Country of origin Australia No. of seasons 1 Executive producer(s) Elizabeth Egan Final episode date 12 April 2011 Number of seasons 1 Genre Reality television | Original language(s) English No. of episodes 8 First episode date 22 February 2011 Network Seven Network Number of episodes 8 Language English | |
Starring Ian Curley (chef)
Lisa Parker (manager) | ||
Conviction Kitchen (Australia) is a reality television series based on a Canadian series of the same name. The series follows a group of convicted criminals as they train in either back or front of house restaurant operations.
The show was produced by the Seven Network and premiered 22 February 2011. The series includes Melbourne-based chef Ian Curley and restaurant manager Lisa Parker as mentors.
Curley initially turned down the chance to star in the series as he felt there were already more than enough TV Chefs. He latter relented as he felt he could relate to the contestants. As a teenager, Curley himself had been convicted of aggravated assault for gang fighting and spent six months in a juvenile detention centre in his native England.
The series saw the ex-inmates complete two weeks of training and six weeks working in a fully operational restaurant, Bistro Three, at the Emporium centre in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. Some were chosen to work front of house with the others training as kitchen staff. They earned the award minimum hourly wage, plus tips.
At the conclusion of the series, two contestants were chosen to work with Ian Curley at the European, Anastasia from the kitchen staff and Silene from the front of house. Kristy and Troy also gained further employment from Curley.