'MasterChef Australia' Season 7: George, Matt and Gary Return to TV this May

"MasterChef Australia", one of the most popular culinary shows on TV, will be back with season 7 starting Tuesday, 5 May, in Australia, and 11 May, Monday in India. The Network Ten show will be telecast in India on Star World Premiere HD.

Although India has its own version of the culinary reality competition, "MasterChef India", judged by renowned chefs like Vikas Khanna, Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar, the Australian version seems to be equally, if not more popular, in the land of spices. In fact, Star World Premiere HD and the winner of "MasterChef Australia", Season 6 Brent Owens, conducted a promotional campaign in India, giving fans an opportunity to interact with the culinary genius in person.

Airing during television's prime time spectacular, "MasterChef Australia" is expected to not only emulate season 6 "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Food", but also raise the bar higher. Joining the incomparable judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston in their journey to seek the most passionate and talented amateur cooks from around Australia and unearth the Top 24 to join them in the "MasterChef Australia" kitchen, is Chef Shannon Bennett.

Bennett, who is head chef of restaurant Vue de monde at Melbourne's Rialto Tower, is also the author of six books, including "Cooking All Over the World" and "My Vue Modern French Cookery". Bennett, who respects the work ethics and creativity that the participants of the competition bring to the table, hopes to employ a couple of them in his kitchens.

"It's about good technique, cooking stuff that's beautiful on the plate, a restrained, less-is-more attitude. Like a beautifully executed duck dish that you could easily place in a one- or two-hat restaurant... From my perspective I can easily see five or six of the guys coming to work in my kitchen. If they committed for two years I could easily take two on board," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Veterans of the culinary industry like Heston Blumenthal, Massimo Bottura, Sat Bains, Maggie Beer, Marco Pierre White, Curtis Stone and Marcus Wareing will also be guest judges during the course of the show.

Watch "MasterChef Australia" to find out which talented chef will take home not only the coveted title of Australia's MasterChef, but also a cash prize of $250,000.