It’s been clear for weeks that MasterChef Australia 2026 judge Andy Allen has been impressed by winner Vinnie Gibaldi‘s cooking skills, especially after offering him a job at his restaurant, Three Blue Ducks, at the end of a challenge.
However, in an exclusive interview with Chattr, Vinnie revealed that Andy has done much more than simply offer him an apprenticeship. The MasterChef judge has been actively helping Vinnie navigate his next career move, even offering to use his industry connections to help him land the right role.
“Andy has supported me a lot, and he still is supporting me,” Vinnie told Chattr in an exclusive interview. “I feel like if I were to reach out and say, you know, I do want to work at the Ducks, he would definitely facilitate that for sure.”
Vinnie added that he and Andy have discussed his next career move extensively, and said Andy believes Vinnie has bigger things in store than working for him.
“He’s also got my best interests in mind, and I feel like he reckons that maybe the Ducks isn’t the best place to further what I want in terms of cooking, and it could be somewhere else. Which he would help me out with 100%.”
Vinnie explained that Andy has offered to use his contacts to help secure the MasterChef Australia 2026 winner his next big gig.
“He’s pretty much said, what kind of food do you like to eat? Find places that represent food that you like to eat, like to cook, like the vibe of and something that you might want to do in the future and then we can explore avenues like that. He’s given me like a few restaurants to look at as well and go and see.”
The accountant turned MasterChef winner said that all four of the judges were “excellent” but said that he and Andy shared a special bond.
“They all brought something different to the table, and they were all just as supportive as each other. But I just feel like I meshed with Andy a bit more because the food that he cooks is the food that I like to cook and I like to eat as well. And, in terms of that kind of connection, it was a bit easier as well, and I just feel like he’s just a good bloke.”
MasterChef’s Vinnie on what’s next for him and what he’ll spend his prize money on
While it sounds as though a high-profile restaurant gig could be on the cards for Vinnie thanks to Andy, the MasterChef winner told Chattr he’s keen to get his foot in the door and kickstart his cooking career as soon as possible.
“I want to take every opportunity that I can get just to get a step into the hospitality world,” he explained. “I feel like that’s really the hardest part getting in there, and then I’d love to do some pop-ups and I’d love to do some paninis, even if it’s just one day a week or something. And then even me and [my girlfriend] Brizzy talking about opening up a wine bar.”
Throughout the 2026 MasterChef season, Vinnie has mentioned that he wants to start his own sandwich shop, and he told Chattr that it’s still on the cards.
“It is, but probably a bit different now. Maybe with a changing menu, a bit more elevated,” he explained.
Vinnie bagged $250,000 for winning MasterChef Australia 2026, and said he’s hoping to use some of that money towards jumpstarting his new career.
“I would love to move out with Bridge, my girlfriend, and that would definitely help us get a place,” he said. “But then at the same time, I also want to take some opportunities, and if I can get a pop-up started, I’d love to invest in one of them and see what I can do with that.”
A huge congratulations to Vinnie on his MasterChef Australia 2026 win, and we can’t wait to see what he does next!
Stream the MasterChef Australia 2026 grand finale on Channel 10 and 10Play.
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