3am starts and recipe testing: Adam Liaw on what it's actually like filming a cooking show.

Adam Liaw has been a staple on Australian TV for years now – and he's been a fan favourite with audiences throughout it all. 

The long-time cook, television presenter and author has been making waves thanks to his show The Cook Up with Adam Liaw on SBS Food. Liaw is joined by chefs, cooks, celebrities and personalities every episode and together, they make a variety of dishes, while sharing their best tips and tricks. 

It makes for a fabulous and friendly half-hour of food inspiration for foodies and non-foodies alike. Yum!

Now in its fourth season, Liaw tells Mamamia that it's fabulous to work on a show that's "become part of the nightly routine for so many people around the country."

But what is it actually like to film a cooking show? 

For the whole team, it begins bright and early considering three to four episodes of the show are filmed each day.

"The setup team arrives around 3am to start the setup of the studio at the beginning of the week and build the kitchen (it gets taken apart and rebuilt every week!) and set up the lighting. Then, the on-set crew arrives around 7am," Liaw says. 

"I get there around 6:30am and go through scripts and recipes, chat to my guests and run through anything we need to with the food and production team."

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By the time 9am rolls around, The Cook Up with Adam Liaw is ready to hit record – and from there it runs nice and smooth, finishing up around 5pm.

And, considering the delicious dishes cooked each episode – from barramundi cooked in banana leaves to salt and pepper pork – there actually aren't that many leftovers usually.

"We have a big crew who enjoy eating the food we cook, but each day I will choose a dish that we cook that I can take home for my family dinner," Liaw tells Mamamia.

"It's a show about home cooking after all."

Despite us at home only really seeing Liaw and his guests for the episode, there's a team of around 70 people that make it come to life. And that's what viewers at home are most often surprised about, according to Liaw. 

"People are always surprised at how big a production it is. We try to make a simple show that looks like it could just have been filmed at my house, but it's a big studio with dozens and dozens of people working on it at any given time."

As for hair and makeup, Liaw says the simpler the better.

"There's not much for me really. I try to do as much as I can myself to take the pressure off the SBS Wardrobe and hair and makeup teams. I just tie my hair back and away we go."

Other than filming, there's A LOT of prep behind the scenes. As Liaw tells Mamamia, discussions about guest options start months before the camera crew hits record.

"There's working out themes, bios, scripts and liaising on recipes. Once we set our menu, we work with the food team to make sure that filming on the day goes as smoothly as possible," Liaw says. 

And when it comes to some of Adam's favourite guests, it's hard to narrow down.

Image: Supplied. 

In season four, we will get to see food icons such as Colin Fassnidge and Elizabeth Chong, and familiar faces like Collette Dinnigan, Myf Warhurst and Joel the Butcher – just to name a few.

It's the conversations with his guests and learning their cooking and life tips that Liaw says he loves most.

"I love that I can chat with someone like Collette Dinnigan about how to make a great risotto and also get some styling tips as well. This season I love chatting with Ben Shewry,  he's one of the best chefs in the world and I get to chat to him about how to make a great spaghetti bolognese."

And it's also about shining a light on diverse cultures and their food – something Liaw is really passionate about.

"We eat very multiculturally in Australia and it's great that a show like The Cook Up with Adam Liaw lets us learn about these different cuisines from people who grew up eating and cooking them their whole lives."

Image: Supplied. 

All in all, production, shooting and editing takes about nine months of the year to get a whole year's worth of episodes done.

It's hard work and dedication from the whole SBS Food team – but it's sure worth it for the end result.

"It's a lot of fun. The whole idea of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw is that it's just like having a couple of friends around for dinner – and that's just what it feels like on set," Liaw says.

And that's why it's such a hit with Aussie audiences – wholesome, home-cooked food made with people who have interesting stories.

"Very simply, I hope the show helps people cook better. Whether you take away a whole recipe, a little tip or just a new perspective on cooking that's the simple goal – better home cooking."

The new season of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw premiers Monday 20 February. Stream it on SBS On Demand or watch on SBS Food weeknights

Feature Image: Supplied/SBS Food.