Our journey since 2011

Our Sweet Evolution...

From retail store to Melbourne's first made to order dessert business. Place orders online and pick up we are just a hop and skip from the iconic South Yarra intersection of Toorak Road and Chapel Street.

In eleven years B&P; has become an institution, a Melbourne original and is the work of husband and wife team Darren Purchese & Cath Claringbold.

Loved and trusted for Darren's decadent desserts and cakes all made daily. Known also for his huge range of handmade, delicious products including; small batch jams and spreads (try our famous Salted Caramel Spread) confectionery and chocolate. At B&P; we are dedicated to our craft and are proud to use only the very best ingredients. We even have our own bee hives.

In recent times B&P; have moved their delicious offering purely online. This has allowed Darren to create a larger menu with zero waste and their Drive Through Service at the rear of the store makes collection a breeze. You can call from your car and one of the team will bring your beautifully boxed order out to you.

They are constantly adding new things to their range and the newest arrivals include their scrumptious dessert pots, incredible Basque cheesecake with a lemon curd layer and stunning Pommery Champagne.

B&P;'s online store offers irresistible deliciousness. Whether it's something for you, for home, or a beautifully boxed gift for friends or family, whose day would be brightened by a thoughtful delivery?

Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio & kitchen is situated on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge them as the traditional custodians of the land, and pay our respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.

About Darren Purchese

It was love that brought the British-born Darren to Australia. And maybe fate played a hand too.

Darren was already a renowned pastry chef working in prestigious kitchens across England and France when in 2004, he was invited to appear at a Brisbane Masterclass Weekend. It was his first ever visit to Australia...and the first time he met his future wife and partner in B&P;, Melbourne chef and restaurateur, Cath Claringbold.

A year later, Darren was here to stay.

He worked as a pastry chef at iconic Australian restaurants, Vue de monde in Melbourne and Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House among then, before opening Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio in 2011

Since then Darren has become a fixture on must-see-TV - Masterchef Australia, and the author of five books - Sweet Studio, The Art of Divine Desserts, Lamingtons & Lemon Tart , Chefs Eat Toasties Too, Chefs Host Christmas Too and Chefs Eat Breakfast Too.

But don't let that those savoury titles fool you: Darren sweet tooth and wild imagination are forever. Like any great love.

See more HERE.

About Cath Claringbold

Cath Claringbold has many years experience in the hospitality industry as a renowned Chef, Restaurateur and business owner. She is a highly sought after business consultant, award winning food writer and cookery demonstrator. Cath co-owns ‘Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio with her husband Darren Purchese’.

Cath trained with Stephanie Alexander, Jacques Reymond and Greg Malouf before launching the acclaimed Mecca Restaurant and the successful Mecca Bah group of restaurants across three states. She gained two chefs’ hats for Mecca and a chef hat for Mecca Bah during
this period and went on to own and operate nine busy restaurants in total
before selling her stake in the group in 2008.

In 2020 the Herald Sun named Mecca as one of the best restaurants of the last 30 years and one that has helped to shape the current Melbourne dining scene.

Since then Cath has operated her own food consultancy agency and has been a regular demonstrator, mentor and speaker. She has been a face of tourism Victoria and was a regular writer for ‘Good Weekend’ which is where she won the prestigious 'Best Recipe Feature in a Newspaper or Magazine' in the Food Media Awards.

Making cakes & desserts is my absolute passion. I love making people happy and helping them make sweet memories through my work

Founder: Darren Purchese

Cooking Classes

Join Darren online for exclusive cooking classes

Image of Darren Purchese

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As Seen On Masterchef
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