| Darren Purchese | |
| Birth Date: | 3 February 1975 |
| Birth Place: | Guildford, Surrey, England, UK |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Years Active: | 1995–present |
| Notable Works: | 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: | Cath Claringbold |
Darren Purchese (born 3 February 1975) is an Australian chef, author and television personality. He is the creator of the popular cake and dessert business, Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, in Melbourne, Australia. Purchese is a regular guest chef on Network 10's MasterChef Australia. He is a judge on The Great Australian Bake Off 2023 season.[1]
In 1997, Purchese joined the pastry department at the Savoy Hotel and worked under pastry chef William Curley in the main pastry department, the bakery and in the River Restaurant. He worked his way to the position of senior pastry chef before moving to the Goring Hotel in 2000 as head pastry chef. In 2002, he moved to Raffles Brown's Hotel in Mayfair as pastry chef of '1837' restaurant where he stayed until 2003. He then moved to the Bentley Hotel in Knightsbridge as executive pastry chef. It was during his time at the Bentley Hotel that he received an Acorn Award from the magazine Caterer and Hotelkeeper[2] awarded to the most promising persons under the age of 30 in the UK hospitality industry.
In 2004 while working in London, Purchese was invited to present as a guest chef at The Brisbane Masterclass Weekend in Queensland, Australia. It was here that Purchese met his future wife Cath Claringbold, a Melbourne chef and restaurateur. Purchese returned to Australia, this time to Melbourne, in 2005 and began working for Shannon Bennett at his Vue de Monde restaurant as head pastry chef. During Purchese's time at Vue de Monde, the restaurant received '3 Chef's Hats' in The Age Good Food Guide and Best Restaurant in the Gourmet Traveller Magazine. Purchese also oversaw the pastry department in the newly opened Cafe Vue[3] and Bistro Vue businesses.[4]
Since being in Australia Purchese has also worked as pastry chef for Gary Mehigan at his then restaurant Fenix,[5] as pastry chef at Bennelong Restaurant situated in the iconic Sydney Opera House.[6] Purchese has also acted as chef consultant to many high end restaurants and food businesses.
Purchese regularly appears as a guest chef at many Australian food events and festivals, he has presented two Masterclasses at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2010 and 2012.[7] Purchese presented a Masterclass at the World Chef Showcase at the 2012 Crave Sydney food festival alongside illustrious chefs such as Antonio Carluccio, Jordi Roca, Christina Tosi, Massimo Bottura and Jason Atherton.[8]
In April 2011 Purchese opened Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio on Melbourne's shopping, dining and entertainment precinct Chapel Street. Sweet Studio was primarily a retail space producing cakes and desserts of various flavours and sizes. It was owned and operated by Purchese and his wife Cath Claringbold and ran for 12 years before closing the doors in April 2023.[9]
During the course of the business, B&P made and installed desserts for events in Melbourne including The Birdcage at the Spring Racing Carnival, the Australian Grand Prix, the Logie Awards, National Gallery of Victoria ball and much more.
The business was regularly featured in television appearances including a special Neighbours episode,.
B&P featured in the ‘Best Cake Shops’ section in local and international travel guides.[10]
Purchese regularly appears on Australian television most notably on Foxtel's 'The Great Australian Bake Off' and Network 10's MasterChef Australia[11] where he has regularly appeared as a guest chef and judge. Purchese has also appeared in episodes of MasterChef Australia All-Stars and Junior Masterchef.
Purchese was also a regular chef presenter on Network 10's The Circle and Scope. He has appeared on numerous travel and lifestyle programs on SBS, Nine Network[12] Seven and the ABC.[13] Purchese also appeared in a cameo role in the television series Neighbours in 2015. and again in 2018.[14] In August 2022, Purchese was named as a new judge for the seventh season of the television baking series The Great Australian Bake Off. The season premiered in Australia in June 2023.
In May 2024, Network 10 announced that Purchese was set to appear as a contestant on the forthcoming second season of Dessert Masters.[15]
Purchese has written five cook books:
Chefs Eat Toasties Too has been translated and distributed internationally under the following publishers:
Purchese has contributed recipes to a number of cook books as a guest contributor, some of the books include:
Purchese is an ambassador for the AFL Club Sydney Swans.
Purchese is actively involved in charity work and is an ambassador for the Cancer Council Australia and My Room Children's Cancer Charity.[16]
In April 2023 Purchese was announced as brand ambassador for the Victorian based business and cheese producer That's Amore Cheese.[17]
In 2012 Purchese collaborated with Connoisseur, an Australian ice cream producer, to design a new flavour to promote their "Uniquely Australian" range. Murray River Salted Caramel Swirl with Chocolate Coated Toasted Hazelnuts was offered on the Australian market in 2012/2013.[18]