Bio

Darren Purchese is one of the most sought after, creative and respected chefs working in Australia today, he is renowned for his exquisite and extravagant sweet & savoury creations.

Darren and his wife Cath are behind Studio Kitchen, the popular recipe and food news platform found online.

While working in five star kitchens across England and France, Darren was invited, in 2004 to appear at Brisbane Masterclass Weekend. It was his first visit to Australia... and it was where he first met his future wife, Melbourne chef and restaurateur, Cath Claringbold.

After making a permanent move Darren worked as executive pastry chef at some of the best Australian restaurants. Vue de monde in Melbourne, Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House and Fenix among them. During this time he also consulted to many restaurants and businesses in Australia and overseas including Madrid, London & Singapore.

In 2011 he and Cath opened the much loved and now much missed dessert & cake business Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio on Chapel Street.

At B&P, Darren further cemented his reputation as a chef who skillfully balances flavour, texture, and presentation. He paired this skills with modern techniques and traditional methods, to produce revolutionary dessert concepts. B&P closed in 2023 to allow Cath & Darren to concentrate on their next venture together Studio Kitchen.

His sweet centrepieces have been in demand at some of Australia’s most prestigious events, The Australian F1 Grand Prix, The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, NGV Gala and Logies have all enjoyed Darren’s show stopping cakes and desserts.

Darren has presented his sweet vision at food festivals and symposiums in this country and across the globe. He has presented alongside culinary icons such as Nigella Lawson, David Chang, Jordi Roca, Alex Atala and many, many more as a headliner at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival and Crave Sydney.

An equally successful career in food media including, becoming a regular fixture on the TV global smash Masterchef Australia, means that Darren is in constant demand. He has hundreds of hours of TV experience and hosted countless cooking segments across all major Australian TV networks.

In 2022 Darren was announced as co-judge on the popular FOXTEL Original show The Great Australian Bake Off working alongside Rachel Khoo.

Darren is an accomplished food writer having contributed to major food publications all over the world and is the author of five cookbooks; Sweet Studio - The Art of Divine Desserts, Lamingtons & Lemon Tart, Chefs Eat Toasties Too, Chefs Host Christmas Too and Chefs Eat Breakfast Too. His work has been published all over the world and translated into many languages.

Outside of the kitchen Darren is an inspirational business leader, a natural host and accomplished public speaker.

Darren is passionate about many causes and has led fundraising as a proud ambassador for the following charities:

My Room Children's Cancer Charity

ASRC - Asylum Seekers Resource Centre

Darren is also a proud ambassador of the AFL team Sydney Swans.

Food Lover, Craftsman & Happy Cook

“Working with food really is the best life ever. I have been lucky enough to have worked in kitchens all over the world. Some were small and humble and some were the best in the biz. Anywhere you find me though, if there is a stove, an oven or a work bench I am totally in my element and completely happy. I love to cook for others and love to pass on my knowledge to those keen to improve. I also love that I am constantly learning more about food, cuisines and the important things in life, every single day I step into a kitchen.”

Darren