Impressing Gordon Ramsay isn't easy. Many chefs have tried; many have failed. But throughout the ten seasons of MasterChef, a few skilled chefs have managed to blow Gordon Ramsay away with their culinary masterpieces.
MasterChef transforms amateur cooks into bonafide celebrity chefs. It's what keeps fans tuned in year after year. Not only do the winners receive a hefty cash prize, but following their time on the show, their career possibilities are endless. From cookbooks to restaurant openings, here's what the ten MasterChef winners are doing today.
10 Whitney Miller
The first-ever winner of MasterChef, Whitney Miller, has been quite busy since securing her title back in 2010. Now a mother of two, she's released two cookbooks and regularly publishes original recipes on her website.
Known for her delicious desserts during her run on MasterChef, Whitney still knows how to satisfy a sweet tooth. She runs Whitney's Cookies, an online cookie shop that ships fresh-baked cookies all around the United States.
9 Jennifer Behm
Jennifer Behm secured her place in the MasterChef hall of fame back in 2011 when she won Season 2. Following her win, she married Julio Lazzarini, a former Chopped contestant. The two of them launched Pink Martini Catering and opened a restaurant called Red Fin Crudo + Kitchen.
Unfortunately, The Providence Journal reported that their restaurant closed in the summer of 2020. It was one of the many restaurants that didn't survive the pandemic, but the two chefs remain available for private events. Compared to some of the other MasterChef winners, Jennifer is pretty quiet on social media. It must mean that she's busy cooking up a new project.
8 Christine HÃ
Most fans agree that Christine HÃ is the most impressive MasterChef winner of all time. Not only were her cooking skills phenomenal, but she managed to crush the competition while legally blind.
Since winning the competition, Christine released a cookbook and appeared as a judge on MasterChef: Vietnam. She also co-hosted Four Senses, a cooking show geared towards the visually impaired. In 2018, the chef opened her first restaurant, The Blind Goat. Last year, she opened Xin Chao, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant located in Houston.
7 Luca Manfé
Luca Manfé is an excellent example of the grit and determination that makes MasterChef such a fun cooking competition to watch. He auditioned in Season 3 but didn't make the cut. By Season 4, he refined his culinary skills and blew the competition out of the water with his Italian cooking.
These days, Luca is a father and a husband. He runs Dinner With Luca – a catering company covering everything from small cocktail parties to largescale events. He also hosts online cooking classes for those who want to learn how to make some of his favorite recipes.
6 Courtney Lapresi
Season 5 winner Courtney Lapresi clinched victory by preparing a final meal that consisted of crispy pig's ear, duck beak, and a cherry meringue for dessert. The judges were impressed and awarded her the $250,000 cash prize and a cookbook deal.
Unlike most other MasterChef winners, Courtney didn't pursue a career in the culinary world after her win. Instead, she went into sales and has been working for Tesla for several years, according to Mashed. Although she's not cooking professionally, judging by her Instagram, it's clear that she still has a deep love for great food. She regularly shares pictures of some of the tastiest meals she encounters.
5 Claudia Sandoval
Claudia Sandoval and her modern Mexican cuisine impressed the judges in Season 6. She's been booked and busy ever since. Her MasterChef win paved the way for her to join MasterChef: Latino as a judge.
Outside of TV, she created Claudia's Cocina, a catering and consulting company. She also runs a modern Mexican bakery called Cochi Dorado, which ships empanadas, cookies, and other crave-worthy pastries nationwide.
4 Shaune O'Neal
When Shaune O'Neal entered the competition, he was a DJ in Las Vegas. Winning MasterChef completely changed the trajectory of his career. According to his website, he's made a number of television appearances as a food expert, and he's also secured numerous brand deals with companies like Macy's, Morningstar Farms, and Pit Boss Grills.
His most recent endeavor will take him back to his Las Vegas roots. Fox 5 reported that he's reopening the Las Vegas restaurant, The Blind Pig, where he'll serve as co-owner and executive chef. An opening date hasn't been announced yet, but the chef is busy revamping the menu and redesigning the space.
3 Dino Angelo Luciano
Dino Angelo Luciano is hands down one of the most memorable winners in MasterChef's history. The former dancer caught fans' attention with his quirky personality, and he caught the judge's attention with his creativity in the kitchen.
Back in 2019, he released a hip-hop song under the moniker Mal Constant, but it's unclear if fans can expect any new tracks anytime soon. In the meantime, he's busy cooking up vegan meals at his Montreal restaurant, Le Mariachi.
2 Gerron Hurt
Gerron Hurt was an underdog in the competition, landing in the bottom several times throughout the course of Season 9. But by the end of the season, he impressed the judges and secured the trophy.
Fans got to see Gerron return to MasterChef in Season 10 when the newest crop of contestants were challenged to prepare a meal for his wedding. Since then, he and his wife have had a baby, so Gerron is definitely busy being a dad. He's also the owner of Southern Ego, a food truck that serves up Southern-inspired dishes like chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, and bread punning.
1 Dorian Hunter
Season 10's Dorian Hunter made history as the first Black woman to win MasterChef. Always inspired by her Southern roots, her winning meal consisted of seared scallops, short ribs, and a lemon blueberry tart.
In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, Dorian says it was a weird adjustment to return home after winning the show, with people recognizing the mother of four when they're out and about in public. Still, she and her family are thrilled by the win and are eager to take her cooking to the next level. Fans can sign up for online masterclasses through Dorian's website, where she'll share some of her culinary knowledge. She also hopes to open her first brick-and-mortar restaurant in the coming years.
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