The Chefs' Line S2 | Episode guide

Can passion beat profession? #TheChefsLine

It all comes down to these palates. Source: The Chefs' Line

We might be biased when it comes to our own, but the we've been sharpening our knives in readiness for season 2 of The Chefs' Line. Let's celebrate Australia’s diverse food culture by battling it out over hot stoves and racing clocks as well as bringing together cooks and chefs from around the country to showcase their love of food.

It's going to be the ultimate food fight as home cooks will try and out cook an entire chefs’ line (did we hear you say what is a chefs' line, anyway? Find out right here) in the hopes that their passion will prevail over profession.

Each night home cooks try to cook their way up the ranks, one chef at a time, so you can expect serious skills, fabulous flavour combos, cuisine classics and some genius cooking tips along the way.

Each week, The Chefs’ Line will celebrate a different cuisine, a new chefs’ line will represent their restaurant and go up against four new home cooks. And where would a cooking competition be without its judges? Well, you're in luck with this glorious panel of food experts - Dan Hong, Mark Olive and Melissa Leong, meet the team right here!

Did someone say, kitchen sink battle? We sure did!

Week 1 - Italian

Get the Italian cuisine lowdown here.

To launch the new season, four home cooks with a passion for Italian cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from legendary hatted Italian restaurant, Sotto Sopra, run by Executive Chef Alessandro Pavoni.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Sotto Sopra. Source: The Chefs' Line

Our home cooks this week are Ivano Del Pio, a loveable Tasmanian high school teacher from a large Italian family whose mother “was, of course, the best Italian cook in the world!” Ships repair assistant, Paolo Castriciano, who grew up in a farming village of 200 people in Sicily with his grandparents, and cooks his Nonna’s recipes every day as a way to feel closer to her. Nadia Holmes, a teacher from Victoria, whose father was born in Italy. Nadia has been vegan for 15 years – but doesn’t let it get in the way of her love of Italian cookery! And Sebastien Le Cornu, a recruitment consultant who is South Korean by blood, Australian by adoption, but in the kitchen - Italian at heart.

On Monday night, they will compete against apprentice chef Giorgia Whincup. She was born in Scotland to “an Italian mother who couldn’t cook, and an English father who could.” Giorgia has been at Sotto Sopra for 7 months.

On Tuesday, station chef Flavia Beniamini steps up to represent her restaurant. Italian to the bone – and the girlfriend of sous chef Mattia - Flavia is Sotto Sopra’s pastry chef. How will she handle a savoury challenge?

Wednesday night, sous chef Mattia Rossi hopes his Italian heritage and professional training will give him the edge in a pastry challenge. But he’s being watched closely by Sotto Sopra’s actual pastry chef, Flavia – who also happens to be his girlfriend!

On Thursday night, the best home cook has made it to the end of the line. They must take on executive chef Alessandro Pavoni. Can the passion of a talented home cook beat the top chef of Sotto Sopra? 

Friday night, the competition is over, but there’s still plenty of food. Judge Melissa Leong takes us inside the kitchen of restaurant Sotto Sopra to reflect on the week and to learn some exciting new dishes.

Week 2 - Thai

Get the Thai cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Thai cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from David Thompson's restaurant, Long Chim Sydney, run by Head Chef Meena Throngkumpola.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Long Chim. Source: The Chefs' Line

The dishes will be judged by three of Australia’s hottest culinary stars; executive chef Dan Hong, renowned chef Mark Olive and food writer Melissa Leong.

Our home cooks this week are Andrew Perry, a location scout from Victoria. Living in Thailand for 10 years – and marrying into a Thai family - cemented his love of the cuisine. Mother-of-five and “basic mum cook” Emma Coles, who fell in love with Thai cuisine whilst living in New York as a teenager. Thai-born-and-raised Kiet Chueamrasri, who was so unimpressed with takeaway Thai food in Australia that he started his own YouTube channel to teach people the basics!  And Manisha Foley, whose Indian heritage and resulting love of “big bold flavours” drew her to Thai cuisine. Her favourite kitchen utensil is her mortar and pestle, with which she makes all her own curry pastes.

On Monday night, they will compete against apprentice chef Sam Lawrie in a Fish Cake challenge. Sam completed an engineering degree before realising food was his passion. He has been at Long Chim for 18 months.

On Tuesday, station chef Parvit Kulsrithana steps up to represent his restaurant. He’s hoping his Thai heritage and professional training will give him the edge in a Green Curry challenge.

Wednesday night, sous chef Bhas Kraikangwan is seeking the win in a classic Palm Sugar pudding battle. Can he take one home for the professional team?

On Thursday night, the best home cook has made it to the end of the chefs’ line. They must take on head chef Meena Throngkumpola. Can the passion of a talented home cook beat the top chef of Long Chim Restaurant? 

