HOLA, AMIGOS GAY!
Miguel Maestre is our favourite TV chef!
From the kitchen to the jungle to The Living Room, Miguel Maestre is our favourite TV chef and Spanish Straight Mate!
DNA: Your Living Room co-presenter, Dr Chris Brown, is very handsome. What’s it like working with him?
Miguel Maestre: Oh, Gringo is a very goodlooking rooster! I’ve spent ten years working right next to him and the biggest challenge is that he always looks so good – in everything! Barry Du Bois (co-presenter) and I look at each other’s bellies and sigh! Gringo is very tall, good-looking and intelligent… but I’ll tell you something, he can’t cook! [Laughs] But we do have a beautiful relationship. My wife always says, “Are you going out with your boyfriend again or someone else?” We go everywhere together. We are pretty much like a couple.
Have you ever had a big night out on the town with your gay mates?
Oh, yeah! I’ve been in all the nightclubs and had so much fun. Stonewall is all happening! I’ve hung out with Courtney Act and been to a lot of the drag shows. I say, “Oh my God, Courtney! I got lost in your eyes!” I’m not gay but I’m a very colourful person and have a great time with my gay friends. I think that Gringo and I should have a float in the Mardi Gras! Have you ever had a gay mate come out to you?
Yes, my friend in Spain, when I was about 16. At the time, he couldn’t tell his parents and one day he just told me. It was such a beautiful experience because he trusted me. At first he really struggled with it and it was a long process for him but he’s really happy now. His mum and dad were very good about it, too. It was just fear more than anything.
Did you ever witness homophobia growing up in Spain?
Not really. Spain is a very traditional and Christian country, but it also approved samesex marriage about 20 years ago and has a lot of fun cities with amazing Mardi Gras events. I was not surrounded by homophobic behaviour and I would never have tolerated it either. Respecting and accepting people for the
My wife always says, ‘Are you going out with your boyfriend again or someone else?’
way they are is one of my principles. It’s very important to me.
Didn’t you cook for Enrique Iglesias?
Oh, my God, yes, when I was the guest chef at the Melbourne Cup. He asked me to sit down with him. He was the loveliest guy. I don’t think he had a clue what was going on with the Melbourne Cup, but he was so happy with my Spanish dishes.
Who’s your music diva?
I listen to Latino music; I’d have to say Shakira and J Lo. Also, Sofia Vergara! She’s not a singer, but I love her cheeky and salty personality.
I seem to remember an episode of The Living Room when you and Dr Chris visited Tina Turner’s actual Nut Bush City?
Oh yes! We danced the Nutbush in Nutbush, Tennessee and spoke to two women who went to school with Tina Turner. I didn’t know the dance, but Gringo was very good at it because Australians learn it in school. Nobody in Nutbush knows how to do the Nutbush!
What dance song do you find irresistible?
It’s a cliché because I’m Spanish but it’s La Bamba! I’ll sing it with anyone, anywhere! You’re a great chef, but what’s your favourite indulgence junk food?
Two-minute noodles taste so good! I make a gourmet version adding something from the deli like a bit of roast beef or seasoning. But I’m in love with chocolate! I could eat Churros for breakfast lunch and dinner. Luckily, I don’t, otherwise I’d be 150 kilos.
What do you think makes a great Australian dish?
Eighty-seven per cent of Australians cook spaghetti bolognese every week! It’s the most cooked dish in the whole country. For me, though, the real Australian dish uses the country’s unique ingredients and flavours – kangaroo, emu, crocodile, wattle seed, pepper berries, lemon myrtle, quandongs, bush tomatoes… Australian cuisine is so unique and I think we are just starting to embrace it.
Have you ever had an onset wardrobe malfunction?
Oh, all the time! The other day on The Living Room we were using a punching bag and I punched it so hard my jeans exploded! I’m a big boy and we always have a problem with jeans!
What were you wearing underneath?
Tight, comfy boxers. I wear different undies for different jobs. For a suit they’re loose and for sport they’re a bit tighter to hold all the Chorizo in place!
What’s the secret to the success of The Living Room?
The closeness of the presenters. On television you cannot manufacture chemistry and we really do love each other in a very genuine way. We all clicked since the first day on set. Some TV presenters don’t like each other once the cameras switch off. People value friendship and viewers like to relax with us at the end of their week with a glass of wine.
You won season six of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! How did that feel?
That was a very long month. From the beginning, it was all about getting money for my charity, RU OK? The previous year I went on Dancing With The Stars and was the first person kicked out. I tried hard, too, because I wanted to reach the $50K. A lot of my friends have lost the battle with mental health and that was a big motivator for me. I’m the kind of guy who always gets up after being knocked down, so I thought I’d give this jungle thing a go and instead of raising $50K, I’ll take the $100K!
And you did, in a very confronting show.
It was a very challenging experience both physically and mentally but, afterwards, we were having conversations about RU OK? We raised awareness for men in Australia to talk about their feelings. That was the best thing. Mission accomplished!
You’re also an ambassador for The Cancer Council Of Australia and CARE Australia. What’s your advice on coping during the covid era?
Stay connected! Mental health is a serious issue. The suffering in our population is massive. The key to fighting the stigma is staying connected with people. A listening ear is the best medicine in the world. That’s how we look after our mates. We go to the gym to look after our bodies, but we don’t take the time to look after our minds, and that’s very important.
In 2014 you were awarded The Order Of Civil Merits by King Felipe VI of Spain.
It was crazy! It’s always awarded to architects and doctors or people who have discovered something. When the Spanish Embassy called to tell me, I couldn’t believe it and I received a letter from the King. It’s one of my best memories and I keep the medal in a little box on my bedside table. Whenever I have a tough day, I look at it and it ignites a little flame in me. What quote do you live by?
“Love is the best ingredient in life.” Everything tastes better with it!
Respecting and accepting people for the way they are is one of my principles.