New series ... celebrity chef Miguel Maestre has packaged his best segments over the years for his new show Miguel’s Feast. Source: Supplied

Loud energy, a cast of dozens, the dough flying — lots of fun. It’s where he discovered his love for cooking, decided to make a career out of it and forged a path to stardom in a far away land.

The fast-talking celebrity chef admits a scene like that is far from the norm anymore, with families seeing the kitchen as a setting for dreaded tasks.

Lovable larrikin ... Miguel is part of The Living Room team with Barry Du Bois, Chris Brown and Amanda Keller. Source: Supplied

Yes, we’re all busy with work, family and personal commitments competing for our attention. But Maestre believes you can find time to get back in the kitchen if you really want.

“It’s all a matter of priorities,” he said.

“We invest so much time in things that don’t really matter. We are what we eat — we need to learn and love ingredients, cooking and food from the time we’re little. It’s important.”

It’s especially critical for parents to make the extra effort and involve their children in the process, he said.

Despite his busy travel and filming schedule, as well as perks like party invites, the father-of-two still finds time to cook for his family.

“My daughter Claudia, she will eat everything and anything. We cook together and she loves it. She loves getting involved in the process and trying different things.

Home’s heart ... Miguel thinks everyone can make time to get back in the kitchen, even if it’s just once a week. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

“Just the other day, I arrived home and made fresh pasta in the food processor in four or five minutes and it was unbelievable. It’s easy and it changes the way you live.”

An excitement about cooking is what he’s hoping to inspire among viewers of his new show Miguel’s Feast, which is a collection of the best bits from his many and varied segments on lifestyle program The Living Room.

He reviewed years of material, picked his favourites, re-edited and extended them, added new bits and packaged it all up as a stand-alone show.

“It’s so exciting. It’s the first time I’m going solo on free-to-air and I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m really happy.

“It’s a bit of everything — cooking challenges, original food, doing simple things that are exciting, trying new things and lots more, all together in one show.”

Family affair ... involving kids in the kitchen can teach them about food, produce and cooking. Picture: Jono Searle Source: News Limited

This is no ordinary food program, though. Anyone familiar with the man described as everything from “the mad bull” to an excited labrador will know that he does things differently.

But that’s the key to his success. From the moment he arrived in Australia, via Europe and the United Kingdom, Maestre discovered the need to have a point of difference.

“For me, being in the kitchen is a lot of fun. It’s lot of silliness and excitement.

“I think what you see on the screen with other shows now is very serious. I want to bring the energy back. It’s a different ingredient.

“I’m taking food how it should be — a lot of fun.”

Not healthy ... you are what you eat, Miguel Maestre believes, and many of us have no clue what we’re putting into our bodies. Source: News Limited

The segments take him across the world, including New Zealand, Chile and South Africa to name a few. However it’s Australia where he finds the most exciting food opportunities.

“The food scene here is very diverse with produce, talent and techniques to rival the world’s best kitchens. We’ve got nothing to be jealous of. Australia is right up there.”

Miguel’s Feast airs on Saturday at 6pm on Channel Ten.