Create an experience with Sav Perera

Sav Perera – Brand Ambassador, Culinary Influencer, Private Chef, Spice Maven, Bronze Medallist, MasterChef Australia 2024 & Judge, MasterChef Sri Lanka

If life’s a banquet, then Savindri “Sav” Perera has well and truly taken her seat at the head of the table. Best known to millions as the vibrant, self-taught culinary star who claimed 3rd place on Channel 10’s MasterChef Australia in 2024, Sav’s swiftly carved her niche as one of the most sought-after private chefs around the country. But before she was plating up saffron-scented dreams and reinventing Sri Lankan classics, she was crunching numbers in the corridors of corporate banking – all while holding an honours degree in psychology (yes, she can read your palate and your personality).

Born in bustling Colombo and raised on crab curry Sundays, Sav’s earliest memories are steeped deep in the aromas of garlic, onion, and curry leaves – the fragrant holy trinity of her beloved Sri Lankan upbringing. After migrating to Adelaide at 18, she never lost sight of the recipes passed down by her late mother Chandrika, whose fearless flavours and festive spirit continue to inspire every dish Sav serves. Whether recreating cherished roadside eats or reimagining heritage dishes with a brunch-time twist, Sav cooks not just to nourish but to honour, heal, and celebrate.

Sav’s culinary journey now enters a new chapter with her recent appointment as a judge on the inaugural season of MasterChef Sri Lanka 2025. 

Joining forces with acclaimed Australian-Sri Lankan chef and media personality Peter Kuruvita as Head Judge, alongside culinary heavyweights Rohan Fernandopulle and Kapila Jayasinghe, Sav’s set to bring both expertise and heart to the show which is set to air globally in September 2025. It’s a full-circle moment for the Colombo-born chef – and a fitting testament to how far passion and palate can truly take you.

Fiercely grounded yet gloriously bold, Sav is as known for her colourful generosity in the kitchen as she is for her razor-sharp palate and flair for thoughtfully balancing the fundamental flavours of Sri Lankan dining. One spoonful of her signature seeni sambol or ginormous coconut-rich hoppers with snapper kiri hodi and you’ll understand why major brands from Knorr Sri Lanka to Barossa Fine Foods have invited her into their culinary fold – and why diners across the country are now calling her their go-to chef for private dining and bespoke events.

Despite her flair, she’s no stranger to challenge. Living with Type 1 diabetes, Sav has become a fierce advocate for food with purpose – proudly serving as ambassador for Diabetes SA and lending her time to Meals on Wheels SA, proving that flavour and health need never be mutually exclusive.

Now, with knives honed and confidence seasoned by fire (and a little TV pressure cooker), Sav’s setting her sights on building a permanent place in the Adelaide food scene – with plans to open her very own brunch café serving nostalgic, spice-driven dishes that tell the story of a girl from Colombo who swapped balance sheets for balanced spice, and never looked back.

Witty, wise, and warmly welcoming – Sav Perera is not just the future of fusion food. She’s the whole meal!