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Mary’s Kitchen Crush showcases Mary Berg’s cooking skills and heart

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When I first met Mary Berg, it was to shadow her during her MasterChef Canada Season 3 audition. As we spoke that day, I was struck by her enthusiasm and passion for food, and her humour. She went on to show that during MasterChef Canada, eventually winning Season 3. We reconnected during the filming of Berg’s first television series, Mary’s Kitchen Crush, and she hasn’t changed one bit.

Debuting on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, Mary’s Kitchen Crush has Berg’s touches all over it, from the recipes she makes—three to four originals per episode inspired by someone who has made a meaningful impact on her life—to the show’s set, sprinkled with photos and other personal items. In the first episode, it’s Berg’s mother, Myra, who arrives to enjoy the fruits of her daughter’s labour via an herb and garlic stuffed lamb tenderloin with oven-roasted asparagus, garlic and herb flatbread, and a strawberry-rhubarb galette for dessert.

“The reason I did catering was that I just wanted to share my food with people outside of my own kitchen,” Berg says during a break in filming last year. “The fact that I get to share my recipes with people through different avenues is really exciting.”

The program’s production company, Proper Television, is smart to let Berg be her charming, geeky self, madly waving her arms around (and uttering some truly bad jokes) as she creates tasty plates that are accessible and easy for home cooks. Thirty episodes of Mary’s Kitchen Crush were filmed—with a total of roughly 145 recipes—over a two-month production schedule.

“I’m a little bit of a Type-A personality and a control freak,” Berg says with a laugh. “It was basically me sitting in a barcalounger at my cottage writing and working.” Berg wrote all of the recipes, tested about half herself and tested the rest with the show’s culinary team. The goal is for the recipes to work and for viewers to actually make them. And while she loves nothing better than to spend an entire Sunday tweaking a recipe, Berg knows home cooks simply don’t have that time.

“All of the recipes for this show, and anything that I’m developing in general, I think, ‘Could my mother do this?'” Berg says. “She’s not great in the kitchen, and if Myra Berg can do it anybody can do it.”

Mary’s Kitchen Crush airs Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Image courtesy of Bell Media.

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With love, from Mary… CTV’s new original culinary series Mary’s Kitchen Crush premieres April 28

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From a media release:

Full of food, friends, and fun, CTV today announced that its delectable new series MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH drops into CTV’s midseason schedule and on Crave Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/PT beginning April 28. Viewers will get a second helping of the series with a bonus digital-only episode available on CTV digital platforms including CTV.ca and the CTV app, CTV’s YouTube™ page, and CTV, THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW, YOUR MORNING, and Gusto Facebook pages, as well as Bravo.ca and MTV.ca. Canadians can also enjoy the bonus episode on CTV On Demand via set-top box with applicable TV service providers.

Hosted by Canada’s culinary sweetheart and MASTERCHEF CANADA winner Mary Berg, the all-new series showcases Berg’s culinary skill and creativity with original recipes inspired by someone who has made a meaningful impact on her life. The premiere of MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH follows the return of MASTERCHEF CANADA, airing Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning Monday, April 8. Viewers can then stream episodes anytime on CTV.ca and the CTV app.

With a pinch of humour and a dash of kindness, Berg’s meals are like an edible love letter for her family members and close friends. Each meal is motivated by a story which connects back to the episode’s special guest. Memories of family trips to South Carolina spur a Southern feast, while a French-themed menu is created after Berg and a friend dreamt of jetting off to Paris.

Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, a sports game, or just expressing gratitude for a loved one, MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH is filled with recipes for every occasion. As Berg prepares the meal, she guides viewers through the recipe, offering up plenty of helpful tips and takeaways. The guests in each episode then join Berg to enjoy the final meal. Following each episode, viewers can visit CTV.ca for full written and video recipes featured on the show including video extras “Mary in a Minute,” “Mary Crushes,” and “Mary’s Mantras,” which feature Berg as she dishes on her tastiest meals and kitchen hacks. Viewers can also visit the recipe hub on TheLoop.ca for details on all of Berg’s delicious dishes.

Joining the series this season as sponsors are Starbucks at Home and Dawn Ultra Dish Liquid, who will produce custom content around the series featuring Mary Berg.

Berg’s impressive culinary journey took off after capturing the title of MASTERCHEF CANADA. She can be seen regularly as a food expert on CTV’s YOUR MORNING and THE MARILYN DENIS SHOW, and can be found developing recipes for shows, food, beverage brands, and her blog A Small Stove. Berg’s first cookbook, Kitchen Party, is set to be published in September 2019.

From the kitchen to the table, in the first episode of MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH, “Mary Loves Myra” airing Sunday, April 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, Myra Berg is not just an amazing mom, she’s also Mary’s #1 fan! To thank her mom for all of her love and support, Mary gives Myra a giant food hug with a fresh and flavourful spin on her favourite dish.

A CTV Original Production, MARY’S KITCHEN CRUSH is produced by Proper Television (MASTERCHEF CANADA), a division of Boat Rocker Studios, in association with CTV. Cathie James, Allison Grace, and Lesia Capone serve as Executive Producers and Garrett Wintrip as Series Producer.

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