MasterChef Winners: Where Are They Now?

"MasterChef" is a launchpad for aspiring culinary talents looking to make a splash in the highly competitive food industry. The show has become a premier platform for amateur cooks to prove their skills and gain both mentorship and exposure. With seasoned chefs and restaurateurs like Gordon Ramsay and Joe Bastianich as judges, winning "MasterChef" is a significant accomplishment, complete with cash prizes and often a cookbook deal, but what happens after that final, celebratory confetti gets swept away?

The burning question then becomes: How successful are these chefs after they snag that coveted trophy? The reality is both inspiring and sobering. Some have gone on to open restaurants and become public figures. Yet, the path post-"MasterChef" varies greatly for each winner, and not all stories are successful. The food industry is notoriously tough, demanding not just culinary creativity but also keen business acumen and ongoing passion.

So, where exactly do these "MasterChef" champions end up? This article aims to peel back the curtain on the winners' post-"MasterChef" careers. While the competition offers a robust stepping stone, the subsequent choices these chefs make often determine their true success. Whether they become restaurateurs, cookbook authors, TV personalities, or leave the culinary world altogether, their post-show careers are a fascinating testament to the power and limitations of winning a competiion like "MasterChef."

Jennifer Behm-Lazzarini, the "MasterChef" Season 2 winner, has also taken an exciting and diverse post-win path. In 2011 she launched her catering company, Pink Martini Catering. The following year, she competed in "Chris Hardwick's All-Star Celebrity Bowling" special. In 2015, she moved from Delaware to Rhode Island to open a restaurant, Red Fin Crudo + Kitchen with her husband, Julio Lazzarini. She gave a powerful TEDx talk in 2018, "Even Beauty Queens Get Dumped," about resilience and getting back up after challenging times, a principle that no doubt steered the "MasterChef" winner in the right direction during the pandemic — in 2020, Red Fin Crudo shut down. 

She's also had a lively career beyond Season 2 of "MasterChef" in the culinary competition space, appearing on episodes of "Cutthroat Kitchen" and "The Great Food Truck Race" as competitor and judge respectively. In 2021, Jennifer clinched another victory in her chef's hat, competing on an episode of "Beat Bobby Flay" against her husband and ultimately beating Bobby at his own game — which is no mean feat.

Luca Manfè, the Season 4 "MasterChef" U.S. winner, has taken his love for Italian cuisine far beyond the show. He authored a cookbook published in 2014 called "My Italian Kitchen: Favorite Family Recipes from the Winner of MasterChef Season 4 on FOX," which not only shares his family recipes but also helps solidify his authority as an expert in Italian cuisine. If you're not a reader, you can catch him in action through his online cooking classes, where he brings his kitchen expertise directly to your screen, or you can hire him as your personal events caterer.

But Luca doesn't just want you to cook Italian; he wants you to experience Italy through its many flavors and regions. That's why he periodically offers culinary tours of Italy, an immersive experience that's hard to beat. Additionally, show fans might have caught a glimpse of him in single episodes in Season 5, Season 6, and Season 7 of "MasterChef," making guest appearances to help promote his cookbook. He also appeared as part of the star-studded lineup for the "Masterchef" cruise, where he taught the ship's guests how to make homemade pasta. Not all of Manfè's endeavors have been successful, though. He started a food truck called The Lucky Fig that shut down as the food he served was too high-end for a food truck.

Claudia Sandoval,  "MasterChef" U.S. Season 6 winner, has parlayed her win into a multifaceted career. She transitioned from contestant to judge, serving on panels for "MasterChef Latino," "Food Network Challenge" and "Easter Basket Challenge," marking her as an authority in the culinary realm. Claudia also added hosting to her TV portfolio with her own show, "Taste of the Border" which visits border town restaurants. This move isn't just an extension of her career — it's a whole new platform that lets her share her culinary flair, fiery red hair, and passion for food with a wide audience.

Claudia also penned her own cookbook, "Claudia's Cocina: A Taste of Mexico," which featured traditional Mexican recipes alongside ones that added a modern twist to Mexican classics and of course, some of the dishes she made for "MaserChef." She also owns her own catering company, Claudia's Cocina, which creates culinary pop-ups and experiential events. Claudia's journey exemplifies the varied opportunities a "MasterChef" win can provide, from judging to TV hosting and publishing. 

Dino Angelo Luciano, the victor of "Masterchef" Season 8, is a true Renaissance man. On the professional kitchen front, he's worked as a private chef and held executive chef positions at Stella Resto in Toronto and Muse and Market in Arizona. He also collaborates with Sarah Tee on a YouTube channel and posts cooking videos and fun challenges.

Expanding his culinary reach, Dino also collaborated with The Farsides, a Montreal restaurant specializing in Thai and Hawaiian cuisine. He applied his talents in the kitchen to crafting the vegan menu for the trendy restaurant, giving it a unique and notable edge in the crowded Montreal culinary landscape. The restaurant was awarded the honor of Thai Restaurant of the Year in 2022 at the Travel and Hospitality Awards. 

But Dino's talents extend beyond the kitchen, as he's also ventured into the entertainment world. According to his IMDb page, the chef has a role in an upcoming short film, "Tomorrow Will Be Better" as a Soothsayer. He's also a recording artist under the name Human Rabbit. He's clearly set on thriving no matter the avenue and enjoys variety in the opportunities he pursues.

Dorian Hunter, who clinched the title of "MasterChef" in Season 10, has been leveraging her culinary prowess in various ways. She is at work on her first cookbook, although a release date has not been publicly announced. She provides chef services specifically tailored for weddings and corporate events and has partnered with Nymble on recipes. It's unclear if her plan to work in the restaurants of the three celebrity judges on "MasterChef" materialized into work in their kitchens, but she seems to have found her own culinary journey nonetheless. 

In addition to her event-based work, Dorian founded the Cultural Epicurean Network in 2020. Through it, she hosts cooking classes online for amateur cooks, and she's expanded her competitive streak by participating in "The Great Soul Food Cookoff." This not only provided her with another platform to exhibit her culinary skills but also allowed her to share more of her love for soul food with the world. 

Both these ventures demonstrate Dorian's adaptability and her ability to thrive in diverse culinary environments. Whether creating memorable meals for special occasions or competing in different arenas, she continues to make her mark in the food world.

Dara Yu is a unique talent in the "MasterChef" world. After initially coming in as the runner-up in the first season of "MasterChef" Junior, she returned to win Season 12 of the adult version of the show. Since her win, Dara has been deeply embedded in the culinary scene, with her most recent endeavor being a pop-up event focused on congee, a traditional Chinese rice porridge. This pop-up, Congee & Crullers, was a heartfelt tribute to her upbringing, particularly to her grandmother's simple but comforting congee recipes. Hosted at the Curious Palate in Santa Monica, the event featured Dara's innovative twists on both the classic dish and youtiao, the cruller-like strips that traditionally accompany congee. 

Dara's commitment to the culinary arts extends to teaching as well. She's a part-time instructor at The Gourmandise School of Sweets & Savories. Prior to her current role, she had experience working at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Los Angeles. Between her teaching gigs, her fresh takes on traditional recipes, and her rich family-centric culinary background, Dara is carving out an eclectic and exciting path for herself in the food world.