Justin Narayan facts for kids

Justin Narayan is an Australian chef and former youth pastor. He has a background from both Fiji and India. He became famous for winning MasterChef Australia in 2021.

Early Life and Cooking Journey

Justin Narayan was born in Sydney, Australia. His family has roots in both Fiji and India. He started cooking when he was 13 years old. Justin often says that his family inspires most of his amazing dishes.

Justin's Career Path

Before joining MasterChef Australia, Justin worked as a youth pastor. He helped young people through an organization called Try Alpha.

He also had a small acting role in a short movie called Rash Decision in 2018.

Becoming a MasterChef

Justin was chosen as one of the top 24 contestants for MasterChef Australia 2021. This is a popular TV show where people compete to show off their cooking skills.

On July 13, 2021, Justin was announced as the winner! He beat the other finalists, Pete Campbell and Kishwar Chowdhury. Justin won a big prize of $250,000.

During the show, Justin showed off his unique cooking style. He often mixed Indian flavors with dishes from around the world. Some of his creative meals included poached fish with curry broth, Indian chicken tacos, and Indian chicken curry.

The Grand Final Challenge

In the final challenge, the top three contestants had to recreate two dishes. These dishes were made by a famous chef named Peter Gilmore. The challenge was tough, and they had only five hours to cook.

Justin's savory dish, a squid entrée, got great reviews from the judges. His dessert was a little under-baked, but he had all the right ingredients. In the end, Justin scored 125 points. This was just one point more than Pete Campbell (124 points) and more than Kishwar Chowdhury (114 points). This close win made him the champion!

Justin Narayan is the second person of Indian background to win MasterChef Australia. The first was Sashi Cheliah, who was a prison guard before his win.

After Winning MasterChef

After his big win, Justin shared his plans for the $250,000 prize money. He wanted to use it to continue his education.

He also dreams of opening his own food truck or restaurant. This place would serve the delicious Indian flavors he grew up with. A special part of his plan is to donate some of his profits. He wants to help feed and educate children living in difficult areas in India.

Justin also plans to work with Vision Rescue, an organization in Mumbai. This group helps children in need. It was started in 2004 by Biju Thampy. They began by offering food to children near the Mahim Junction Railway Station.

In May 2023, Justin shared that he had donated most of his prize money to help others. The rest of the money went into investments for his future.