Age: 35

Occupation: Stay-at-home Dad

Kelty recently gave up his high-flying corporate career in the wine business, including a car and a six-figure salary. He has been relishing his new role as a stay-at-home dad for the past six months to children Thomas (6) and Elizabeth Rose (2), while his wife Donna has continued her career as an inner-city nurse and mid-wife.

Kelty has an unbridled passion for food, home and family. He began cooking out of necessity at 18 when he began university but feels that food was always in his blood. He has an award-winning edible garden that he is extremely proud of, and is addicted to making stocks, even having a freezer dedicated to housing all of his home-made stocks.

"Food excites me, it motivates me like nothing else in this world. I don't read novels, I read cookbooks. I love learning, experimenting, growing interesting herbs and then figuring out how to use them."

On any given Saturday, Kelty can be found at the market with his son Thomas, talking to his fishmonger or greengrocer about the freshest ingredients.

"I will cook for eight hours on a Saturday with all kinds of delicious smells coming out of the kitchen. I drive my neighbours crazy with the fantastic aroma of my soda bread."

His dream is to bring traditional Irish cooking into the modern age.

"Colcannon, mushy peas, soda bread, corned beef and cabbage. I have mastered all of these with a modern edge. Given my skills as a wine maker I would like to combine this in a funky wine bar in Marrickville."