CHEERS echoed across the estuary as Mandurah’s latest reality television stars hit the small screen.
Conrad and Liam made their debut on The Hotplate on Tuesday night, with friends and other Mandurah business owners gathered at Duck, Duck, Moose watching as the couple serve-up their quick-witted remarks.
With sizzling comments such as those which described Perth’s Christina and Tania’s restaurant – Christina’s – to have more plastic “than Pamela Anderson’s brassiere”, it’s easy see why the pair were chosen to feature on the Channel Nine show.
It’s not just for their restaurant, but for their ‘TV value’ – something which both the couple, and those around them, describe to be authentic to their characters.
“The program is copping a bit of flack for allegedly having scripted lines, so it’s nice to have people who hear that and roll their eyes because they know that’s incorrect,” Liam said.
“It comes across naturally and that’s how we are,” Conrad said.
“And we don’t make excuses for who we are and what our expectation is.
“We want to see the industry grow in Mandurah and across Australia.
“While you might not hit the mark, you’ve got to keep trying.”
The Hotplate sees six restaurants battle it out, and take on the heat of British food critic Tom Parker Bowles and Melbourne restaurateur Scott Pickett, who along with the other contestants, score each eatery.
The couples compete for $100,000, with the aim of turning their restaurant into a food destination.
"This is about helping good restaurants becoming great restaurants," Bowles said.
But for Liam and Conrad it’s more than just making their business, a national go-to when it comes to exquisite cuisine – they want to put Mandurah on the map.
But first, they need to shake off the ‘sleepy-town’ persona some of the larger cities have regarding Mandurah.
“Mandurah’s evolved; we’ve only been in Mandurah for eight years but we’ve seen Mandurah evolve and grow in the time we’ve been here,” Conrad said.
“There’s a lot more activity, a lot more life, a lot more energy in Mandurah.
“It’s a beautiful part of the world and I pinch myself every day that I’m here.
“For all those people who write Mandurah, they need to come down and see that’s it’s moved on.”
“We’re really grateful that the promotional footage, the ads which have hit the television has made Mandurah look absolutely spectacular,” Liam said.
“They’ve piqued everyone’s interest.
“Whether you’re interested in reality TV or cooking shows, Mandurah is a sight to be seen, period. End of story.
“Regardless of what’s going on, this is a place which might be worth a look – speaking from an interstate perspective.”
