Larissa, affectionately known as Larry, is Australia’s MasterChef winner of 2019, and the youngest to ever win the series on Network Ten.

 

Always full of life, it was her unpretentious mix of confidence and tenacity that won the viewers’ and judges’ hearts. Born and raised in Sydney in a big Lebanese family, Larissa says her fondest memories of food started on her grandparent’s peach farm. Food has always been the key ingredient that brings her large family together.

 

After finishing high school in 2014, Larissa went on to study a Bachelor of Business Administration at Macquarie University. But it was her family’s gentle push to audition for MasterChef that set her on a new path—one that aligned perfectly with her passion for food.

 

Starting the competition with her now-iconic ‘PUDDLEcotta’, it was only up from there. Larissa initially leaned into sweet, creative dishes, though as the competition progressed, she showed strength across all styles. The judges ranked her dishes among the best they had ever seen. “Absolute perfectionists when it comes to combining flavours,” said Gary. “She is creative and she’s got that with spades. We’ve seen it week in, week out,” added George. “I take a lot of risks, but I do know that most of the time it will work for me. It’s pretty much just backing yourself and trusting that you know this dish works, it’s not too out there.” Those risks earned high praise from some of the world’s best chefs—“Amazing, amazing,” said Massimo Bottura, and “It brings you in and wraps you up,” said Heston Blumenthal.

 

In 2025, Larissa took her next leap—opening Luca, her first bakery and café in Sydney. Named after her son, Luca is a heartfelt expression of her love for family, flavour, and community. The space reflects Larissa’s signature warmth and style, offering nostalgic bakes with modern twists that celebrate her heritage and the joy of sharing food.