism. Visiting and critiquing new restaurants is one of their favourite sports.

Ashlee and Mat, WA
Parents

MKR

Margaret River’s husband and wife team, Ashlee, 36, and Mat, 39, have a wide range of cuisines under their belt coming into the MKR competition, including Dutch, Asian and Italian. Ashlee is speedy in the kitchen – and although Mat operates at a “slightly slower” pace – the couple of 18 years make a great team, have strong food knowledge and know how to balance flavours. The pair love entertaining, but Ashlee has one hard and fast rule for visiting friends and family: she plans and cooks all breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.

Janelle and Monzir, NSW
Partners 

Baker Janelle, 27, and partner Monzir, 26, say they have what it takes to claim the MKR champion title. With teamwork and a menu that draws on their blended Turkish/Filipino and Sudanese heritage, winning the competition would be the icing on the cake for this couple. Monzir loves full-flavoured spice rubs and cooking over coals with his two special ingredients: chilli and peanut butter. Dubbed by friends as the “Kardashian of cakes”, Janelle runs a successful cake decorating business, has a fine eye for detail and says food presentation must be “perfect.”

Arrnott and Fuzz, NSW
Friends

My kitchen rules

Besties and co-workers Arrnott, 44, and Fuzz, 34 were drawn together by their love of cooking, food and creativity. Fashion stylist Fuzz and designer Arrnott both love making people feel good in their own skin and say food is their love language. Growing up surrounded by big families who all loved to eat, Arrnott and Fuzz learned to cook from much-loved family members. Both are excited to showcase their Fijian heritage through flavours, colours and textures.

Steven and Frena, SA
Engaged

My kitchen rules

South Australia’s Steven, 31, and Frena, 25, believe their solid relationship is one of their biggest strengths in the My Kitchen Rules competition. Growing up between Singapore and Malaysia, Frena loves Chinese, Indonesian and Javanese flavours and has been finding her way around the kitchen since she was five. Fiancé Steven was born in Australia to British parents and experienced a childhood filled with his gran’s roast dinners. In the kitchen, the couple work as one making their curry pastes, condiments and pasta from scratch. Winning My Kitchen Rules would kick-start their dream of opening a Malaysian street cafe in Adelaide.

Group 2

Che and David, WA
Friends

My kitchen rules

Western Australian mates Che, 43, and David, 35, love chilli. Che owns an award-winning hot sauce company and David is revered in the competitive chilli-eating world. The pair met on the chilli scene and quickly bonded over all things chilli and cooking. They describe their entertaining style as relaxed but say teams would be making a big mistake if they underestimated their skill in the kitchen just because they’re “chilli heads.”

Rosie and Hayley, QLD
Aunt and niece

My kitchen rules

Queensland aunty and niece MKR team Rosie, 53, and Hayley, 29, say their relationship has become even closer as they have gotten older. Rosie, a breast cancer survivor, says her diagnosis changed her, instilling an attitude that sees her make the most of every opportunity. Rosie’s “life’s too short” motto means the pair try not to take themselves too seriously, laugh loud and take chances. Rosie and Hayley love entertaining friends and family with their casual Italian cooking style. With Rosie’s perfectionism and Hayley’s can-do attitude, this team is set to be a contender.

Matt and KT, VIC 
Best friends

My kitchen rules

Victorian best friends, Matt, 36, and KT, 33, met at a friend’s 18th birthday party and say they’re more like siblings. Matt grew up a proud Yamaji man from the Gascoyne region in Western Australia with a nose-to-tail food philosophy. Matt and KT are passionate about using Australian native ingredients and transporting their guests to the Australian Outback during their MKR instant restaurant. They dream of opening their own native cooking store, offering hard-to-find native ingredients and products.

Leanne and Milena, VIC
Sisters

My kitchen rules

Italian sisters Leanne, 50, and Milena, 52, are best friends. The fiery pair learned to cook from their mother, who was constantly in the kitchen cooking for her eight children. The team describe their cooking style as “easy” Italian, saying it only takes a few ingredients to make a great-tasting plate. The sisters, who make their own salami, pancetta, olives and pasta, decided to compete on MKR to put their mum’s food on the map.

Nicky and Jose, SA
Partners

My kitchen rules

Fitness fanatics Nicky, 46, and Jose, 51, live life to the max. They met on a dance floor six years ago and have been together since. Jose is Spanish and grew up around Spanish food, which has been a constant theme in his life with his parents owning a restaurant and both his grandparents training and working as chefs.

Sophie and Katherine, NSW
Business partners 

My kitchen rules

Business partners and great friends Sophie, 53, and Katherine, 55, met 18 years ago on a camping trip and love to cook and laugh together over a wine or two. The mums own The Dinner Ladies, a food service delivering ready-to-eat meals. Both are confident home cooks who favour nutritious food and showcase fresh ingredients. They want their instant restaurant to be a warm and inviting space where everyone feels at home.

My Kitchen Rules premiers 7.00pm Sunday, 7 August on Channel Seven and 7plus.

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