MYRTLE BEACH MAN WINS FOX’S ‘MASTER CHEF.’ SEE WHAT HE COOKED TO TAKE TOP HONORS

Michael Leonard cooked a three-course meal Wednesday night that wowed the judges and made him the winner of the 2024 “Master Chef” competition.

Leonard competed against three contestants on the reality TV show for a trophy and $250,000 in prize money.

The Myrtle Beach man’s meal included a truffle tortellini with brown butter appetizer, herb-crusted rack of venison entree and a peach cobbler-inspired dessert, which was something his mother made. She passed away in 2023.

“It’s literally the dish that represents my mother,” Leonard said of his dessert.

Leonard hosted a “Master Chef” watch party Wednesday at Handley’s Pub & Grub on Renee Drive in Myrtle Beach.

The 27-year-old landed a spot on this season’s Fox’s “MasterChef: Generations” by serving an Italian dish to judges Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez and Joe Bastianich.

The theme for Season 14 pitted home cooks from teams of millennials, baby boomers, Gen X and Gen Y contestants. Leonard competed for the millennials team.

Leonard, originally from New Jersey, previously said that he has been cooking since he was 4 years old, spending time with his dad in the kitchen. Leonard’s first job was cutting onions in the back of a restaurant.

His love for cooking hasn’t waned as he’s gotten older. When Leonard comes home from work or has down time, he usually cooks. “That’s how I spend my time,” he said.

Leonard was among about 44,000 people who were contacted for a chance to be considered for an audition, he said. Of those, 80 were invited to come to Los Angeles to audition for the judges.

That number was then cut to 20 contestants.

Now that the show is finished, Leonard, who owns his own business, LDI Services in Myrtle Beach, is planning to continue his social media videos and start doing private catering.

If you want to find some of Michael’s dishes, check out his Instagram page @flavor.perfection.

2024-09-19T02:28:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd