Share and Follow
Laura Sharrad Biography – Laura Sharrad Wiki
Laura Sharrad, formerly Laura Cassai, is an Australian chef and restaurateur. She is best known for starring in MasterChef Australia. She starred on Ten’s reality cooking show in 2014, 2020, and 2025. The MasterChef star was the runner-up on season 6 and 12 of the hit cooking show.
After season 6, Laura worked as a pastry chef alongside the late Jock Zonfrillo at his acclaimed three hatted restaurant Orana for two years. She moved to Andre’s Cucina & Polenta Bar, headed by Back To Win colleague, Andre Ursini, for three years. She spent time at the award-winning Hently Farm in the Barossa Valley in 2018, before embarking on her own restaurant, Nido Bar and Pasta which she opened in 2019.
In 2019 Laura became co-owner of Adelaide’s successful pasta bar Nido, and followed it with a second venue in 2021, Fugazzi Bar & Dining, a New York inspired Italo-American Bar & Dining Room in the heart of Adelaide.
Laura grew up in Templestowe, Victoria, before moving to the McLaren Vale in South Australia in 2013. The middle of three children with a rich Italian heritage, Laura grew up under the care of her grandmothers Maria and Rosa. Her Italian roots strengthened by a two-year stint residing in Tuscany, Italy, as a child. Laura says cooking is in her blood, recalling sliding a chair up to the kitchen bench to help mix pasta dough alongside her mother Anita.
Laura Sharrad Age
MasterChef Australia star Laura Sharrad was born in 1995. She grew up in Templestowe, Victoria, Australia.
Laura Sharrad Husband
Laura Sharrad is married to Max Sharrad, a fellow chef. They married in 2018. The couple first met in 2015 when they worked alongside each other at the Orana restaurant in Adelaide, which was owned by the late MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo.
“I knew from day one. I could just tell, it was love at first sight,” Max told The Adelaide Advertiser in 2017, following their engagement in Tuscany, Italy.
Speaking of the romantic sunset proposal, Laura said: “As soon as he pulled out the little box, I just started crying and blubbering… I cried the whole time. It was simply beautiful, just perfect.”
Max added: “Though she didn’t really say yes, she was just crying and nodding. But I’m stoked. She’s the woman of my dreams.”
Laura Sharrad Wedding
Laura and Max Sharrad tied the knot at a picturesque wedding in the Barossa Valley in 2018 surrounded by family and friends.
“2018, you were the best year of our lives. Can we please do it all again?” Laura wrote in a tribute at the end of the year alongside several wedding photos. “Miss to a Mrs, couldn’t have done it without the ones we love.”
The TV chef continued: “A year that’s left us with memories to last a lifetime, a truly special year we will never forget. Other than my husband Max, the biggest mention of all goes to my best friend @georgiaahughes .. I couldn’t haven’t it without you. X”
Laura Sharrad Children
Laura Sharrad and her husband, Max Sharrad, welcomed their first child together, Florence Rosa Sharrad, in April 2024. The chef took to Instagram to announce the birth of their baby. She wrote: “Our little girl, Florence Rosa Sharrad 🤍 Giving us the most incredible surprise on Tuesday morning 23rd April at 9.24am. We never knew this much love could exist.”
She continued: “We couldn’t haven’t done this without our incredible Obstetrician Dr Sarah Cash at @womankind.health , the midwives at the Women’s & Children’s and our families.”
Pregnancy Loss
Florence was born less than a year after Laura announced in June 2023 she had suffered a miscarriage. The star posted a photo of herself alongside her husband, Max, and their dog, Alfie, to Instagram, alongside a long caption. Laura wrote:
“A lot of you have noticed that I’ve been very quiet on here lately, and to be honest I’ve been avoiding all my platforms .. I share every part of my life with you all, so this feels right to share our heartache …
“I wanted nothing more to share with you that our little family was growing. I don’t think anything can ever prepare you for losing a little one, and although our baby was still so tiny, it doesn’t make it any less hard
“Not a lot of people talk about miscarriage, and I now truly understand how hard it can be, but for me, it’s helped me heal physically and mentally.
“We are feeling very positive about the future & I’m so grateful to have Max by my side. We’ve taken time to process it all, and we cannot wait to be parents one day soon, and of course Alfie is very excited to one day be a big brother.”
Laura Sharrad MasterChef Australia
Laura Sharrad is a three-time MasterChef Australia competitor. She appeared on season 6 of the reality TV show under her maiden name of Laura Cassai, battling it out against eventual winner Brent Owens. Laura was 19-years-old at the time and became the youngest contestant to ever make it to the top three. She narrowly missed out on winning MasterChef: Back to Win in 2020, placing second to champion Emelia Jackson.
Laura returned for the 2025 season of MasterChef Australia: Back To Win, after becoming a mum in 2024. Her decision to re-enter the MasterChef Australia kitchen was influenced by the prospect to make her family proud and inspired not to waste a single moment; to be an example for her daughter of chasing your dreams.
Laura Sharrad Net Worth
Laura Sharrad has an estimated net worth of $3 million. She is the co-owner of Nido Bar and Pasta restaurant, as well as Fugazzi Bar & Dining, in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband and fellow chef Max Sharrad. She was awarded $30,000 after placing second on MasterChef: Back to Win in 2020.
Laura Sharrad Nationality
Laura Sharrad is of Australian nationality and Italian heritage.
Laura Sharrad’s Instagram handle is @laurasharrad.
