MpMapril_FINAL.pdf Apr. 2014 | Page 11

MELISSA HODGE TALKS COOKING WITH MKR’S YOUNG HEART THROB, CHRISTO Everybody’s talking about the shenanigans of two young lads on Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules, Christo and Harry, this season’s most loved MKR competitors. The 25 year old mates are no strangers to the Mornington Peninsula, holding their instant restaurants at Christo’s family holiday home in Sorrento. “I spend heaps of time on the peninsula and love coming here so it seemed the best place to do our instant restaurant,” said Christo, who was first introduced to cooking by helping his mum make chocolate cake as a kid. “I used to love helping mum cook, putting the ingredients in the bowl and licking the mixture off the spoon.” Christo, pictured on right, with his best mate, Harry (left), were chosen to compete on My Kitchen Rules 2014 series. “We were so rapt to be accepted and it’s been a great experience. It’s a whole new thing being on tv and you can tell by our first instant restaurant our nerves were apparent,” says Christo. “It’s a huge task, having other contestants there not to mention cooking for Pete and Manu.” Of the two mates, Christo does appear to be the most composed but he admits it’s hard to keep calm at times. “My first time in kitchen central I totally lost it,” he admits. “We were making a lamb dish and had 45 minutes to plate up eight dishes. Harry actually had to be the calming influence for us then. Luckily I was able to compose myself for the next challenge and we came through.” After knowing each other for their whole lives, the boys have never had a serious falling out, which Christo puts down to an ability to laugh at themselves. “There is a lot of pressure on the show and it can get very tense. People ask me if I want to kill Harry but I never think anything of it. We both just laugh and make a joke when we start getting too stressed. Then we go back and focus on what we need to do.” Christo says being on MKR is a lot tougher than people realise but it’s an experience he wouldn’t pass up for anything. ril 2014 “It definitely a Main Street Mornington Easter Bunny exhausting, long days and a lot of stress but you d, 10am meet the most amazing people and learn cooking skills just by – 1pm Pamper Package being immersed in cooking every day,” says Christo. “You learn ster Market yourself and worthhard work is really all about.” to push what over $400 to indulge and splurge! gton 9am – 2pm For Christo, his favourite experience has been the food Simply spend $30 or more in any Main Street enter truck, having the op