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You’ll never guess what Adriano Zumbo’s all-time favourite dessert is

He’s the most talked about pâtissier around the country and his wacky desserts have penetrated almost every household.

But while sweet tooths may think they know Adriano Zumbo, do they really?

Adriano Zumbo:
Adriano Zumbo:
The Dessert Factory. Photo: Instagram/justdessertsau
The Dessert Factory. Photo: Instagram/justdessertsau

Be got the chance to chat with the sugar king about all things pastry, prior to the launch of his first ever cooking show, the much anticipated Zumbo’s Just Desserts airing on Channel 7 Monday August 22.

The croquembouche master will be scrutinising 12 contestants’ every move at the Dessert Factory alongside the lovable British chef Rachel Khoo and Brazil’s brunette beauty, pastry chef Gigi Falanga.

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From levitating Willy Wonka chocolate hats to leaning sky-high cakes, expect Zumbo’s sweets on screen to be crazier than you’ve ever seen.

“I can’t wait to share my latest sweet creations – they’re out of this world!” The pâtissier said.

But would you believe it if we told you the creator of the V8 cake loves nothing more than to dig into the simplest of desserts?

<i>Zumbo's Just Desserts</i> judges Gigi Falanga, Adriano Zumbo and Rachel Khoo
Zumbo's Just Desserts judges Gigi Falanga, Adriano Zumbo and Rachel Khoo
Zumbo's desserts on the show are
Zumbo's desserts on the show are

“My favourite dessert is milo and ice cream, or custard with berries and jelly lollies. I’m pretty simple,” the chocolate lover says.

It's hard to imagine the dessert creative craves the most basic of sweets when off-duty, but can think of something like the fairytale gingerbread house.

It shouldn’t make sense but it does, given the Aussie pastry chef’s childhood surrounded by lollies at his family’s Coonamble supermarket in rural NSW.

Zumbo loves digging into milo and ice cream. Photo: Instagram/zumbopatisserie
Zumbo loves digging into milo and ice cream. Photo: Instagram/zumbopatisserie

“Growing up and walking around the supermarket, lollies were the thing that gave me that kind of kick, and you’d expect lots of them. It would be that or a pack of cake mix which got me into food,” he said.

Now a magician in the pastry kitchen, Zumbo’s inspirational, edible art is the most sought after in Oz.

When you see his incredible creations for the first time, the first questions that pops into most people’s heads is, ‘how on earth does he come up with this?’

Zumbo’s answer to your question: “I guess it’s how your head works. I’m a bit of a thinker so I think a lot, and process a lot, and it always evolves into something different.”

“Whether it’s a leaf from a tree, the supermarket or person, everything is art and movement, it’s all inspiration,” he says, “... it's how you absorb it, process it and make it happen.”

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No stranger to the theatrics of competitive cooking shows, judge Zumbo will be pushing Just Desserts contestants “outside their comfort zone but not too much,” while on the lookout for desserts that tick all the boxes.

Don't expect contestants to be whipping up simple chocolate cake...
Don't expect contestants to be whipping up simple chocolate cake...

“I’m looking for something that tastes good, with a lot of texture and something that has a good appeal,” he says.

So while Zumbo claims “chocolate fondant, crème brûlé, and sponge cake with jam, cream and fresh berries are always winners,” don’t expect this to be true for Just Desserts.

Zumbo's Just Desserts airs on Channel 7, Monday August 22 at 7:30pm.

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