| “ | Declan's my name, fish is my game. | ” |
Declan Cleary is a contestant on MasterChef Australia Season 15 & 17. He is placed 3rd on Season 15 & 11th on Season 17.
Biography[]
Retrieved from 10play.com.au
Season 15[]
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![1]
Season 17[]
Northern Beaches favourite Declan Cleary is Back To Win. Still full of his trademark cheeky charm and wearing his heart on his sleeve, Declan has matured as both a man and cook and has a renewed drive to go all the way to claim the title of MasterChef Australia 2025.
Declan’s world has changed since his last incarnation in the kitchen, where he finished third. Though still running his building business, Declan has structured his workload to allow a huge focus on his long-term goal of working in food full time.
Fish is still Declan’s game, and while his love of seafood will be front and centre, especially after having spent time in his hero Josh Niland’s kitchen since season 15, Declan has focussed on expanding his repertoire to prove he’s no one trick pony.
His work as a brand ambassador has broadened his horizons and seen him travel internationally, presenting and running cooking demonstrations, and creating online content.
This time around, Declan hopes to push his creativity, itching to flex that part of his brain again. Expect South East Asian flavours he is known for, but also a ramped up dessert game for Back To Win. Declan’s mental fortitude is strong for the battle ahead, and he will be super competitive, right from the starter’s gun.
As the competition’s youngest contestant, Declan will use his energy to his advantage, soaking up knowledge from the group and being nimble in the kitchen.
Declan’s dream remains to one day open his own farm-to-fork style bistro in Northern New South Wales, a venue where he could showcase the best that local producers have to offer, across both land to sea.
With his growth mindset perhaps the most important tool in his kit, Declan’s commitment to starting each day determined to be the best version of himself will serve him well as he comes Back To Win.[2]
Trivia[]
Season 15[]
- At 24, he & Grace are the youngest contestants of the season.
- In Week 1, he, Alice, Antonio, Cath, Jessica, Larissa, Rhiannon, & Theo all had to be quarantined because they all tested positive for Covid. They are still in the competition but have to compete in next week's Pressure Test.
- He is the first contestant of the season to win an Immunity Pin.
Season 17[]
- At 27, he is the youngest contestant of the season.
References[]
External links[]
Declan Cleary on Instagram