Lucky Masinya Serves Up Perfection to Win The Taste Master SA’s Sixth Season

The highly-anticipated grand finale of the sixth season of The Taste Master SA culminated in a spectacular culinary showdown at Owloon Manor near Paarl, where Johannesburg's own Lucky Masinya was crowned champion. The intense ‘Festive in Winter’ challenge saw Lucky impress judges with a hearty, family-style spread that perfectly blended modern rustic charm with delicate fine-dining finesse.

Lucky, a celebrated Patisserie Lecturer, clinched the coveted title after a fierce competition, narrowly edging out the incredibly talented Chevonne Fourie, who finished as the deserving runner-up. The finale, which featured renowned TV personality and cookbook author Jenny Morris as a guest judge, pushed the contestants to their creative limits.

A Festive Spread to Remember 

The final ‘Festive in Winter’ challenge tasked Lucky and Chevonne with creating an indulgent and festive spread that captured the warmth of winter celebrations. Chevonne showcased her culinary skills with a standout menu featuring a pistachio and naartjie-stuffed leg of lamb, coffee beef wellington, coffee beef fillet with seasonal vegetables, couscous salad, lemon green bean salad with guava, roasted carrot and harissa chickpea salad, marinated brinjals, and sweet potato and avocado croquettes with sour cream. For dessert, she served a fragrant orange and ginger malva pudding with orange custard.

Lucky wowed the judges with his masterful combination of sweet and savoury artistry, serving up roast lamb, stuffed chicken, creamy spicy chicken pasta, roasted baby potatoes, brussels sprouts, butternut, sautéed cherry tomatoes, and spinach puff pastry tarts. His dessert selection sealed his win: churros with caramel ganache, lemon curd macarons, and a decadent tiramisu.

Lucky’s Journey to Victory

Originally from Johannesburg, Lucky Masinya brought his expertise as a patisserie lecturer to the next level throughout the season. Known for merging modern rustic flair with fine-dining finesse, and taking inspiration from culinary greats like Chef Benoit Blin, Lucky impressed with dishes that were both intricate and heartwarming in presentation.

Entering the competition after being inspired by past contestants who pursued their culinary dreams, Lucky stepped up in season six with a bold ambition: to establish a world-class patisserie in Johannesburg and elevate South Africa’s dessert scene on the global stage.

"Winning The Taste Master SA is an incredibly overwhelming and emotional moment for me," Lucky said shortly after his win. "This competition has been a crucible, pushing my limits and revealing strengths I didn't know I had. This win is a testament to never stop dreaming. If you put the work in, you can achieve things beyond your wildest dreams. I can't wait to see where this springboard takes me towards my vision of opening a world-class patisserie right here in Johannesburg."

"Lucky's win is so well-deserved. His passion, precision, and ability to infuse such artistry into his dishes truly set him apart throughout the season,” judge Zola Nene adds. “This has been an absolutely incredible season of The Taste Master SA, filled with immense talent, unexpected twists, and truly inspiring culinary journeys. Congratulations to Lucky! The future of patisserie is bright with him at the helm!"

Chevonne, a fierce contender on this season of The Taste Master SA, also earned high praise for her fearless approach, technical skills, and unwavering creativity, securing a well-deserved runner-up position. “Chevonne has been such a force in this competition, and she’s proven to be one of the most talented and passionate chefs we’ve seen,” says Zola.

In addition to being crowned the winner of the sixth season of The Taste Master SA, Lucky walks away with R200,000 cash from Capitec Bank Business Banking, a year’s supply of Clover products to continue whipping up some incredible dishes and R30,000 from category sponsor for fresh produce, Food Lover’s Market.

“As a brand that’s rooted in nourishing families and celebrating creativity in the kitchen, Clover is incredibly proud to support The Taste Master SA,” says Chipo Kamukwamba, Brand Manager at Clover. “Lucky’s culinary journey has been inspiring to watch. He brings heart, flavour, and finesse to every dish. We can’t wait to see how he continues to grow and make magic with Clover products in his corner. We’re proud to be part of a show that empowers rising talent to chase their culinary dreams and inspires South Africans to do the same in their own kitchens.”

Lucky’s victory is not just a personal triumph, but also a celebration of South Africa’s rich and diverse culinary landscape. With his vision for a patisserie that marries artistry with local flavours, he’s poised to inspire a new generation of dessert lovers and creators.

“Winning The Taste Master SA is only the beginning,” Lucky adds. “This show has given me the confidence and platform to share my passion with the world. I’m ready for the next chapter.”

Following this season’s grand finale, fans can look forward to the launch of The Taste Master Junior’s second season, where South Africa’s youngest culinary talents will get the chance to shine.

For more information, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za and make sure you follow The Taste Master SA on Facebook,Instagram, TikTok and X.