Surprise Chef
Encyclopedia
Surprise Chef was an Australian cooking
television show that aired on the Seven Network
from 2001 to 2003. It was also later repeated on Seven HD
.
The show revolved around chef
Aristos Papandroulakis
, who would surprise an unwitting Coles
supermarket shopper with an offer to cook dinner
for them in their own home. If taken up on the offer, Aristos then set himself to cook a filling meal using only the ingredients available to him from their pantry, fridge or what groceries they had bought. He also set himself a "challenge ingredient", in one episode this involved using a bottle of Coca Cola as a marinade.
In bookending segments, Aristos was also joined by co-presenters Ian "Herbie" Hemphill and Flip Shelton, who gave tips on food preparation and meal ideas. Later, Greg Duncan Powell and Ben Canaider
joined the cast, giving advice on choosing wines, while Cindy Sargon
replaced Shelton in 2003.
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
television show that aired on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
from 2001 to 2003. It was also later repeated on Seven HD
Seven HD
Seven HD was an Australian television channel, owned by the Seven Media Group, that launched on 15 October 2007. The channel was available to high definition digital television viewers in metropolitan areas, Tasmania and Regional Queensland through a number of owned-and-operated stations, as well...
.
The show revolved around chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
Aristos Papandroulakis
Aristos Papandroulakis
Aristos Papandroulakis is an Australian chef best known for hosting the Seven Network cooking show Surprise Chef...
, who would surprise an unwitting Coles
Coles Supermarkets
Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741 stores nationally Coles Supermarkets is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers. It has 741...
supermarket shopper with an offer to cook dinner
Dinner
Dinner is usually the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon culture, dinner may be the second, third or fourth meal of the day. Originally, though, it referred to the first meal of the day, eaten around noon, and is still occasionally used for a noontime meal, if it is a large or main...
for them in their own home. If taken up on the offer, Aristos then set himself to cook a filling meal using only the ingredients available to him from their pantry, fridge or what groceries they had bought. He also set himself a "challenge ingredient", in one episode this involved using a bottle of Coca Cola as a marinade.
In bookending segments, Aristos was also joined by co-presenters Ian "Herbie" Hemphill and Flip Shelton, who gave tips on food preparation and meal ideas. Later, Greg Duncan Powell and Ben Canaider
Ben Canaider
Ben Canaider is an Australian writer specializing in drinks and alcoholic beverages. He is the author of nine books, including the chef spoof, Cuisine du Moi: The Heart of My Passion, which is a fictional story about the "world's greatest chef," Gavin Canardeaux.Canaider grew up in the Dandenong...
joined the cast, giving advice on choosing wines, while Cindy Sargon
Cindy Sargon
Cindy Sargon is an Australian TV chef who currently hosts Food 4 Life on the Seven Network. Cindy is of Assyrian descentSargon also appeared in the second series of Surprise Chef in 2003, as well as My Restaurant Rules, Melbourne Woman and Saturday Kitchen...
replaced Shelton in 2003.