State: VIC

Age: 32

Occupation: Cocktail Barman

While living and working in London as a bar manager several years ago, Simon Toohey reached the pinnacle, taking out the titles of best cocktail menu and best high volume cocktail bar at the Tales of the Cocktail awards in New Orleans. In a city where 10,000 bartenders descended for the annual conference, taking home the coveted prizes in the global competition was recognition worth celebrating.

It’s a long way from Canberra where Simon grew up alongside his older brother. Describing himself as a visual student, he excelled in sports, drawing, photography and woodwork, graduating from Canberra Grammar in 2004.

While working in cocktail bars he completed a TAFE course in Hospitality Management, graduating with an Advanced Diploma in 2006 before completing a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from the University of Canberra three years later.

He moved to Byron Bay for several years before purchasing a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom where he lived on and off for five years across both London and Edinburgh. It was in the Scottish capital Simon embraced his long-held passion for food, commencing a Masters in Gastronomy from Queen Margaret University. It was there he learnt about food sovereignty and sustainability, alongside indigenous farming and medicinal spices. He hopes the study helps him in the MasterChef kitchen, acknowledging his strength in balancing flavours. But while his understanding is strong, Simon says his weakness may be in memorising ratios and plating up desserts.

Returning from the United Kingdom in 2017, Simon settled in Melbourne with girlfriend Georgia, and dreams of creating a vegan smokehouse, highlighting the ease in creating beautiful meals with grains and vegetables.

When he’s not whipping up his favourite cocktails, a classic daiquiri or negroni, Simon enjoys yoga and being outdoors foraging for mushrooms.

Simon Toohey was also seen in Season 12 (Back To Win) of MasterChef Australia.