Growing up in a close-knit family, Con learnt most of what he knows in the kitchen from his talented mum. Along with dad, who immigrated to Australia at a young age, Con has learnt the values of family and hard work from his parents.
With three sisters, Con says cooking was always a big part of their family life growing up in Hobart, Tasmania, their Greek heritage meaning that food was always central to bringing people together.
After high school, Con began working in hospitality and has spent many years honing his skills across multiple disciplines, including working in front of house, housekeeping, bartending, menu planning and, most recently, in his role as a restaurant supervisor.
It was while working at a Hobart hotel in 2012 that Con met his now wife Sarah, a colleague. The pair moved to Melbourne in 2014 for Con to explore opportunities in both the food world and in his other life-long passion, music.
Con is a talented musician whose band Lavista, in which he plays lead guitar and is the song writer, has supported several popular Aussie bands over the years, including Tame Impala and British India.
Describing his cooking style as contemporary with a European influence, Con looks up to the likes of Shane Delia, Shannon Bennett, Scott Pickett, Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver and Ben Cooper.
After he sees where the MasterChef Australia journey takes him, Con would love to work under chefs who inspire him and ultimately, open his own café, an inviting space that would showcase his passion for food, coffee and fresh local produce.
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