Adriano Zumbo’s got his mojo back: Dessert king’s next move revealed

Four years after every one of his 11 stores were closed down, celebrity pastry chef Adriano Zumbo is ready to get back into the dessert business.

Four years after every one of his 11 stores were closed down, celebrity pastry chef Adriano Zumbo is ready to get back into the dessert business.

After his dessert business went into administration, Zumbo is now returning to launch a high tea at Sydney’s QT Hotel.

“I needed a break after the collapse of my business in 2018 but I’m ready to step back in the ring,” Zumbo said.

Zumbo first rose to fame in 2009 as a guest chef on MasterChef, making his famous croquembouche. From there his empire grew to include his own TV show, Zumbo’s Just Desserts as well as stores across Sydney and Melbourne. Comedy Instagram handle Miss Double Bay recently did a dedicated post to Zumbo, writing about “the hold Adriano Zumbo and his macarons had over a generation”.

However in 2018, Zumbo’s company was placed in voluntary administration with debts of up to $10 million.

Adriano Zumbo’s desserts have risen from the ashes with QT Sydney’s high tea. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

“In business, you can take one wrong move and things unfortunately start to crack,” Zumbo said of that time. “I needed to take a break.”

The 40-year-old, who recently married reality television show contestant Nelly Riggio, said he contemplated never getting back into the food industry again.

‘QTea’ will feature a blast from the past. Picture: Supplied

Including Zumbo’s famous macarons. Picture: Supplied

“As soon as it was over, I started thinking of something different to do. I like music, so I thought I could do something with that but I realised cooking is what I love to do.”

Now, Zumbo has teamed with QT to put a fun spin on high tea, called QTea. On the weekends, the hotel will offer a mix of sweet and savoury dishes, including a nostalgic roster of Zumbo’s famous sugary treats.

“It’s my desserts, combined with drinks and a DJ,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do a high tea and I tried … in Melbourne in 2014. But it was so hard to do solo,” he said.

“Collaborating with QT made sense. They have such an edge and feel naughty. I love their vibe and it really suits me.”

The Sunshine Coast-based Zumbo says he’s “got my mojo back” but won’t be rushing into any more new business opportunities.

Originally published as Adriano Zumbo’s got his mojo back: Dessert king’s next move revealed