Darren Purchese
Chef
Pastry chef and author most well known for his regular appearances on MasterChef Australia and MasterChef Australia All-Stars. He is well recognized as a presenter for The Circle and for his 2012 book Sweet Studio - The Art of Divine Desserts. He also owns the Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio in Melbourne, Australia.
He began his career in 1997 as a pastry chef at the Savoy Hotel. He then continued to move up the chain of pastry chefs at the Goring Hotel, Brown's Hotel, and Bentley Hotel.
He made a cameo in a 2015 episode of the long running soap opera Neighbours.
He married Cath Claringbold and eventually settled in Melbourne, Australia.
He worked as a pastry chef for Gary Mehigan's restaurant Fenix.