Food · Recipes · Real Life

GOOD FOOD. MADE SIMPLE.

A little bit of butter. A little bit of chaos. And a whole lot of good food.

I'm Dan - a pastry chef, baker and someone who believes that great food doesn't have to be complicated.

From buttery croissants and freshly baked bread to everyday meals and desserts worth making room for, I'm here to share recipes, techniques and everything I've learned along the way.

Explore Recipes Meet Dan
Dan McCarthy in a white and black Le Grand Bleu chef's jacket

REAL INGREDIENTS. REAL TECHNIQUES. REALLY GOOD FOOD.

Cooking should be something you look forward to, not something that feels like hard work. Whether you're making your first loaf of bread, tackling croissants from scratch or just figuring out what to cook for dinner, you'll find a little bit of everything here.

No unnecessary complications. No pretending everything turns out perfectly. Just good food, useful advice and plenty of things worth trying.

SOMETHING GOOD IS COOKING

Browse All Recipes

  1. Baking & Pâtisserie

    Buttery croissants, beautiful pastries, tarts, cakes and everything in between.

  2. Bread & Dough

    From crusty sourdough to soft focaccia, discover the satisfaction of baking your own bread.

  3. Everyday Cooking

    Delicious meals, straightforward ingredients and recipes you will actually want to make again.

  4. Desserts & Sweets

    Cookies, desserts, chocolate, caramel and all the good stuff.

  5. Kitchen Basics

    The techniques, foundations and little tricks that make a big difference.

A CHEF, A BAKER, AND A FIRM BELIEVER IN GOOD BUTTER.

I'm Dan McCarthy, an Australian pastry chef with a love for great food and the process behind making it. My background includes professional hospitality and formal training in pâtisserie, but my approach to food is simple: learn the fundamentals, use good ingredients and never stop experimenting.

I believe some of the best moments happen around food - whether you're making something from scratch, sharing a meal with friends or pulling a tray of freshly baked pastries from the oven. This is my space to share what I know, what I'm learning and everything delicious along the way.

More About Me

Behind the apron

More than just recipes. Alongside cooking and creating, I'm also the founder of two independent businesses.