24, Carpenter, NSW

Declan Cleary doesn’t eat to live; he lives to eat. And his love for cooking was born to ensure no meal was ever a dull one.

Though one of the youngest in the competition at the ripe age of 24, Declan shouldn’t be discounted. Declan is a qualified carpenter with his own business, so he knows a thing or two about hard work and will not be afraid to put his head down throughout the competition.

Armed with a cheeky grin and boundless energy, this young chippy with a passion for good food describes himself as an eccentric cook who is inspired by many cuisines, including those sampled on travels to the likes of Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico or Papua New Guinea where he walked the Kokoda Track.

Whatever the cuisine, fish and seafood are a firm favourite. As he’ll tell you, “Declan’s my name, and fish is my game”! As the middle child, Declan has fond memories of going beach or lake fishing with his grandfather, including annual trips to Sussex Inlet NSW, where his love of seafood grew.

Confident in the savoury space, finessed desserts may threaten to derail Declan, but with trouble-shooting part of his usual day-to-day on the building site, he won’t let the pressure of MasterChef kitchen phase him.

Growing up watching his mum and Nan cook, Declan worked in hospitality as a teen and got a taste for the industry, observing chefs and learning on the job. Not daunted by cooking for large numbers, Declan has often been behind the stove for family Christmas and birthday celebrations.

Nowadays he is often inspired by eating out in Sydney and looks up to cooking greats including Josh Niland, Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain. He also shares a definite affinity with judge Andy Allen, whose path through competition Declan would love to emulate.

Approaching everything in life with joy, down-to-earth Declan wants to prove that his love of food could be more than just a hobby. Aiming to push himself and expand his skillset through the competition, Declan hopes to inspire other young tradies to get into the kitchen.

Having put his carpentry business on hold for the competition, Declan’s dream is to open his own seafood restaurant, and who knows, maybe build it too!