Adriano Zumbo is an Australian pâtissier and television personality who is known for his creative and theatrical desserts. In addition to owning his own business, he has his own television series, appears on many other cooking shows, and has written several cookery books. If you a fan of the famous pâtissier, here are some fun Adriano Zumbo facts that you might not know.
Adriano Zumbo Facts: His Childhood and Personal Life
He Is from New South Wales
Adriano Zumbo was born in New South Wales, Australia, on 6 November 1981. His parents, Frank and Nancy, are Italian immigrants. His parents owned and ran a local supermarket, and it was from spending time in the store that Zumbo developed both his business sense and his sweet tooth. He also spent time working in the in-store bakery.
He Spent Some of His Childhood in Italy
Although he has predominantly lived in Australia, Zumbo spent some of his childhood in his parent’s native country, Italy. While he was in Italy, he began to learn about and appreciate the different coffee varieties.
Zumbo Wanted to Become a Truck Driver
In an interview with The Weekend Edition, Adriano Zumbo revealed that he did not dream of a culinary career as a child. He wanted to become either a truck driver or a football player.
Who Is Adriano Zumbo’s Girlfriend?
Adriano Zumbo’s girlfriend is Nelly Riggio. The couple me in 2017 when she was a contestant on the cooking competition ‘My Kitchen Rules’ and Zumbo was a judge.
Does Adriano Zumbo Have Children?
No, Adriano Zumbo does not have children.
Facts About Adriano Zumbo’s Culinary Career
He Studied in Australia and France
One of the interesting Adriano Zumbo facts is that he left school early to pursue a culinary career. He began his apprenticeship as a pastry chef in 1997. Zumbo then studied under various renowned culinary icons in both France and Australia, including Pierre Hermé and Ramon Morato.
Adriano Zumbo Began His Career Supplying Cakes to Cafes
At the beginning of Zumbo’s career, he started out selling his muffins, tarts, banana bread, and brownies to cafes in Sydney. He then began selling to Sydney’s grower’s market.
Zumbo Launched His Own Business in 2007
In 2017, Zumbo opened his first patisserie. It was in Balmain, a Sydney suburb. By 2017, he had ten patisseries in Sydney and Melbourne. Unfortunately, a year later, Zumbo placed his company in voluntary administration. However, the existing stores remained open.
The Pâtissier Has Written Three Cookbooks
During his career, Adriano Zumbo has written three cookbooks. These include both ambitious desserts and desserts for those who have limited culinary skills. His books include:
- Zumbo: Adriano Zumbo’s fantastical kitchen of other-worldly delights (2011)
- Zumbarons: A fantasy land of macarons (2012)
- The Zumbo Files: Unlocking the secrets of a master pâtissier (2015)
His Television Career
Adriano Zumbo First Appeared on Television in MasterChef Australia
Zumbo first became known to the public when he appeared as a guest on ‘MasterChef Australia.’ He presented his croquembouche as a challenge for the contestants in season one of the popular series. Zumbo then judged the contestants’ efforts alongside judges Matt Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan. He went on to appear a further four times in the first season of the cooking competition, and Zumbo has appeared in every season since, including after Andy Allen became one of the new judges on the series. Other guest judges on the series have included Nigella Lawson, Shannon Bennett, Curtis Stone, Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver, and Gordon Ramsay.
He Got His Own Television Series in 2011
A year after appearing on MasterChef Australia, Adriano Zumbo landed his own series. It was a six-part documentary called ‘Zumbo,’ that followed his daily routine in his kitchen business. It was screened on SBS One in 2011.
The Pâtissier Co-Hosted ‘Zumbo’s Just Desserts’
Zumbo’s next television series was ‘Zumbo’s Just Desserts,’ which is a baking reality television series. His co-host for the series was Rachel Khoo. The series was launched on Seven Network in 2016.
He Is a Judge on ‘Sugar Rush’
Next, Adriano Zumbo was a judge on the Netflix series ‘Sugar Rush,’ along with Candace Nelson. The series began in 2018, and it is hosted by Hunter March. It is an American cooking competition that features four teams of two professional bakers competing against each other on various baking challenges.
Other Adriano Zumbo Facts
Zumbo Was Linked to a Staff Underpayment Controversy
The documentary ‘A Current Affair’ revealed in 2017 that there were accusations of Zumbo underpaying his staff. In response to the accusations, Zumbo explained there had been a payroll error and that his company was currently in the process of back paying those who work for him.
Adriano Zumbo’s Net Worth
One of the Adriano Zumbo facts that people may want to know is if he has become rich from his culinary and television career. According to MD Daily, Adriano Zumbo’s net worth is $12 million (around £8.5 million). He has made his money through his patisserie business, his cookbooks, and his television appearances. While he is clearly a very wealthy man, he does not have enough money to make it onto the list of the richest celebrity chefs in the world.
He Uses Travel as Inspiration
Like many chefs, Adriano Zumbo takes inspiration from his travels. When he visits a new destination, he spends time absorbing the sights, smells, and tastes of a location, then Zumbo uses what he learns as inspiration for the magical desserts he creates.
Zumbo Loves Italian Food
Although Adriano Zumbo is known for his sweet treats, he also enjoys many types of savoury food. One of his favourite cuisines is Italian, which is hardly surprising considering his Italian background. When he is in New York, he likes to visit an Italian food emporium called Eataly, which he describes as being heaven on earth.
If you have enjoyed reading our Adriano Zumbo facts, then you might also enjoy reading our facts about Ree Drummond, Robert Irvine, Bobby Flay, Paul Hollywood, Allegra McEvedy, and Guy Fieri.
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