Darren Purchese on Dessert Masters
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“Eye-opener”: Darren Purchese on going from a judge to a Dessert Masters contestant

In an exclusive interview, Darren Purchese explained what it was like being on the other side of the bench.

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WRITTEN BY Danica Baker / Edited BY Danica Baker
11 October 2024 , 5 minutes to read

After spending years as a cooking show judge, Darren Purchese is transitioning to a contestant on Dessert Masters 2024.

Darren joined The Great Australian Bake Off as a judge in 2024 and has been a regular guest chef and judge on MasterChef Australia for over a decade.

However, on Dessert Masters 2024, Darren will join the contestants on the other side of the bench, something he told us was an “eye-opener.”

Darren Purchese on MasterChef. Image: Ten.

“I believe I’ve set more pressure tests than any other chef on MasterChef Australia. So, being on the other side was a bit of an eye-opener,” he said in an exclusive interview with Chattr.

“I think next time I make it back in the MasterChef kitchen setting a pressure test, I might be a little bit more gentle because I now know what it feels like when you’re standing on the other side of the bench,” he laughed.

The acclaimed pastry chef added that it was “daunting” being judged on his dessert creations.

“You put your heart and soul into a dish, and you want to make sure that everyone loves it, and in that moment before they say whether they like it or not, you’ve got all of these feelings. So, it certainly was an eye-opener for me,” he said.

Darren Purchese on how stressful the Dessert Masters kitchen is

With impressive gigs under his belt, like being the pastry chef at Bennelong Restaurant and presenting Masterclasses at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, one might think a stint as a contestant on Dessert Masters would be a breeze for Darren.

“I was stressed,” Darren said, adding that “You’re going to see worry and stress [on my face].”

He added that he was blown away by the creations produced in the Dessert Masters 2024 kitchen.

“You’re going to see happiness. You’re going to see me thinking on my feet —as well as the other chefs—and you’re going to see absolutely amazing desserts. You’re going to see things that you’ve never seen before.

“I’ve been around pastry kitchen for 30 years, and I was seeing things that I haven’t seen before. So I’m pretty sure the audience is going to be inspired to see 10 of the best pastry chefs in Australia create absolutely magic.”

The excitement is real!

Dessert Masters 2024 airs on October 14 at 7:30pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.

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