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Andrew Peter Allen (born 30 April 1988) is an Australian cook, food critic and television presenter. He is notable for winning the fourth season of MasterChef Australia in 2012, and for being a judge on MasterChef Australia from 2020.

Early life

Allen was originally an electrician by occupation. He was also a basketball player with the Maitland Mustangs. and also volunteered to work on extensions to his local basketball stadium.

Allen's father, Peter, was a teacher at Bolwarra Public School, and was also the primary cricket convenor for the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association.

Career

Andy pursued a career in the hospitality industry. He now co-owns a restaurant, Three Blue Ducks, that has five locations around Australia, in Rosebery, Byron Bay, Nimbo and Bellingen in New South Wales, as well as Melbourne in Victoria. In 2018 his restaurant was awarded a Chef's Hat, making Andy the first MasterChef Australia contestant to be awarded the highly sought-after honour.

In 2021, he appeared as a co-host in Three Blue Ducks, a cooking show based that travels throughout Australia to find inspiration for new dishes that appear on the permanent restaurant menu.

MasterChef Australia

Allen won the fourth season of MasterChef Australia. After making it to the final, Allen beat fellow finalists Audra Morrice and Julia Taylor in a three-way contest. Facing only Taylor for the final two rounds, Allen won with a score of 76 to Taylor's 68.

Allen appeared in an episode of MasterChef Australia All-Stars in August 2012.

He returned in the eleventh season as a professional Secret Chef, and lost to Sandeep Pandit by a perfect score, 30, in an Immunity Pin Challenge. His score was kept secret, but was revealed on Facebook to be 24.

In October 2019, he was announced as one of three of the new MasterChef judges who replaced George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston.

In May 2023, he was a pallbearer for Jock Zonfrillo with Laura Zonfrillo.

Personal life

Allen became engaged in May 2020 and married his wife Alex Davey on 8 October 2022.

References

1. Byrnes, Holly (26 July 2012). "Andy Allen is 2012 MasterChef winner". news.com.au. Sydney: News Limited. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
2. Rockman, Lisa (22 October 2019). "Maitland electrician turned MasterChef judge Andy Allen is about to become a household name". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle: Australian Community Media. p. 19. ProQuest 2307487216. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
3. ^ Amber, Giles (11 May 2020). "Exclusive: MasterChef judge Andy Allen shares his engagement news". TV Week. Are Media. Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
4. Allen, Rick (31 March 2020). "Andy Allen's amazing journey from Maitland Mustang to a MasterChef Judge". The Maitland Mercury. Maitland: Australian Community Media. p. 8. ProQuest 2384587481. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
5. "Federation Centre makeover tips off at Maitland venue". SportingPulse. 28 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
6. Berry, Rebecca (18 July 2012). "Maitland's Andy sizzles on MasterChef". The Maitland Mercury. Maitland: Fairfax Media. p. 2. ProQuest 1026581732. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
7. "2012 NSWPSSA Executive and Conveners". NSWPSSA. Government of New South Wales. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
8. Quinn, Paul. "Home". Three Blue Ducks. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
9. "Andy Allen". 10Play. Ten Network Holdings. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
10. "Foodies Rejoice! Three Blue Ducks Serves Up A Tasty New Series". Network Ten. ViacomCBS ANZ. 27 January 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
11. "Andy Allen's score". MasterChef Australia. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019 – via Facebook.
12. Bucklow, Andrew (10 October 2019). "MasterChef Australia: New judges announced". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
13. MasterChef Judge Jock Zonfrillo's Funeral Held In Sydney (News bulletin). 10 News First. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via YouTube.
14. Simich, Ricardo (23 October 2022). "Spy: Aussie MasterChef judge Andy Allen's luxury Kiwi honeymoon". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland: New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

• Participants in Australian reality television series
• Reality cooking competition winners
• Living people
• Australian television chefs
• MasterChef Australia
• 1988 births
• People from Maitland, New South Wales
• Australian company founders
• Drink company founders