Age: 35

Occupation: Public Servant

Rishi Desai lives with his wife Mitra and six-year-old son Sharang. Emigrating to Australia only five years ago, he has been cooking since he was five years old, inheriting his love for cooking from his mother.

Growing up in the small city of Kolhapur, India, where his family still lives today. As a gifted cook, his mother inherited the family's cooking department and there was always a big spread on the table.

"The inspiration and the knowledge comes from my mother. She is a great cook who produces some amazing Indian foods, sometimes with rather unassuming and humble ingredients."

Losing his dad when he was only 15, Rishi witnessed his mother's transformation from housewife to food entrepreneur. He was inspired by her strength and dedication to step up and provide for her family. She still runs a successful spice business in the town, employing some 20 local women.

Coming from a family of medical practitioners, Rishi went against the grain to study engineering in the US. It was here that he started to experiment with other cuisines including Mexican, South Asian and European.

Rishi's two great ambitions in life are cooking and Formula One. As his age won't permit him to compete in Formula One, he sees MasterChef Australia as a step towards pursuing his food dream: to open an award-winning restaurant with a modern Indian menu.