Chatting to Yahoo Lifestyle, he said, "When I was at home, it was always very simple food. I remember on the weekends we’d sometimes make dumplings and dad would joke, 'When I was your age, I’d eat 100 of these back in Hong Kong.'
"That’s what I grew up on. Really simple Chinese food. Dumplings is something I can always turn to and eat."
Yum!
However, it's sweet treats that are his strength, and he cites Katherine Sabbath and Adriano Zumbo as his culinary idols.
According to his MasterChef bio, "Derek spent time as a child cooking at home with mum, crediting her with his early skills. Able to make simple meat and rice dishes, she also made great cakes, passing on her tips and tricks.
"Despite his preference for sweets, Derek loves BBQ meats and savoury meals."
WATCH: DEREK BATTLES IT OUT FOR AN IMMUNITY PIN