If not for the inspiration provided by his mum’s homemade sausage rolls, Curtis Stone could have ended up following his childhood dream and playing AFL for his beloved Geelong Cats. He’s certainly built more like a footballer than your average TV star, but Curtis, 35, has found fame and fortune on the back of ruggedly handsome looks and a universally appealing larrikin charm in another arena – as a star in the kitchen.

He is, quite simply, the sort of bloke women would love to take home to Mum for a lamb roast… even better if he took charge of cooking it! And most men would be happy to shout him a beer. Unfortunately for all his female fans, Curtis has already given his heart to US actress Lindsay Price, 34, and they are preparing to welcome their first baby. “We couldn’t be more excited,” says Curtis, who admits he is “absolutely stoked”. “You don’t realise how unbelievable it is going to feel until it actually happens. We are over the moon.”

He reckons falling in love with Lindsay is the icing on the cake in his life journey. “Family is the most important thing to the both of us,” he says. “We look forward to welcoming our ‘bun in the oven’ into the world and teaching the little one to cook! It’s a good place to be.”

The two haven’t yet found out the sex of their baby, but whether it’s a boy or a girl, this bump probably already has an enviable palate, given his parents fell in love over the dinner table. “I do cook for Lindsay and I cook for her a lot,” Curtis says. “We’re pretty chilled-out and natural and we spend a lot of time outside and travelling. Food is a huge part of our life and our house has always been a food house, whether it’s testing recipes or entertaining. We love to entertain.”

Read more about Curtis Stone and get the recipe for his Lamb skewers with Moroccan yoghurt marinade, Oprah’s favourite recipe, in this week's Woman's Day, on sale July 25, 2011.