If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your phone screen, hearing the sizzle of a steak and watching the swirl of a glossy BBQ glaze, chances are you’ve already stumbled across the delicious world of Andy Hearnden, also known as Andy Cooks.
Behind the viral videos and perfectly plated dishes is Andy’s belief that great cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. From easy dinners to $7 tools he swears by and tasty hacks, Andy’s kitchen secrets are less about flashy trends and all about accessible cooking.
We asked him a few questions about his cooking career, kitchen tricks and his ordinary life behind the scenes. Keep reading to see his answers.
BHG: You often talk about making meals for your wife or your family. If someone offers to cook for you, what’s your request?
ANDY: People are always intimidated to cook for chefs, but the truth is chefs are just happy to have someone cook for them and often we crave the most basic home-cooked meals like lasagna.
BHG: What are the pros and cons of working in a professional kitchen versus cooking for social media?
ANDY: One thing I miss the most about working in a professional kitchen is the camaraderie and the feeling you get when you nail a really busy service. Working in social media can be isolating, but the positive is that you don’t have to work night shifts all the time if you don’t want to.
BHG: What’s your favourite go-to dinner recipe when you don’t feel like cooking?
ANDY: I love to jazz up a bowl of instant ramen by adding something simple like fresh spring onions, a spoonful of peanut butter or some fresh stretchy cheese.
BHG: What’s the craziest cooking hack you’ve ever tried that actually worked?
ANDY: I don’t know about craziest but one I came across is using crushed chips to use as the top layer of mac ‘n’ cheese to give it extra crunch.
BHG: What’s one recipe you created that viewers went crazy over?
ANDY: I didn’t create the recipe but I once made a biryani for Katelyn’s dinner and that video has over 300 million views now which is pretty wild.
BHG: Outside of the kitchen, what are some personal interests or hobbies?
ANDY: I love to train first thing in the morning, it puts me in a good headspace for the day (and preps me for a day of eating). I’m also a pretty keen runner and huge Formula One fan.
BHG: Tell us about your experience on MasterChef Australia. What was your favourite moment?
ANDY: It was incredible to see such a high calibre of food, which is not surprising given the experience of the contestants this year, especially with some having their own restaurants and established careers in hospitality. I think the best part was being there in person to watch the cook and taste the great food the contestants put forward.
Andy Hearnden appears as guest chef on MasterChef Australia on Sunday 8 June at 7pm on 10 and 10 Play.
