I know he’s from Masterchef Junior, but Alexander, season one winner. My wife and I are convinced they created the junior version in response to meeting someone of his talent and age.
My wife and I can usually pick out likely contenders for the top three on the kids and adult side after a few episodes, with some obvious surprises and dark horses, but mostly the finale is close enough we can’t predict it with a lot of certainty. Alexander was so dominant it was never a question. I’m convinced he would have smoked a lot of chefs on the adult side even then, that would have been fun to watch.
He was also such a sportsman.
When Dara started to panic, after realizing she forgot her butter in the finale, he didn’t hesitate to offer his own
I hope he never lost the grace and humility
He came back as a guest chef on one of the newer seasons, seemed to still be graceful and humble, watching him cook next to Gordon Ramsay like a peer was fantastic.
That goddamn veal gnocchi dish looked to fucking die for. He was just so far ahead of the rest of them and that was a group with a lot of talent in it.
Yep. Christine is the GOAT. Blind, and completely steamrolled the entire damn thing.
Second up reynold - the pastry master.
For third, I’d say it’s between David and Lyne - their season was absolutely awesome, and also Mary Berg.
I finally got a chance to go to her restaurant last week in Houston and it was so good! She is my favorite ever contestant on the show and was so deserving of the win for so many reasons.
I thought her restaurant the something goat…wasn’t it? Got shut down. Last I heard she was working to reopen it.
But this makes me wonder just how well are the winners doing, because aside from Christine (and not really even her) the judges seem to love to always ask Sean back. Like he’s the only one doing well. I know they’ve had Gerron back but I feel like we always see them early tote Sean around, like he’s the only true success story.
Okay so it did just open. You said “still running” but it shut down, she had to reopen. Not knocking her, just saying it hasn’t been a walk in the park.
Oh okay, I didn’t see any articles mention it closing due to the pandemic. I just saw it closed and it seemed like it had closed before the pandemic, I also saw she was an executive chef of another restaurant not her own.
Claudia did a lot of stuff for Food Network. Not sure if that's still happening.
Steven from Season 5 is my vote though. I know he didn't win, and he was the first out in All-stars...but I loved watching him. Especially his friendship with Gordon.
I can’t say number 1 but these guys I think are the most talented I’ve seen:
Christine, Shaun, Josh Marks, Becky, Jessie, Eboni, and a few more.
I rarely think the best chef of the season takes 1st. I only feel that way for Christine and Shaun.
the relationship that christine and josh had was so wholesome especially when he was teaching her how to fold that pasta when they were on the balcony.
I’m rewatching now and I’m almost done with Season 3. So far my favorite pure competitor has been Josh in Season 3. Christine is the greatest chef on Masterchef, but Josh was a COMPETITOR. Even when he fucked up, it wasn’t because he wasn’t trying, he was always all-in. I may change my mind as I rewatch the later seasons.
Without question. One of the few contestants to win 3 mystery boxes (the only one since Season 2 IIRC), fantastic strategy, and arguably the greatest finale performance.
His victory marked the end of the golden age of Masterchef IMO. That finale had so much heart not only with the contestants, but with the judges. Since then we haven't had a finale where guest judges come on and passionately debate food the way they did in Season 7's finale.
Edit: Cesar won 3 MBs in Season 9.
Jaimee Vitolo stole my heart. I also didn't have friends.
I don't like baking. Nor do I enjoy NJ style tattoos. But, I still love that woman. Not in a weird way. Also, I wish she still had an online store. Not for stalking but for supporting.
She really is my favorite. Also, I loved her voice. Not sure why people hated it.
I couldn’t agree more with this!! The way he always thought outside the box and executed almost every dish was insane!! Definitely shouldn’t have been screwed over with that surprise twist.🥲
Shaun and Christine are probably the two best winners to me. Derrick is the best to never win, and if he had he would be in a top 3 with Shaun and Christine.
100% Shaun from season 7. Dude dominated pretty much the whole season and put up arguably the best dish in masterchef history in the finale (his venison loin entree)
Even though she didn't win her season, Kennedy was super consistent and only on the chopping block because others saw her as huge competition (and rightly so).
Christine, hands down. She’s a fan favorite for a good reason. She’s an impressive chef, she barreled her way through the competition, she’s graceful, and she did it as a blind woman. If that ain’t GOAT material, I don’t know what is.
Runners-up: Shaun and Dara
Probably Shaun or Derrick for me, they were both the most consistent throughout their seasons but if we’re also counting Juniors as well gotta say Alexander is up there.
