Darren Purchese

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,{{cite magazine|title=The Acorns 2004|url=http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/articles/27/7/2004/53082/the-acorns-2004.htm|magazine=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=27 July 2004|access-date=19 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054354/http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/articles/27/7/2004/53082/the-acorns-2004.htm|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}} an award for 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{{cite news|title=Cafe Vue – Restaurant Review|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/restaurant-reviews/cafe-vue/2006/11/06/1162661606242.html | work=The Age|location=Melbourne|first=Matt|last=Preston|author-link=Matt Preston|date=7 November 2006}} and Bistro Vue businesses.{{cite web |title=Bistro Vue – Melbourne Restaurant Review |url=http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/restaurants/restaurant-reviews/2007/10/bistro-vue,-melbourne-restaurant-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921071607/http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/restaurants/restaurant-reviews/2007/10/bistro-vue%2C-melbourne-restaurant-review/ |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}

Since being in Australia Purchese has also worked as pastry chef for Gary Mehigan at his then restaurant Fenix,{{cite news|title=Espresso Mar 20 2007 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/espresso-20100217-oaw6.html |work=The Age|location=Melbourne |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921062950/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/espresso-20100217-oaw6.html |archive-date=21 September 2013 }} as pastry chef at Bennelong Restaurant situated in the iconic Sydney Opera House.{{cite news|title=Espresso-20100217 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/espresso-20100217-obf8.html |work=The Age|location=Melbourne |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054116/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/espresso-20100217-obf8.html |archive-date=21 September 2013 }} 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 presented Masterclasses at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2010 and 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/get-inspired/stars/darren-purchese-139|title=Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Stars|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054421/http://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au/get-inspired/stars/darren-purchese-139|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://mediaxpress.com.au/images/PDF/WCSPROGRAM.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055245/http://mediaxpress.com.au/images/PDF/WCSPROGRAM.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-09-21|title=WCSPROGRAM}}

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.{{Cite web |title=South Yarra's Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio Is Closing Next Month |url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/south-yarras-burch-burchese-sweet-studio-closing-next-month |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Broadsheet}}

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.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The business was regularly featured in television appearances including a special Neighbours episode,{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}.

B&P featured in the 'Best Cake Shops' section in local and international travel guides.{{Cite web |title=7 Confectionaries Every Person With a Sweet Tooth Should Visit|author=Amanda Gabriele|date=20 December 2018|url=https://matadornetwork.com/read/confectionaries-world-visit/|access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Matador Network}}

Purchese regularly appears on Australian television most notably on Foxtel's 'The Great Australian Bake Off' and Network 10's MasterChef Australia{{cite web|title=Masterchef Australia Official Site Guest Chefs|url=http://www.masterchef.com.au/guest-chef-p-r.htm}} 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{{cite web|title=Visit Victoria Episode 1 |url=http://www.visitvictoria.com/Postcards-home/Postcards-2012/Episode-1-11-February |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060007/http://www.visitvictoria.com/Postcards-home/Postcards-2012/Episode-1-11-February |archive-date=21 September 2013 }} Seven and the ABC.{{cite web|title=ABC Arts|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/arts/stories/s3370586.htm}} Purchese also appeared in a cameo role in the television series Neighbours in 2015. and again in 2018.{{cite tweet|user=DarrenPurchese|author=Darren Purchese|number=641796304176156672|date=10 September 2015|title=It's on! @neighbours @NeighboursTV @burchpurchese #neighbours #bucketlist}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-17 |title=Here's What's Still To Come On 10 In 2024 |url=https://10play.com.au/10-play-trending/articles/heres-whats-still-to-come-on-10-in-2024/tpa240516bhvie |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=10 play}}

Purchese has written five cook books:

• Sweet Studio – The Art of Divine Desserts Murdoch Books (2012) {{ISBN|978-1-742663-37-1}}
• Lamingtons & Lemon Tart Hardie Grant Books (2016) {{ISBN|978-1-743791-86-8}}
• Chefs Eat Toasties Too – A Pro's Guide To Reinventing Your Sandwich Game Hardie Grant Books (2017) {{ISBN|978-1-743793-05-3}}
• Chefs Host Christmas Too – A Cook's Guide To Blitzing The Holiday Season Hardie Grant Books (2018) {{ISBN|978-1-743794-78-4}}
• Chefs Eat Breakfast Too – An Expert's Guide To Starting The Day Right Hardie Grant Books (2019) {{ISBN|978-1-743794-85-2}}

Chefs Eat Toasties Too has been translated and distributed internationally under the following publishers:

• Tasty Tosti's Luitingh-Sijthoff (2018) {{ISBN|978-90-245-81-19-1}}
• Sefkuchari Take Miluji Tousty Metafora (2018) {{ISBN|978-80-7359-561-6}}
• Chefs Eat Melts Too Hardie Grant Books (2018) {{ISBN|978-1-74379-459-3}}

Purchese has contributed recipes to a number of cook books as a guest contributor, some of the books include:

• The Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook (2015) {{ISBN|978-1-743537-84-8}}
• ''Forage – A Culinary Journey Through Victoria (2015)

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.[https://myroom.com.au/#/ambassadors "My Room Ambassadors"], myroom.com.au

In April 2023 Purchese was announced as brand ambassador for the Victorian-based business and cheese producer That's Amore Cheese.{{Cite web |title=Welcoming Darren Purchese as our That's Amore Cheese brand ambassador! |url=https://thatsamorecheese.com.au/blogs/news/welcoming-darren-purchese-as-our-thats-amore-cheese-brand-ambassador |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=That's Amore Cheese}}

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.{{cite web|title=Introducing The New Connoisseur |url=https://www.connoisseuricecream.com.au/australian-collection/introducing-the-new-connoisseur-australian-collection/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054511/https://www.connoisseuricecream.com.au/australian-collection/introducing-the-new-connoisseur-australian-collection/ |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}

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{{official website|https://www.darrenpurchese.com/}}

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Category:People from Guildford

Category:Australian television chefs

Category:Living people

Category:1975 births

Category:Writers from Melbourne

Category:Pastry chefs

Category:Australian cookbook writers

Category:Chocolatiers

Category:English expatriates in Australia