‘I felt a little bit of impostor syndrome’: How a sandwich guy claimed the MasterChef title

Vinnie Gibaldi, a 25-year-old transplant nurse from Melbourne, has won the 18th season of MasterChef Australia, defeating fellow contestant Petro Papathomas in a grueling two-round cook-off. The finale, held on Sunday night, featured a mystery box challenge followed by a five-hour Chinese Afternoon Tea pressure test designed by renowned pastry chef Cherish Finden. Gibaldi, known initially as a “sandwich guy,” emerged victorious, marking a dramatic career shift from healthcare to culinary excellence. Gibaldi shared his emotions shortly after winning, expressing gratitude and disbelief. “Pretty good, pretty, pretty good,” he told national TV editor Louise Rugendyke. “I’m very grateful, and I’m just so appreciative of everyone. I don’t really have that many words because I’m still lost for words at the moment.” The win came after filming the final in May, during which Gibaldi remained in a state of uncertainty. He described the period leading up to the announcement as nerve-wracking, noting that he had to hold onto the possibility of victory for only a short time before receiving confirmation from the producers. During the final, Gibaldi faced the daunting task of creating a complex dessert menu for the Chinese Afternoon Tea challenge. Initially, he expressed fear upon seeing the scale of the dishes required. “When that dish was revealed, I was like, ‘Oh no, this is the end for me,’” he recalled. The challenge involved crafting intricate pastries and desserts, which he admitted were outside his usual expertise. However, the positive feedback from the judges, particularly Cherish Finden, gave him immense satisfaction. “All that work that I’d been doing, and all that time, and all that practice led up to this,” he said, adding that it was rewarding to represent the team and impress the judges. Gibaldi credited his nursing background with helping him maintain composure under pressure. When asked if his medical training played a role in his success, he responded affirmatively. “One hundred per cent,” he said. “I feel like that’s me, but it’s also nursing, and I feel like those type of people go into nursing as well. So it’s hand-in-hand.” He emphasized the importance of remaining calm and focusing on completing tasks rather than dwelling on mistakes. “When something’s going wrong, you can either focus on it or you can just get it done,” he explained. Gibaldi noted that he observed Petro Papathomas struggling significantly during the final. While he described the cooking process as a blur due to its intensity, he acknowledged the emotional toll on his competitor. “After the cook, I could see he was pretty emotional,” he said. “He’s still my mate. I never once thought that we were competing against each other. I thought it was always us cooking together, so that was sad for me as well.” The camaraderie among contestants stood out as a notable aspect of this season. Gibaldi remarked that the group felt unusually close, contrasting with previous seasons. “What was a surprise was the fact that other years haven’t been like this,” he said. The judges also commented on the genuine friendship among the participants, which Gibaldi found unexpected yet heartwarming. “I’ve met like a lot of people on that show who have become my friends for life, which is pretty special,” he added.