Sam Gruar
Ever since he can remember Sam has been a food enthusiast. From a young age his passion has been getting in the kitchen and cooking for others to enjoy. He started his formal chef training while at high school at Harbourside Seafood Bar and Grill. His love of snowboarding took him to Queenstown where he spent the next 4 years enjoying the outdoors and working in leading establishments such as Eichardt’s Private Hotel and Saffron in Arrowtown. At this time he was also becoming very interested in the operations of restaurants as a whole and soon found himself mixing cocktails, establishing his palate for wine and winning a major cocktail competition which took him to New York where he managed a bar in Manhattan.
Opening his own restaurant is now at the fore front of Sam’s priorities. He has a Jamie Oliver appeal, and practical yet honed sense of food which stand him in good stead to become a favourite with kiwi audiences.
Sale Lemamea
Sale is Chef de Partie at top Auckland restaurant Mikano and is passionate about good food that’s also good for you. He loves using flavour in his cooking and has fallen in love with French and Italian cuisine for the exciting variety of flavours they use. As a Samoan New Zealander, Sale is very aware of the poor health statistics for Pacific Islanders and likes to steer clear of fatty foods. He uses only the best ingredients without compromising on flavour.
Sale is a new face to New Zealand television and will immediately engage with audiences for his warmth, knowledge and easy cooking style. He represents a new generation of young Kiwi men who enjoy cooking with the needs of a family in mind. Sale is 26 years old and is a proud solo dad to his 14 year old son, who is currently showing a talent for maths and science.
Elliot Inch
Elliot is a passionate and experienced Landscaper, having worked in New Zealand, Australia and England over the last seven years. Last year Elliot returned to full-time education to study for a Diploma in Landscape Design. When not studying, he can be found elbows deep in compost and tending to his garden.
Richard Furze
A recipient of a number of industry awards over the years, Richard Furze is a sought after architectural designer in Auckland. Originally from Taranaki, spending six years in the New Plymouth design industry, Richard moved to Auckland 12 years ago to establish his business Richard Furze Design. Richard describes his style as predominately contemporary, with an emphasis on simplicity of design. He enjoys working closely with clients to ensure that each project is individually and uniquely designed, reflecting their personality throughout.
Laurel Watson
Laurels relaxed style and sense of fun has made her a firm favourite with those who love to cook as well as the less talented in the kitchen.
Laurel learnt her trade at the London School of Cordon Bleu and then went on to set up her own silver service catering company in Sydney called "For the Love of Food". Her clients including The Lord Mayer of Sydney.
Eight years later, Laurel returned to New Zealand and ended up in our living rooms on the Good Morning Show, 5.30 with Jude and Our Place!
Laurel began writing for 'Essentially Food' Magazine in 2002 and set up the highly successful Wilton Cake Decorating School at Milly's in Auckland. In 2006 Laurel became the chef for Essentially Food and 2 years later was promoted to food editor for the magazine, before going on to do the same job with “In My Kitchen" Magazine.
Laurel is now creating a new and exciting food concept which will be launched in September this year. She is also a 'hands on' parent with husband Mark to Kip and Holly, a job she calls “ The Biggest Job of All!”.
Geoff Burton
Geoff Burton has five years experience as an interior designer working with one of Auckland’s very successful interior design and home-staging companies, The Look. Projects Geoff has worked on range from innovative design within a budget, up to the refurbishing of a $10million apartment in Auckland’s Viaduct. Geoff has extensive experience in writing interior design articles for magazines and also was the interior design presenter on the last series of Our Place.
Geoff is dressed by:
Evie Ashton
Evie Ashton is a well known face in New Zealand presenting. Evie has presented the well known "Good Morning" show, and a host of other shows including the first series of "Our Place”. Evie’s talents extend to news reading (TV2’s “Flipside” and on radio’s More FM), and to writing, directing and producing.
As far as renovation goes, Evie comes from a long line of self-confessed tinkerers. With the help of her builder- brother, she’s made some major developments on her own property, which is far from finished yet!
Evie loves Egg! A few weeks out from starting Our Place, Evie discovered she was pregnant. Egg came to the rescue and Evie now gets to wear comfy, stylish clothes courtesy of the maternity specialist store.
Hutch
Hutch has extensive experience as one of New Zealand’s leading “Hire A Hubbies” and represents new talent to television. Hutch brings strong trade and project management skills to the show, combined with a likeable, blokey, and down-to-earth personality that viewers will instantly connect with.