The business was built aftter his first appearance on Masterchef.
Yes but this show is dedicated to Desserts which is really what his craft and specialty is, also a good promotion for his upcoming restaurant opening in Melbourne. You just can’t buy that sort of publicity.
Good. He can take his homophobic comments and stay out.
He did so many desserts on the show too. From back to win and season 7
What did he say?
Not sure your point, nobody is saying he didn’t? This series however is all about desserts, hence why he likely took part - and good timing for promotion of his upcoming new shop in Melbourne.
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Thanks, I think I do remember seeing this at the time. Not a great look, but was obviously a long time ago. We all live and learn
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Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon are back with a brand-new batch of some of the country’s best pastry chefs, dessert wizards and chocolatiers, battling it out to become the next Dessert Master, and win the $100,000 prize. MasterChef faves Emelia Jackson and Reece Hignell will be joined by acclaimed dessert stars like Darren Purchese and Katherine Sabbath along with many more sweet creatives we can’t wait to announce. Just take our advice and don’t watch the show while you’re hungry!
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Emelia Jackson could become the second person to win two MasterChef titles, after Billie McKay (season 7 and 14 of MasterChef Australia).
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We will wait and see
10 has posted on social media the photos of the first four contestants for season 2 in the MC kitchen.
Katherine says
THIS is the year I’m truly challenging myself! I’m beyond ecstatic to announce I’ll be joining Dessert Masters Season 2 – coming to your screens later this year on @channel10au & @10playau!
Swipe to see 3 of my BRILLIANT fellow contestants. I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of the sweet creatives who will be joining us in the kitchen…Stay tuned!
Emelia says
Shessssssssssss BACK! honestly at this point they can’t keep me out of that kitchen!
So excited to bake my little heart out later on in the year on Dessert Masters - coming to a channel 10 near you
Melissa posted on her Insta this afternoon.
SWEET!
The chocolate god himself, @amauryguichon and I, are back for #DessertMastersAU in 2024 on @channel10au @paramountplusau.
A whole new host of seriously talented pastry professionals show us what they’re made of, and believe me when I say they came to play!
Stay tuned as we reveal who they are…
In an interview with News Corp’s James Wigney on new SBS observational series The Hospital: In the Deep End, Melissa said she had already completed filming on the second season of Dessert Masters. She also said she filmed her part in the SBS documentary last year, in between her final season on MasterChef and the first season of Dessert Masters.
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From TV Tonight’s programmer’s wrap with Paramount ANZ SVP Content and Programming Daniel Monaghan
Instead 10 has scheduled Deal or No Deal’s celebrity specials from July 22, during the first week of the Olympics.
I wonder what causes the change of plans?
The show rated well for 10 last season. I wouldn’t waste it up against the Olympics.
Agree, always thought this was crazy. Would get hammered up against the Olympics and too close to MasterChef. Glad they’ve come to their senses as they really need high rating content at the back half of the year.
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I noticed that 10 weren’t promoting this and are promoting Hunted as starting after the Olympics.
It’s probably the case because they’ve cancelled a few shows (Like Bachelors/Masked Singer/Traitors) that they would have some gaps later in the year if they aired Dessert Masters now and it could be wasted against the Olympics. So better off airing filler during the Olympics and pushing some things out a bit later in the year.
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Meet Our New Batch Of Sweet Specialists.
Dessert Masters. Coming Soon To 10 And 10 Play.
Have you been craving something sweet? Well, we have a treat for you, because it’s time to meet the 10 highly acclaimed pastry chefs, dessert wizards and cake connoisseurs who will be joining Dessert Masters 2024.
Delighted to welcome our new batch of dessert stars to the kitchen and critique the most mind-blowing desserts we have ever seen, are judges Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon.
Melissa Leong said: “I could not be more thrilled with the calibre of this season’s Dessert Masters line up! Building on our amazing first season, this year’s crop only further celebrates and showcases the diversity and creativity of Australia’s pastry scene. With sugar on top…of course!”
Without further ado, introducing the Dessert Masters class of 2024: Alisha Henderson, Christy Tania, Emelia Jackson, Dan Pasquali, Darren Purchese, Donato Toce, Jana Lai, John Demetrios, Katherine Sabbath and Reece Hignell.
Dessert Masters. Coming Soon To 10 And 10 Play.
Alisha Henderson @sweetbakes_
Alisha is known for her online business, Sweet Bakes, which offers a range of delicious cakes made for every occasion. Over the years, the following of her Sweet Bakes’ Instagram account grew rapidly and now reaches an audience of 228,000 followers. In 2023, Alisha co-founded the Co. Bake space, a premium event and activation space available for hire in the heart of Richmond, Victoria. Multi-talented, Alisha is also the author and illustrator of the Storybook Sweets, a series of children’s books which offers easy to follow recipes for kids.