Friday night, the competition is over, but there’s still plenty of food. Judge Melissa Leong takes us inside the kitchen of restaurant Long Chim to reflect on the week and to learn some exciting new dishes.

Week 3 - Indian

Get the Indian cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Indian cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Atta, run by co-owner and Head Chef Harry Dhanjal.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Atta. Source: The Chefs' Line

Our home cooks this week are Sarjit ‘Sarj’ McLinton, a loveable homemaker from Adelaide. Originally from Malaysia, Sarj cooks with great joy and humour for her houseful of international students. Public servant and vegetarian cooking devotee Iain Gately, who describes Indian cuisine as a vegetarian’s delight, and first discovered Indian food in Singapore. Anushree Arunkumar, a homemaker originally from Nagpur, now from Sydney. Anushree’s favourite pastime as a child was pretending to have her own cooking show! And Smita Granland, a business analyst from Melbourne. Born in India, Smita considers Indian cuisine to be complex and creative – perfect for experiments.

On Monday night, they will compete against apprentice chef Inderjot ‘Indy’ Singh Toor. Indy has been cooking professionally for two years, but samosas are not part of his station at the restaurant. Can he handle the pressure?

On Tuesday, station chef Prabhjot ‘Sharry’ Singh Bara steps up to represent his restaurant – under the watchful eye of his head chef – and older brother – Harry Dhanjal. Family pride is at stake!

Wednesday night, sous chef Atar Singh hopes his Indian heritage and professional training will give him the edge in a dessert challenge.

On Thursday night, the best home cook has made it to the end of the chefs’ line. They must take on head chef Harry Dhanjal. Can the passion of a talented home cook beat the top chef of Atta Restaurant? 

Friday night, the competition is over, but there’s still plenty of food. Judge Melissa Leong takes us inside the kitchen of restaurant Atta to reflect on the week and to learn some exciting new dishes.

Week 4 - Middle Eastern

Four home cooks with a passion for Middle Eastern cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Kepos Street Kitchen, run by owner and Head Chef Michael Rantissi.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Kepos Street Kitchen. Source: The Chefs' Line

Our home cooks this week are: Mahshid Babzartabi, a Victorian-based asylum-seeker and care worker from Iran. She began cooking at 10, as her mother told her she’d need cooking skills to find a good husband. “That,” says Mahshid with a smile, “was not true!” Homemaker and mother-of-five, Mervat, whose parents are from Lebanon. She grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney and is self-taught in the kitchen. Sima Hanimyan, a marketing manager from NSW, whose Armenian parents inspired her love of this cuisine. And Sara Stidwill, a contact centre team leader from Sydney, who is “half-Egyptian, half-Australian – and everything is about food!”

On Monday night, they will compete against apprentice chef Pili Ferreyra. Pili has only been working at Kepos Street Kitchen for one month, and Middle Eastern cuisine is completely new to her. Can she handle the pressure?

On Tuesday, station chef Sujan Shrestha steps up to represent his restaurant. Nepalese by birth, can Sujan defeat three home cooks armed with heritage and family recipes in a dessert challenge?

Wednesday night, sous chef Everton Pinheiro Rodrigues Martins hopes to make his boss proud. Head Chef Michael taught Everton everything he knows – can he triumph in a savoury challenge?

On Thursday night, the best home cook has made it to the end of the chefs’ line. They must take on head chef and owner Michael Rantissi. Can the passion of a talented home cook beat the hatted top chef of Kepos Street Kitchen? 

Friday night, the competition is over, but there’s still plenty of food. Judge Melissa Leong takes us inside the kitchen of restaurant Kepos Street Kitchen to reflect on the week and to learn some exciting new dishes.

Week 5 - Chinese

Get the Chinese cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Chinese cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Lotus, run by Head Chef Chris Yan.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Lotus. Source: The Chefs' Line

Week 6 - French

Get the French cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for French cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Bistro Rex, run by co-owner and Head Chef Jo Ward.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Bistro Rex. Source: The Chefs' Line

Week 7 - Mexican

Get the Mexican cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Mexican cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Mamasita, run by Chef Michael Smith.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Mamasita. Source: The Chefs' Line

Week 8 - Vietnamese

Get the Vietnamese cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Vietnamese cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Annam, run by co-owner and Head Chef Jerry Mai.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Annam. Source: The Chefs' Line

Week 9 - Greek

Get the Greek cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Greek cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from restaurant, Elyros, run by Head Chef Jarrod Smith.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Elyros. Source: The Chefs' Line

Week 10 - Spanish

Get the Spanish cuisine lowdown here.

Four home cooks with a passion for Spanish cuisine face off against the chefs’ line from tapas bar and restaurant, Añada, run by Head Chef Maria Kabal.

Home cooks battle it out with the chefs' line from Añada. Source: The Chefs' Line