Matt Moran is an Australian chef and television personality who is probably best known to international television audiences for his appearances on MasterChef Australia. Although he is one of the top chefs in Australia and has become known to international audiences, there are many facts about Matt Moran that people do not know. What are some Matt Moran facts that you might find interesting? Here are some Matt Moran facts to get to know the Australian chef.
Matt Moran Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Matt Moran Born?
Matt Moran was born in Tamworth, New South Wales, on 15th May 1969. He grew up on a dairy farm at Badgerys Creek, which is just west of Sydney. The family farm has been featured in several episodes of MasterChef Australia.
Is Matt Moran Married?
Yes, Matt Moran is married. Matt Moran’s wife is Sarah Hopkins, a criminal lawyer and novelist.
Does Matt Moran Have Children?
Matt Moran and Sarah Hopkins have two children together. According to Famous Birthdays, their son’s name is Harry, and their daughter’s name is Amelia.
Facts About Matt Moran: His Culinary Career
When Did Matt Moran Become a Chef?
Matt Moran always knew that he wanted a career in the food industry. While he was still at school, Moran worked in the kitchen of the Parramatta RSL Club at the weekends. He left school at 15 to begin his apprenticeship at La Belle Helene Restaurant in Roseville on Sydney’s North Shore. During his training, Moran learned the art of classic French cooking.
When Did Matt Moran Open His First Restaurant?
Moran opened his first restaurant in 1991. The Paddington Inn Bistro is on Oxford Street in the Paddington neighbourhood of Sydney, New South Wales. Its name has since changed to Paddo Inn, and it serves global dishes and cocktails. His second restaurant, Moran’s Restaurant and Café, opened in 1995. In the same year, the restaurant received the award for the best new restaurant by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide.
He Designs Meals for an Airline
One of the Matt Moran facts that many people do not know is that he is on the culinary panel for Singapore Airlines. His role involves designing meals for the airline.
Moran’s Career in Television
When Did Matt Moran First Appear on Television?
Matt Moran first appeared on television in 2008 when he began presenting The Chopping Block. The series aired on Nine Network and ran for two seasons.
When Did Matt Moran Join MasterChef?
Matt Moran joined MasterChef Australia as a judge in 2011. He has appeared as a judge in various challenges since alongside regular judges Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan, and George Calombaris. Other guest judges on the series have included:
- Kylie Kwong
- Shannon Bennett
- Curtis Stone
- Nigella Lawson
- Gordon Ramsay
- Heston Blumenthal
- Maggie Beer
- Marco Pierre White
- Yotam Ottolenghi
- Adriano Zumbo
- David Chang
He Appeared in the Series Paddock to Plate
In 2014, Matt Moran was featured in the series Paddock to Plate. The cookery series centred around Moran travelling around Australia using local and seasonal produce to create dishes. The series ran for two seasons.
Moran Presented The Great Australian Bake Off
Matt Moran became a presenter of The Great Australian Bake Off in 2015. He presented the cookery competition alongside Maggie Beer. Moran was the presenter of the series for the final time in 2022. He and Beer are being replaced by Rachel Khoo and Darren Purchese in 2023. Moran was also a judge on family food fight with pastry chef Anna Polyviou and British food critic Tom Parker Bowles.
Other Matt Moran Facts
He is a Member of the Order of Australia
For his significant services to the hospitality and tourism industries, Matt Moran was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022.
Moran is a Motorcycle Enthusiast
One of the Matt Moran facts his fans may not know is that the celebrity chef is a motorcycle enthusiast. He told D’Marge that he has loved bikes for as long as he can remember. His passion probably stems from riding dirt bikes when growing up on a farm. One of his favourite motorcycle brands is Ducati, and he has owned more than ten over the years. Currently, Moran owns two Ducati and a Harley Davidson.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Matt Moran facts!