Darren Purchese facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darren Purchese
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| Born | 3 February 1975 Guildford, Surrey, England, UK
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| Nationality | Australian |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Notable work
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Sweet Studio – The Art of Divine Desserts, Lamingtons & Lemon Tart, Chefs Eat Toasties Too, Chefs Host Christmas Too, Chefs Eat Breakfast Too |
| Television | The Great Australian Bake Off |
| Spouse(s) | Cath Claringbold |
Darren Purchese was born on 3 February 1975. He is a famous Australian chef, author, and TV star. He is well-known for creating Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, a popular cake and dessert shop in Melbourne, Australia.
Darren often appears as a guest chef on the TV show MasterChef Australia. In 2023, he also became a judge on The Great Australian Bake Off.
Contents
Darren Purchese's Career Journey
Becoming a Pastry Chef
Darren Purchese started his cooking career in 1997. He joined the pastry team at the famous Savoy Hotel in London. There, he learned a lot about making desserts and baked goods. He worked his way up to become a senior pastry chef.
In 2000, Darren became the head pastry chef at the Goring Hotel. Later, he worked at Raffles Brown's Hotel and the Bentley Hotel. While at the Bentley Hotel, he won an Acorn Award. This award celebrates promising young people under 30 in the UK's hospitality industry.
In 2004, Darren visited Australia for a cooking event. He met Cath Claringbold, a chef from Melbourne, who later became his wife. Darren moved to Melbourne in 2005. He became the head pastry chef at Vue de Monde, a top restaurant. During his time there, the restaurant won many awards. He also helped with the pastry sections of Cafe Vue and Bistro Vue.
Darren has also worked at other famous places in Australia. These include Fenix restaurant and Bennelong Restaurant, which is inside the iconic Sydney Opera House. He has also helped many high-end restaurants as a chef consultant.
Darren often appears at food events and festivals in Australia. He has given special cooking classes at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. In 2012, he presented at the World Chef Showcase in Sydney, alongside other famous chefs from around the world.
Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio
In April 2011, Darren Purchese opened his own dessert shop called Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio. It was located on Chapel Street in Melbourne, a popular area for shopping and dining. The Sweet Studio sold many different kinds of cakes and desserts. Darren owned and ran the shop with his wife, Cath Claringbold. The shop was open for 12 years and closed in April 2023.
Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio created amazing desserts for big events in Melbourne. These included The Birdcage at the Spring Racing Carnival, the Australian Grand Prix, and the Logie Awards. They also made desserts for the National Gallery of Victoria ball.
The Sweet Studio was often shown on TV, including a special episode of the TV show Neighbours. It was also featured in travel guides as one of the 'Best Cake Shops'.
Darren Purchese on Television
Darren Purchese is a familiar face on Australian TV. He is a regular guest chef and judge on Foxtel's 'The Great Australian Bake Off'. He also appears often on Network 10's MasterChef Australia. He has been on MasterChef Australia All-Stars and Junior Masterchef too.
Darren was a regular chef on Network 10's The Circle and Scope. He has also appeared on many travel and lifestyle shows on other channels like SBS, Nine Network, Seven, and ABC. He even had a small role in the TV series Neighbours in 2015 and again in 2018.
In August 2022, Darren was announced as a new judge for the seventh season of The Great Australian Bake Off. This season started in Australia in June 2023. In May 2024, Network 10 shared that Darren will be a contestant on the second season of Dessert Masters.
Books Written by Darren Purchese
Darren Purchese has written five cookbooks. These books share his amazing recipes and cooking tips:
- Sweet Studio – The Art of Divine Desserts (2012) ISBN: 978-1-742663-37-1
- Lamingtons & Lemon Tart (2016) ISBN: 978-1-743791-86-8
- Chefs Eat Toasties Too – A Pro's Guide To Reinventing Your Sandwich Game (2017) ISBN: 978-1-743793-05-3
- Chefs Host Christmas Too – A Cook's Guide To Blitzing The Holiday Season (2018) ISBN: 978-1-743794-78-4
- Chefs Eat Breakfast Too – An Expert's Guide To Starting The Day Right (2019) ISBN: 978-1-743794-85-2
His book Chefs Eat Toasties Too has been translated into other languages and sold around the world. Darren has also shared his recipes in other cookbooks, like:
- The Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook (2015) ISBN: 978-1-743537-84-8
- Forage – A Culinary Journey Through Victoria (2015)
Brand Partnerships and Charity Work
Darren Purchese is an ambassador for the Sydney Swans, an AFL (Australian Rules Football) club.
He is also very involved in charity work. He is an ambassador for the Cancer Council Australia and My Room Children's Cancer Charity. These charities help people, especially children, who are affected by cancer.
In April 2023, Darren became a brand ambassador for That's Amore Cheese, a cheese producer in Victoria. In 2012, he worked with Connoisseur, an Australian ice cream company. He helped them create a new ice cream flavor called "Murray River Salted Caramel Swirl with Chocolate Coated Toasted Hazelnuts." This flavor was sold in Australia in 2012 and 2013.
Images for kids
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Darren Purchese at a Foxtel event.
