Emmanuel Feildel(born 26 March 1974) is a French-Australian chef, restaurateur and television presenter trained in England, who is best known as one of the judges of the competitive television cooking showMy Kitchen Rules.
Manu Feildel | |
|---|---|
 Manu Feildel and his wife Clarissa Weerasena | |
| Born | Emmanuel Feildel 26 March 1974 |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupations |
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| Known for | My Kitchen Rulesjudge |
| Spouse |
Clarissa Weerasena (m.2018) |
| Children | 2 |
Manu achieved a solid reputation as head chef at the restaurant Bilson's before moving to open his own restaurant, Manu at L'Étoile, in 2009. The restaurant closed in March 2014.
Biography
editIn spite of a history of professional chefs in his family, including his father and a grandfather, Feildel decided to join a circus school at age 13 and learntjuggling,unicycling,clowning and someacrobatics.He stayed for three years and then decided that cooking was his first love and moved to London where he studied at theCafe Royalrestaurant.[2]He then worked at Les Associes, the Cafe des Amis du Vin and popular seafood restaurant Livebait.
Career
editFeidel relocated to Australia in 1999,[3]he worked at a number of restaurants for several years before opening the kitchen as head chef at Bilson's on invitation of its owner, offering contemporaryFrench cuisine.According toThe Sydney Morning Herald,he was a key factor in Bilson's "three-hat success".[4]The Daily Telegraphindicates that it is for his service at this "exceptional fine diner" that he has fame among food lovers.[5]
Feildel began appearing onReady Steady Cookin 2006 and onMasterChef Australiain 2009 and has co-hostedMy Kitchen Rulessince 2010.[6]Also in 2009, Feildel left Bilson's and opened his own Frenchbistro,Manu at L'Étoile.[4][5]However, the restaurant closed in March 2014, with Feildel citing a "nightmare year" with too much happening including hisMy Kitchen Rulescommitments and increased competition that had hurt his business, meaning he could no longer afford to stay open.
In 2010, he was the celebrity contestant in the first episode of the short lived Australian version ofBeat the Star.[7]
Feildel won the 2011 series ofDancing with the Stars[8]and appeared at the 2011Good Food & Wine Show.[9]He was also nominated for the Most Popular New Male Talent at theLogie Awards of 2011.[10]He hosted the reality dating seriesDinner Datein 2011.
Following the closure of his Sydney restaurant, Manu at L'Étoile, Feildel in partnership with chefGeorge Calombarisopened a new restaurant Le Grand Cirque inMelbourne,[11]which closed 4 months after opening, in August 2014.[12]
In April 2014, Feildel hosted a two-part travel-cooking documentary entitledMy France with Manuwhich follows Feildel travelling through western France, highlighting the local food, scenery and his memories of France. The show originally screened on theSeven Network.[11]
A fictional parody of Manu has appeared as a recurring character on theAunty Donnapodcast, where he is portrayed by Zachary Ruane.[citation needed]
Feildel appears in the 2018 filmThe BBQas French chef, Andre Mont Blanc.[13]
In 2019, he became a judge on the revived version ofAustralia's Got Talentfor theSeven Network.It was announced on 23 October 2019 that Feildel would join formerMasterChefjudgesGary MehiganandMatt Prestonin 2020 on a new cooking competition show calledPlate of Origin.[14]
Community work
editIn March 2013, Feildel trekked theKokoda Trackto raise money forCanTeen,the Australian organisation for young people living with cancer. Each participant donated $5,000 to join the trek.[15]
Feildel is also an ambassador forCamp Quality,a children's family cancer charity whose motto is "laughter is the best medicine".[16]
ANZUP Cancer Trials Group
editIn 2019, Manu took part in the ANZUP Cancer Trials Group's Rude Food campaign. Manu prepared a selection of "rude" looking dishes to raise awareness for "below the belt" (penile, prostate, testicular, bladder and kidney) cancers.
In 2020, Manu joined ANZUP Cancer Trials Group as a Below the Belt Ambassador. Manu participated in the 2020 Below the Belt #YourWay Challenge in September 2020, completing 854 kilometres on his bicycle and raising $987 for cancer research.[17]
In 2021, Manu participated inDancing with the StarsonSeven Network.Manu announced at the beginning of the season that his nominated charity was ANZUP Cancer Trials Group.[18]
Personal life
editFeildel and his partner Veronica Anne "Ronnie" Morshead (b. Kingston, 1969)[19]separated during 2009, after 12 years together. They have one son Jonti.[20]Feildel became engaged to Pattaya go-go bar manager Clarissa Weerasena in November 2013,[21]and they married in January 2018.[22]The couple have a daughter Charlee born in 2015.[23] Clarissa is a cook onBetter Homes and Gardens.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^MANU FEILDEL
- ^Dale, David (6 April 2014)."My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel takes viewers travelling in My France with Manu".The Age.Fairfax Media.Retrieved7 April2014.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 11 April 2013.Retrieved6 February2013.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^abThomsen, Simon (11 May 2009)."L'Etoile".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved10 June2009.
- ^abMerryment, Elizabeth (24 May 2009)."Mano Manu, a master chef".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved10 June2009.
- ^Rowe, Michelle (2 May 2009)."Tetsuya's chef teams up with a stellar cast in new Sydney restaurant".The Australian.Archived fromthe originalon 3 May 2009.Retrieved10 June2009.
- ^Burrowes, Tim (8 September 2010)."TV audience finds Beat The Star's bread-turning-to-toast a turn-off".Mumbrella.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^"Chef Manu Feildel wins Dancing trophy".The Sydney Morning Herald.10 July 2011.Retrieved11 July2011.
- ^"Manu Feildel".Good Food & Wine Show.Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2011.Retrieved26 May2011.
- ^Mitchell, Thomas (5 April 2011)."Ratings: Manu's kitchen rules!".tvweek.ninemsn.au.Archived fromthe originalon 23 April 2011.Retrieved6 April2011.
- ^ab"Rival TV chefs Manu Feildel and George Calombaris join forces for Melbourne restaurant, Le Grand Cirque".news.au.News Ltd. 15 March 2014.Retrieved7 April2014.
- ^Lethlean, John (30 July 2014)."The Cirque is over".The Australian.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^Buckmaster, Luke (21 February 2018)."The BBQ review – Shane Jacobson's likability can't save gallingly unfunny 'comedy'".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^Fowler, Bella (23 October 2019)."MasterChef's Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan to Team Up with MKR Rival".news.au.Retrieved24 October2019.
- ^Dumas, Daisy (10 March 2013)."Out of the kitchen and into the heat".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^Camp Quality | Retrieved 7 April 2013
- ^"2020 Ambassadors".Below the Belt.Retrieved14 April2021.
- ^"Seven Reveals Launch Date for Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars".TV Blackbox.tvblackbox.au. April 2021.Retrieved1 April2021.
- ^Hills, Brenden; Nauman, Zoe (7 April 2013)."Celebrity chef Manu Feildel and ex slice it up in court".news.au.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^Davies, Rebecca (4 July 2011)."Digital Spy - TV, Movies and Entertainment News".Digital Spy.Archived fromthe originalon 12 October 2013.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^"My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel engaged to girlfriend Clarissa Weerasena".News.au.11 November 2013.Retrieved23 March2014.
- ^"Woman's Day reports Manu Feildel and his fiancee Clarissa Weerasena have married in Malaysia".news.au.Retrieved20 December2018.
- ^"Manu Feildel: Meet baby Charlee!".New Idea.23 March 2015.Retrieved29 April2015.