What are you up to at the moment?
I've got my two restaurants and my catering company; I launched a book [Gary Mehigan Favourites] last month and the Good Food Month in October, and I'm getting ready for MasterChef series seven. George [Calombaris] and I were talking about it recently, where we thought MasterChef was probably only going to last a year, if we were lucky.
Did you really think that?
Yes, because I think the best advice I've ever been given in television is that you're handed a baton and you can hold that baton for a while, but then you've got to give it to someone else. And I'm happy with that … [But] this year has seen a nice little resurgence. Whether we lost our way a little bit and moved away from what were core MasterChef values, what it has shown us is that people want a proper cooking competition. We did that this year and I think the audience have come back in spades, which is great to see. People have engaged back with me.
Can you see that?
Yeah, straight away. Kids are waving at me again, or little groups of giggling girls going, "Oh that's Gary for MasterChef" or guys picking up a leek in supermarket saying, "What do I do with this?" Just re-engaged again and in a very casual and familiar way.
What's the strangest thing a fan has ever done?
Oh no, let's not go there! We find, especially when you go to very food-focused places, so let's say Good Food Month, everybody that's there has got some level of interest in food. So they're very much in your face. "I need a photo." "I want a photo." "Could you sign this?" "Could you sign that?" On some weird places, too, which we refuse to do! It's really funny. I go: "You do realise I'm just a chubby middle-aged man." But, in their eyes, you're on TV and I suppose you're supposed to be a celebrity.
Does it ever get annoying having people recognise you everywhere you go?
Annoying is not the word, because I think with public recognition comes the fact that there's a little bit of public ownership, too; that they feel that they know you, that you're nice on TV and they want to chat to you.
What's your involvement with Good Food Month?
I'm the ambassador for the Citibank Dining Program. I'll be at the Night Noodle Markets on the 17th of October, which I've been to a couple of years in a row now. And, when you look at the momentum that has gathered, it's incredible. It's packed! If you're the kind of guy that wants to go to a quiet restaurant, then the Night Noodle Markets is not for you.
At home, do you like being cooked for, or do you prefer to be in the kitchen?
I love being cooked for. I love it. It's lovely for me to take a proper day off and be looked after. My wife is a reluctant cook, so if I'm lucky, she'll take over the kitchen on my birthday or Christmas. My friends know that I'm happy with anything, as long as they've had a go.
What would be your biggest advice for someone getting into that industry?
You've got to love it. You've got to love people. I think, unfortunately, the business is full of people that don't love it. Like any job, there are people who go to work every day and hate what they do.
What is your favourite food?
Everything.
Is there anything that you don't eat?
I'm funny when it comes to textures – like, certain textures put me off. I hate undercooked egg without the yolk, and raw carrots are a funny thing; they're interesting for the first few bites, but they need something else. But, other than that, I'll try anything once, almost.
What's the weirdest thing you've eaten?
In Hong Kong, I've eaten a few weird things – things like pig's throat. I always try to remember that we're quite sensitive about things that we don't associate as food, whereas communities that associate it with food have no problem. The Japanese look at us and go, "Blue cheese. It's disgusting. It's mouldy, stinky and horrible." Isn't it? But we love it.
Is there anything you won't eat?
Travelling through Vietnam, for example, they eat dog. And I go: "No, I don't need to eat it." Because I've drawn a line in the sand between what I treat as a pet versus what I treat as food.
Do you watch MasterChef?
No. When I walk in the house, if I can hear my own voice, I go: "Can you turn over?" It's a strange thing. It's also the fact that … I'm 47; I've got nothing to lose. If I was 27, I might be a bit more self-conscious, but I don't mind embarrassing myself; I don't mind putting myself out there.
What's your favourite restaurant, besides your own?
If we talk about Sydney, I love Porteno, Chiswick, Sake... the list just keeps going on and on.
What do you do for fun when you're not working?
Ride motorcycles. Walk. I love my dogs. I've got a couple of big rescue dogs. They take up a lot of our time. Molly is 40 kilos, Jango is 45 kilos.
Gary Mehigan will be at the Night Noodle Markets, Hyde Park South, in the Citi VIP area from 6pm on Friday, October 17, as part of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month. For the program, see goodfoodmonth.com.
BITE SIZE
WE WENT TO Aqua Dining, Milsons Point.
WE ATE tuna tartare, congo potatoes, rocket aioli, lime, radishes; quail, puffed quinoa, grapes, onion and cardamom gel; blue-eye cod, vongole, avocado, broccolo romanesco; lamb backstrap stuffed with mushroom and chestnut, pumpkin, sherry vinegar.
WE DRANK sparking mineral water.
GARY WORE Rodd & Gunn shirt and M. J. Bale pants.
