Gareth Whitton wins Dessert Masters
Melbourne Pastry Chef takes home $100,000 prize after outscoring MasterChef favourites in 10 season.
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Founder and Pastry Chef of Tarts Anon Gareth Whitton has won the inaugural title of 10’s Dessert Masters, fending off competition from two MasterChef graduates, Jess Liemantara and Reynold Poernomo.
He wins $100,000 cash after battling it out in a two-course sweet service challenge, feeding 15 diners and the judges in four hours.
For course one, he made an elevated ‘Rhubarb Tart’ with lemon verbena and pepperberry. For his second course, Gareth created a ‘Wattleseed and Chocolate Mousse’ entremet. During the rush of the cook, he cut his finger which cost him precious time, but he rushed to catch up. But he triumphed with 35/40 points over Reynold’s 28/40 and Jess’ 27/40.
For her first course Jess Liemantara, created ‘Not So Strawberries and Cream’, but when her chiboust texture wasn’t quite right, but she had no time to remake it. For her second course, she left a blackberry sorbet in the blast freezer for too long.
After coming so close to a grand final in season 12, Reynold Poernomo made it to the end His first course, ‘Floral’, featured a feijoa cremeaux, strawberries, jasmine gelato, with a delicate sugar flower and yuzu jelly. Overall the dish was a bit too cold. But Amaury unfortunately didn’t like his second course, ‘Milk and Honey’ as all the elements were frozen.
Gareth said of his win: “I couldn’t be happier to have been asked to be involved in the very first Dessert Masters, and to come out the other side with the chocolates makes it that much sweeter. I always knew that I was somewhat of an underdog coming into this competition, however I knew that a few unique skills and years of tough restaurant work could be enough to shake things up.
“The relationships that I have made in this competition will stay with me forever. I have forged some professional and personal connections that have made this experience one of the most enjoyable and constructive in my career, and the inspiration and friendship my fellow contestants and the judges provided, has motivated me in ways that words can’t describe.”
10 will screen a second season in 2024, expected to run during the Olympics.
10 Responses
After many years of ignoring Masterchef (bored with it, didn’t like the hosts), Dessert Masters brought me back to the format. Desserts are so much more exacting than savoury. Savoury can be just a mess of ingredients on a plate and all the interest is in the flavour, which the viewer misses out on. The desserts on the show had visual drama, required precision baking, and the contestants were experts.
Glad to hear it is getting another season, but I would much prefer better hosts/judges. The french guy almost drove me away.
It was okay but not as exciting as normal Masterchef. I actually got sick of just seeing sweet things, and made me want more savory food each night haha, when I’m usually a sweet tooth. Also I’m not sure how it can do many seasons? I mean how many pastry chefs are there in Australia anyway? They had all of them already!
One last thing any reports that Mel and the French guy might be an item? Mmm just seemed like a lot of chemistry there.
With the success of Dessert Masters I hope they can also move to MasterChef Professionals, the UK version currently being broadcast in the UK is a great insight into these young chefs seeking Michelin Stars with the assist of some of the best restaurants in London.
Short, but sweet. The main show needs an overhaul and should be cut down to 12 contestants. Earlier this year, it felt like it dragged on and on. To make matters worse, the standard was below par.
It was actually trimmed by a few weeks this year, but I do recall posting on ways for it to be cut back some time ago. I guess 10 has to decide where it can fund a new production to take its place and weigh up how successful that can be.
I think it dragged on because of the ‘Jock’ factor, his story, sad as it was it was the main promotion and discussion points.
So glad to see Gareth win, when I was expecting a whole “redemption arc” for Reynold to take out the prize.
Congratulations to Gareth! And great efforts from Reynold and Jess too. I really enjoyed Dessert Masters and I can’t wait to see who signs up for next season.
Thoroughly enjoyed the show and Gareth is a worthy winner. look forward to the second series.
I’ve enjoyed Dessert Masters more than I expected, as I have never gotten into previous Masterchef spin offs.
I would like to see at least a month gap between Masterchef and Dessert Masters next year, a back to back airing would be overwhelming and you need a disconnect.