Cultural exploration and discovery through food reaches new heights on SBS with the launch of The Chefs’ Line on Monday 3 April. A new format for weeknights at 6pm, over 13 weeks the series will explore the heritage, history and diversity that drives Australia’s restaurant culture, with home cooks challenging the very best chefs in cuisines across the country.
The series will be presented by SBS’s resident food expert Maeve O’Meara. The dishes will be judged by three of Australia’s hottest culinary stars; Executive Chef Dan Hong, renowned Indigenous chef Mark Olive and leading food writer Melissa Leong.
Each week, The Chefs’ Line will celebrate a different cuisine and a new chefs’ line will represent their restaurant. The home cooks must earn their stripes and cook their way up the ranks of the chefs’ line. We’ll see passion and personality go into every plate they produce and witness not just competition, but camaraderie as the home cooks learn and laugh with the professional chefs.
Marshall Heald, SBS Director of Television and Online Content, said: “We’re taking the popular competition cooking format and breathing new life into it with a classic SBS multicultural spin - going beyond the professional vs home cook dynamic and focusing on unique cuisines, their history, specialties and the people behind them. “By focusing on a different cuisine each week, The Chefs’ Line will shine a light on the multicultural appeal of Australia’s diverse food culture.”
In the ultimate food fight, four home cooks go up against the apprentice chef every Monday night. The home cooks with the best three plates on the pass progress through to the next night. On Tuesday nights, home cooks have moved a step up the chefs’ line and cook against the station chef. Wednesdays is always the penultimate battle; home cooks take on the sous chef. Thursday night is the final night of the competition; the best home cook faces-off against the restaurant’s head chef in the ultimate David vs Goliath battle.
Can the passion of a home cook beat the skills of a professional? Who has what it takes to beat The Chefs’ Line?
In a special episode each Friday, Maeve O’Meara gives a guided tour of the featured restaurant, the chefs share stories from the week and tantalise with delicious recipes.
The Chefs’ Line premieres Monday 3 April, 6pm weeknights on SBS. Episodes will be available after broadcast via SBS On Demand.
Join the conversation #TheChefsLine Recipes from The Chefs’ Line will be available throughout the series at sbs.com.au/thechefsline