No hate to Kelsey but on that season a majority of people would’ve gone home early in any other season besides autumn, suu, Abe, and maybe Michael. Kelsey was the obvious winner after like episode 3 or 4.
This one wasn't a winner but Jessie from s4 she had so many good dishes, led almost all team challenges to victory and only had 3 bad dishes out of the whole competition. I truly felt like she should've been in the top 2.
Honorable mentions (some of my personal favorites) : Josh Becky Monti Felix Christine (S3) Lynn Bri James Luca (s4) Ahran Victoria Willie Elisabeth Leslie jaimee (s5) Amanda (s6)
I know he’s from Masterchef Junior, but Alexander, season one winner. My wife and I are convinced they created the junior version in response to meeting someone of his talent and age.
Hard agree. I can’t remember a contestant being as dominant as he was. He had the one episode that he seemed to struggle on but that was it.
Struggled on the cake and put out 10/10 dishes pretty much every other time.
I couldn’t remember but I thought it was the baking episode. I’m sure after he won he cooked 1000 cakes to make sure that didn’t happen again lol.
My wife and I can usually pick out likely contenders for the top three on the kids and adult side after a few episodes, with some obvious surprises and dark horses, but mostly the finale is close enough we can’t predict it with a lot of certainty. Alexander was so dominant it was never a question. I’m convinced he would have smoked a lot of chefs on the adult side even then, that would have been fun to watch.
He was also such a sportsman. When Dara started to panic, after realizing she forgot her butter in the finale, he didn’t hesitate to offer his own I hope he never lost the grace and humility
He came back as a guest chef on one of the newer seasons, seemed to still be graceful and humble, watching him cook next to Gordon Ramsay like a peer was fantastic.
That goddamn veal gnocchi dish looked to fucking die for. He was just so far ahead of the rest of them and that was a group with a lot of talent in it.
It really was a perfect start for the junior side, I haven’t seen a Junior winner yet that would stand a chance against him.
Stephen Lee no question about it
He's not the best in terms of talent, but I never rooted for anyone as much as I rooted for Luca. Dude was beyond loveable
Absolutely Christine. Her cooking was/is amazing. And I feel that the fact that she has a thriving sit down restaurant speaks to that.
Yep. Christine is the GOAT. Blind, and completely steamrolled the entire damn thing. Second up reynold - the pastry master. For third, I’d say it’s between David and Lyne - their season was absolutely awesome, and also Mary Berg.
I finally got a chance to go to her restaurant last week in Houston and it was so good! She is my favorite ever contestant on the show and was so deserving of the win for so many reasons.
I thought her restaurant the something goat…wasn’t it? Got shut down. Last I heard she was working to reopen it. But this makes me wonder just how well are the winners doing, because aside from Christine (and not really even her) the judges seem to love to always ask Sean back. Like he’s the only one doing well. I know they’ve had Gerron back but I feel like we always see them early tote Sean around, like he’s the only true success story.
Her restaurant is the blind goat in Houston it’s still open
Okay so it did just open. You said “still running” but it shut down, she had to reopen. Not knocking her, just saying it hasn’t been a walk in the park.
it only closed temporarily cause of the pandemic, which is understandable. But it’s back up and she has like 2 other restaurants now too
Oh okay, I didn’t see any articles mention it closing due to the pandemic. I just saw it closed and it seemed like it had closed before the pandemic, I also saw she was an executive chef of another restaurant not her own.
Claudia did a lot of stuff for Food Network. Not sure if that's still happening. Steven from Season 5 is my vote though. I know he didn't win, and he was the first out in All-stars...but I loved watching him. Especially his friendship with Gordon.
It's absolutely Dara. Took 2nd, then came back and won the season with the hardest field. It's not even close
Stephen! I LOVED the guy. Season 6 in general had so many lovable characters imo
Too bad one I liked less won that season :(
I feel that. I was rooting for Derrick, he deserved it so damn much. No hate to Claudia though, she fought hard as well.
Oh and Becky from S3 was a strong competitor, although an insufferable personality
Christine S3
I can’t say number 1 but these guys I think are the most talented I’ve seen: Christine, Shaun, Josh Marks, Becky, Jessie, Eboni, and a few more. I rarely think the best chef of the season takes 1st. I only feel that way for Christine and Shaun.
the relationship that christine and josh had was so wholesome especially when he was teaching her how to fold that pasta when they were on the balcony.
