Apprentice electrician Andy Allen drew on his childhood experience of fishing with his dad to create a dish that was a game changer and snagged him the MasterChef title for 2012.
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Allen, from Maitland, NSW, won $100,000 cash, a book deal and the chance to gain culinary experience by working with some of Australia's finest chefs.
After he was announced the winner, the 24-year-old said very few people had given him a chance of winning, which made the victory sweeter.
"I'm over the moon and I'm very proud of myself really, because I bet you anyone at the start of the competition wouldn't have picked me to win," Allen said.
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"Anyone about two weeks ago wouldn't have picked me to win."
Brisbane legal secretary Julia Taylor, 26, was runner-up and took home $15,000.
She was immediately offered an apprenticeship by patissier Adriano Zumbo.
The Network Ten finale last night was decided on points.
It involved three rounds of challenges including a sudden death entree contest which eliminated Audra Morrice and left Allen fighting Taylor for the title.
Taylor held a two-point lead going into the mains challenge, an invention test in which the pair had to create a meal that could potentially be Australia's national dish.
Allen served up a fisherman's basket which drew 10 out of 10 from judge Gary Mehigan and nine each from George Calombaris and Matt Preston.
Taylor's dish of a crusted rack of lamb with vegetables drew praise from the judges but it was noticeably undercooked, which cost her dearly.
That meant Allen had a commanding five-point lead heading into the final round, based on a dessert dish, something that's been Taylor's strength throughout the series.
But Allen nailed it.
Morrice collected $5,000 for coming third.
AAP
