Cookng up a flavourful storm on social media
Following his experience on Master Chef Australia Season 14, Dulan Hapuarachchi has built a brand to bring Sri Lankan cuisine to the world
Standing outside the doors, staring up at the big M, Master Chef Australia Season 14 contestant Dulan Hapuarachchi knew that, that moment right there would be a milestone in his life. Carrying the Sri Lankan flag proudly in his heart he aimed to tell the world about Sri Lanka through his cooking. “During that time my heart was so burdened by what was happening back home and the urgency to raise awareness about Sri Lanka became even more strong,” he says.
Life post competition blew up just like his following on Instagram. Speaking on how he used what he learned and experienced from the show in 2022 to build a brand around him, he says “@thisisdulan with a following of 48,000 is now a public platform that I use to bring to the world Sri Lankan flavours." From pol roti and lunu miris, kottu roti, Sri Lankan yellow rice to fish cutlets and ‘patta katta sambol’ using the traditional ‘miris gala’, Dulan is now doing what he has been wanting to do for so long- raising awareness about his country through his cooking.
And the response has been amazing! “I’ve had messages from all over the world from food enthusiasts to people who are just starting to cook - who have followed my videos and cooked for the family, messages from parents saying how their kids watch me and are inspired by me, it’s the response that is the best part of it all.”
“Everything doesn’t fall onto your lap (after the competition). It’s what you do with the fame and following that will sustain you in the long run. I made sure I carefully evaluated every opportunity that came my way and went ahead with only projects that facilitated me as a person to grow into what I am being recognized for now.”
Speaking to the Sunday Times last week, he looks back on the move to Australia with his family when he was a boy. “I wasn’t big on patriotism when I was small as I had lived almost my whole life in Melbourne,” he says candidly. “It was in my 20s, as I grew older and many visits back home my love for the country and its people started blooming. The more I saw of the country and got to engage with the people, the tug in my heart to do something for my country, to get more people talking about my beautiful country grew, and the best possible way to do this was by doing something I’m passionate about. What everyone loves. Through food.”
A qualified accountant by profession and business owner, it was during the COVID lockdown that Dulan started experimenting with food. He fondly recalls being in charge of the dessert department when his parents entertained guests. “I come from a family which loves to cook, from my grandmother to my parents and my sister- we all love to entertain, we all love to cook.”
While not being able to step outside, not knowing what would happen in the future, Dulan tried out many Sri Lankan dishes during that time and posted on his private social media account for his friends and family.
An ardent follower of the Master Chef series, in 2021 with all of his friends and family backing him, he applied for Master Chef. “I made a quick instant Dosa with a Chili Chutney as my audition dish.”
“After getting through it was months of hard work, meetings, exams, actual cooking, and eliminations to come into the final group that goes on air for the programme. I remember cooking for the producers for three days straight which was quite challenging,” Dulan says.
Speaking about some iconic dishes and moments from the series, he says, “For me, it was incorporating Sri Lankan food culture into the dishes for the world to know more about my country through the food I cooked during the competition. My Crab Kottu which I was asked to make a second time by the producers for the judges to taste is a personal all-time favorite. I remember that top-of-the-world feeling I had when Judge Jock Zonfrillo said it was the best crab curry he had!”
Meeting previous season winners like Julie Godwin, Sashi Cheliah, and Billie McKay who have become firm friends made the competition a memorable one for him, even though he didn’t make it to the finals. “I have been a big Sashi fan, and have been inspired by his cooking many times, and to continue our friendship even after the show was very special for me.”
He says he hopes to grow his presence on screen more. “I like to watch and follow chefs who can not only just cook but also be able to present and market what they create like big TV personalities such as Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.”
We ask him to recommend three Sri Lankan dishes that are a must-try for someone new to the cuisine. “Kottu, egg hoppers with a sambol, and a classic rice and curry with all the condiments I think would be the best to go for,” he says adding that his followers and community can look forward to many new and exciting projects soon as well as he is hoping to throw in some travelling into the mix.