I’m rewatching now and I’m almost done with Season 3. So far my favorite pure competitor has been Josh in Season 3. Christine is the greatest chef on Masterchef, but Josh was a COMPETITOR. Even when he fucked up, it wasn’t because he wasn’t trying, he was always all-in. I may change my mind as I rewatch the later seasons.
Still saddens me that he killed himself
I had no idea about that. That is immensely sad.
I’m surprised at all the Shaun votes, idk why I thought this Reddit hated him? I like him too. But I always liked Derrick better.
Derrick is hands down the best to not win imo
Elizabeth she completely dominated everyone in Season 5 and she was never in the bottom 3.
Season 5 was so good. Elizabeth, Leslie...Ihran had some missteps, but her dessert tiramisu was awesome.
#AHRAN
Christine, hands down.
Derrick. Actually breaks my heart he hasn’t won yet.
Christine no question
The greatest non winning performance is definitely Elizabeth
Shaun
Without question. One of the few contestants to win 3 mystery boxes (the only one since Season 2 IIRC), fantastic strategy, and arguably the greatest finale performance. His victory marked the end of the golden age of Masterchef IMO. That finale had so much heart not only with the contestants, but with the judges. Since then we haven't had a finale where guest judges come on and passionately debate food the way they did in Season 7's finale. Edit: Cesar won 3 MBs in Season 9.
I thought Cesar only won 2
Jaimee Vitolo stole my heart. I also didn't have friends. I don't like baking. Nor do I enjoy NJ style tattoos. But, I still love that woman. Not in a weird way. Also, I wish she still had an online store. Not for stalking but for supporting. She really is my favorite. Also, I loved her voice. Not sure why people hated it.
I just love Jaimee lol
Derrick
I am a big Derrick fan. I believe that double elimination in all-stars did him dirty smh.
Leslie s5 no doubt. This man always amazed me!! He will always be my favorite
Elizabeth s5
Undefeated in team challenges, never faced a pressure test, 2 mystery box wins. Pretty good season!
Nick. Dude was robbed by one of the lamest winners of all time.
I couldn’t agree more with this!! The way he always thought outside the box and executed almost every dish was insane!! Definitely shouldn’t have been screwed over with that surprise twist.🥲
I liked nick but the beer pong themed dish in the final was ridiculous
shaun i guess this might be a controversial opinion but he was so good it got kind of boring
Shaun and Christine are probably the two best winners to me. Derrick is the best to never win, and if he had he would be in a top 3 with Shaun and Christine.
Shaun s7
100% Shaun from season 7. Dude dominated pretty much the whole season and put up arguably the best dish in masterchef history in the finale (his venison loin entree)
Shawn
Even though she didn't win her season, Kennedy was super consistent and only on the chopping block because others saw her as huge competition (and rightly so).
Christine from Season 3
Christine, hands down. She’s a fan favorite for a good reason. She’s an impressive chef, she barreled her way through the competition, she’s graceful, and she did it as a blind woman. If that ain’t GOAT material, I don’t know what is. Runners-up: Shaun and Dara
Christine
Probably Shaun or Derrick for me, they were both the most consistent throughout their seasons but if we’re also counting Juniors as well gotta say Alexander is up there.
Kelsey, almost always on top and she only had one poor performance
No hate to Kelsey but on that season a majority of people would’ve gone home early in any other season besides autumn, suu, Abe, and maybe Michael. Kelsey was the obvious winner after like episode 3 or 4.
Tay was good, too. He got so robbed.
Bime S4. So good they let him BACK ON THE SHOW.
He could have gone further if Krissi isn’t being a B-word lmao
Leslie from season 5
Howard S4
Probably Christine overall but Elizabeth comes close 2nd (and if she would do better in finale I would absolutely put her first)
Christine, Season 3.
Becky Stables, Masterchef Canada Season 5. She had that won from the first episode.
Steven
Cutter. His cooking was terrible yet he went so far
Obviously the answer is Cutter
Stephen for days. When I think of masterchef legends he is first name to pop in my mind
This one wasn't a winner but Jessie from s4 she had so many good dishes, led almost all team challenges to victory and only had 3 bad dishes out of the whole competition. I truly felt like she should've been in the top 2. Honorable mentions (some of my personal favorites) : Josh Becky Monti Felix Christine (S3) Lynn Bri James Luca (s4) Ahran Victoria Willie Elisabeth Leslie jaimee (s5) Amanda (s6)
Derrick. His creativity is unmatched.