Paramount Australia & New Zealand Corporate: Gold Standard

John Demetrios emerged victorious as the Dessert Master of 2024, taking home the trophy, title, and a whopping $100,000 cash prize. The competition was intense, with judges Melissa Leong and Amaury Guichon, along with dessert experts Kirsten Tibballs, Adriano Zumbo, and season one winner Gareth Whitton, keeping a close eye on the three finalists – Christy Tania, Emelia Jackson, and John Demetrios.

For the final challenge, the contestants had to whip up a two-course menu inspired by the colors of Australia – green and gold. John, drawing inspiration from a fig tree from his childhood backyard, decided to showcase fig leaf in his green dish. With flavors like lemon myrtle and a fig leaf ice cream atop a white chocolate crémeux, his creation named ‘Can You Fig It?’ dazzled the judges.

Moving on to his gold dessert, ‘Eureka’, John paid homage to the Victorian Goldrush era with a decadent chocolate cake soaked in whiskey syrup, a cocoa nib crunch disc, and a caramel chocolate parfait. Plated to resemble a goldmine, the dish was a hit with its rich flavors and intricate presentation.

When the judges tasted John’s creations, they were blown away by the colors, flavors, textures, and sheer artistry of his dishes. A truly humble winner, John expressed his disbelief at the win, saying, “I can’t believe it, I’m super proud. It’s going to take me a couple of days for this to feel real, I’m sure!”

If you missed any of the action, catch up on all episodes of Dessert Masters on 10 Play. Join the conversation on social media and dive deeper into the world of desserts!