Christy Tania @christytania
Originally from Indonesia, Christy is one of Australia’s most creative and inventive pastry chefs. In 2017, Christy launched GLACÉ – artisanal dessert stores across Melbourne that reinvented the way Australians see desserts. With credits including The Ritz Hotel in Paris and Head Chef at Om Nom at the Adelphi Hotel, Christy is also recognised from her appearance as a guest chef on MasterChef Australia. Christy is excited to dive back into cooking after becoming Mum to son Ben, now one.
Emelia Jackson @emelia_jackson
Emelia is widely recognised from her MasterChef Australia journey, placing third in 2014 (season 6) and returning to win MasterChef Australia: Back to Win in 2020 (season 12). Emelia has enjoyed great success following the launch of her first cookbook, First, Cream The Butter And Sugar: The Essential Baking Companion. Her second cookbook, Some Of My Best Friends Are Cookies is due for release late October 2024. Emelia is now mum to two young children, Addie and Mac.
Dan Pasquali @dansbakelab
Best known for his outrageously glittery cakes, Dan Pasquali is one of Australia’s most creative bakers. In 2019, he was the runner up in The Great Australian Bake Off, but won the hearts of the nation with his joyful persona. Dan shares his beautiful cakes on his popular Instagram account and can be found at cake conventions and pop ups. He has also appeared on Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield. Dan enjoys blending the old with the new and throwing in something that has not been imagined yet, to create a true show-stopper.
Darren Purchese @darrenpurchese
One of the most sought-after and respected chefs in Australia, Darren Purchese is renowned for his exquisite and extravagant sweet creations. Darren has appeared as a guest chef on MasterChef Australia many times, always bringing mesmerising dishes to the table. Training in the UK and France, Darren worked at Vue de monde and Bennelong, before co-founding Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio alongside wife Cath Claringbold, a dessert stalwart in Melbourne for over a decade. The pair have since launched recipe and food news platform, Studio Kitchen.
Donato Toce @donatotoce
Donato Toce is Gelato Messina’s Chief Creative Chef. The gelato doyen earned his stripes in Melbourne kitchens from the age of 13, before heading to Sydney in 2007 to work as Head Chef at hatted restaurant A Tavola. Donato would cross the road after close each night to enjoy Messina’s evolving creations, and it wasn’t long before Donato and Messina founder Nick Palumbo began collaborating on new ideas. Donato quickly established himself as the chief creative force behind the brand which now boasts 30 Australian stores, and one in Hong Kong.
Jana Lai @jana.lai
Pastry is in Jana Lai’s blood. Growing up in Melbourne, Jana remembers baking with her mum and grandfather, who was also a baker. Beginning her studies at William Angliss Institute in Melbourne, she travelled to Paris and fell in love with the pastry capital of the world and followed her heart to fulfill her dreams of being a Pastry Chef. Now a Pastry Chef Instructor at Ecole Bellouet Conseil in Paris, Jana became the first female to join Team France in the 2023 Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie (World Pastry Cup), where she secured second place.*
John Demetrios
@johndemetrios
John Demetrios started his career as a baker and at age 19 moved overseas to work in restaurants in London and Sweden, where he met his wife. Working for three Michelin starred Pierre Koffmann in London at his flagship Knightsbridge restaurant, and Magnus Ek at the two Michelin starred restaurant Oaxen Krog, John honed his craft before returning home to Australia and overseeing the pastry in some of Melbourne’s finest restaurants including Vue de monde, under Shannon Bennett. John is currently Executive Pastry Chef at Omnia in Melbourne.
Katherine Sabbath @katherine_sabbath
Katherine Sabbath is a former high school teacher turned talented cake creative. With 475,000 Instagram followers, Katherine’s sugar rush to the baking scene has brought her international success. In 2015, Katherine made the decision to take a leap of faith and pursue her passion for creating cakes full time in Sydney. She’s authored three best-selling cookbooks, Katherine Sabbath Greatest Hits: The Pop Edition (2017), Bake Australia Great (2019), and Bake My Day (2022). In 2018, Katherine appeared as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia.
Reece Hignell @reecehignell
MasterChef Australia fan favourite, Reece Hignell placed sixth on season 10 and returned to claim fourth place in season 12 of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win. Now a successful business owner, Reece is founder of Newcastle’s Cakeboi, and has recently launched Acacia Dining and a 12-month residency at QT Hotel Newcastle. Along with his successful businesses, in 2022 Reece authored his cookbook Cakeboi: A Collection Of Classic Bakes. Recently, Reece has announced the upcoming release of a new cookbook, Cakeboi Goes Vegan.
Created and produced by Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Entertainment company), Dessert Masters is a spin-off for the MasterChef franchise.
That is a great line-up of chefs for season 2.
I wonder if Jana crossed paths with Amaury while working in France at some stage?