Getting Spicy with MasterChef Winner Justin Narayan

neighbourhoodmedia
Sep 5
3 min read

From MasterChef to cookbooks and wine, Justin Narayan blends Indian flavours, Sydney life, and community spirit.

Who is Justin Narayan outside the kitchen?

Narayan is a first-generation Australian; his parents are Fijian-Indian, and his family line traces back to India, so he has quite a diverse range of cultural influences that inform his approach to cooking.

“Growing up, there was always this mix of cultures around the table, and my cooking now reflects that. For me, it feels natural to bring all these worlds together,” Narayan explains. “Things like roast chicken curries and barfi spice caramel slices. Those intersections feel authentic to me, because they’re what I grew up with — both things I love, now existing in the same dish.”

However, within the eclectic mix of influences, the Indian gene dominates. Narayan released his debut cookbook in March this year. titled Everything Is Indian.

“The title came from this idea that, in my house, even when Mum made something that wasn’t Indian — like pasta — it always ended up tasting a little more Indian than Italian. Maybe it was the curry-stained pots, or her heavy hand with garlic and chilli,” says Narayan.

It turns out it wasn’t just his mother who imbued everything with Indian flavours. As Narayan began exploring other cuisines, he discovered there were hints of Indian influence in almost anything he tasted. “It became my way of relating to food,” he says.

Not your average cookbook

Justin Narayan's Everything Is Indian cookbook cover

If you pick up a copy of Everything Is Indian and flick through the pages, you’ll immediately notice it is not your average cookbook. The layout is unconventional, as are many of the recipes. It’s part cookbook, part biography, part notebook with random thoughts.

“Everything Is Indian is more like: here’s how I cook at home, here’s some of the food I love, and here’s how it all fits together,” Narayan explains. “So you’ll find recipes inspired by El Jannah and Frangos alongside dishes that just make sense to me, like chicken curry tacos or a rasmalai tres leches cake, as well as things that first got me excited about cooking —like trying to master the perfect steak. It’s approachable and fun, but still respectful of the traditions behind it.”

Justin Narayan... Masterchef!

Narayan’s love of cooking began from an early age, but it was winning MasterChef in 2021 that really catapulted his career.

“MasterChef was massive and honestly life-changing. It gave me a platform and opened doors I couldn’t have imagined, and I’ll always be grateful for that experience and everything it led to. But at the same time, I feel like it was just the start of the journey, not the end. These days, I’m loving sharing stories through books and media, and building businesses like my wine company, Acceptable Wine. I’ve got plenty more ideas in the pipeline, but right now I’m just enjoying the process. So yeah, MasterChef will always be part of the story, but I like to think of it as chapter one.”

The only Acceptable Wine

Acceptable Wine is Narayan’s own label, created with From Sunday Winemakers. It includes a range of varietals that pair perfectly with Narayan’s bespoke dishes. It also shows that Narayan doesn’t stand still for long; there’s always something new around the corner.

Whatever that is, it will no doubt be imbued with Narayan’s genuine passion for sharing simple pleasures with special people.

“I really do believe food has this magical power to bring people together, no matter where we come from or what we believe. My hope is to encourage people to share more meals with others, whether going out to one of the amazing spots in Balmain or cooking a recipe from my book, or pouring a glass of Acceptable Wine with mates around the table. At the end of the day, it’s about loving people, creating memories and being grateful for what we have. That’s what it’s all about.”