Justin Narayan facts for kids

Justin Narayan is an Australian television cook and youth pastor who is famous for winning the popular cooking show MasterChef Australia in 2021. He is known for his creative dishes that mix flavors from his Fijian and Indian family background.

A Passion for Cooking from a Young Age

Justin Narayan was born in Sydney, Australia. His family has roots in both Fiji and India, which gave him a rich cultural background. This mix of cultures had a big impact on his cooking style.

He discovered his love for cooking when he was just 13 years old. Justin often says that his family, especially his mother, inspired many of the amazing dishes he creates.

From Youth Pastor to TV Chef

Before becoming a famous chef, Justin worked as a youth pastor. This is a person who helps and guides young people in their community. He worked for an organization called Try Alpha.

In 2018, he also tried acting and appeared in a short film called Rash Decision. But his biggest step into the spotlight was when he joined MasterChef Australia.

Winning MasterChef Australia

In 2021, Justin became one of the 24 contestants on MasterChef Australia. Throughout the competition, he impressed the judges with his unique cooking. He often combined traditional Indian flavors with cooking styles from around the world, a technique known as fusion cooking. Some of his standout dishes included Indian chicken tacos and a special poached fish with curry broth.

The final challenge was incredibly intense. Justin and the other two finalists, Pete Campbell and Kishwar Chowdhury, had to recreate two very difficult dishes made by the famous chef Peter Gilmore. They had five hours to cook both a savory dish and a dessert.

• Justin's Performance: Justin's first dish, a squid entrée, received great comments from the judges. His dessert was a little under-baked, but all the parts were there.
• The Results: In the end, Justin's skill earned him a total score of 125 points. He won the competition by just one point, beating Pete Campbell who scored 124.

With his victory, Justin won $250,000 and became the second person of Indian heritage to win MasterChef Australia.

Using His Fame to Help Others

After his big win, Justin announced his plans for the prize money. He wanted to use it to continue his education and to start a food business, like a food truck or a small restaurant. He said his goal was to share the Indian flavors he grew up with.

More importantly, he planned to use some of his profits to help children in poor communities in India. He wanted to support their education and make sure they had enough to eat.

Justin also planned to work with an organization in Mumbai called Vision Rescue. This group helps children in need by providing food, education, and a safe place to live. It also helps women who have been through very difficult situations.

In May 2023, Justin shared that he had already donated most of his prize money to help people, showing his commitment to making a difference.