Camilla Angelucci wins MasterChef 14 after intense final duel judged by Joan Roca
TVE aired the MasterChef 14 finale on Monday night, with Italian contestant Camilla Angelucci defeating Annie Jiménez to claim the €100,000 prize, a cookbook deal, and a spot at the Basque Culinary Center.
The fourteenth season of Spain's long-running cooking competition ended in the early hours of Tuesday, after a final gala that stretched past 2:15 a.m. Four finalists, Camilla, Annie, Carlota and Chambo, faced three tests of escalating difficulty, from a high-pressure replication challenge to a restaurant service at a three-Michelin-star establishment, before the last two dueled with complete menus.
The final four and the first jacket
Annie, Camilla, Chambo and Carlota opened the night with 'Seguir al chef', replicating live a vegetable-cream dish by Oriol Castro of Disfrutar (three Michelin stars). Despite early chaos and a blending mistake, Camilla recovered to produce the most faithful plate and won the first jacket, securing a direct pass to the final duel.
MasterChef has given me immense security. I'm going to start believing more in myself.
Outdoor test at Quique Dacosta's
Annie, Carlota and Chambo then travelled to Denia, where, inside the Quique Dacosta Restaurante (three Michelin stars), they each cooked two courses of the chef's complex tasting menu for Dacosta and eleven local gastronomy guests. Chambo struggled with timing and ingredient mix-ups, finishing fourth. Annie's pesto and dessert outshone Carlota's fideuà and coulant, earning her the second jacket and a place alongside Camilla.
- First test: 'Seguir al chef' with Oriol Castro. Camilla wins first jacket and direct pass to final duel.
- Outdoor test at Quique Dacosta restaurant in Denia. Annie advances as second finalist; Chambo eliminated in 4th, Carlota 3rd.
- Final duel ends: Camilla declared winner over Annie after serving full menus to Joan Roca.
The final duel
In the last round, Camilla and Annie prepared a full menu before guest judge Joan Roca of El Celler de Can Roca (three Michelin stars). Camilla's menu paid homage to her life's geography: a starter of Ibizan bullit de peix with tiger milk and chlorophyll oil, and a mushroom-centred main called 'Raíces' referencing her childhood family separation. Annie answered with 'La menestra de Jorgita' (a tribute to her parents' restaurant) and a venison dish honouring her godmother. After tasting, the judges awarded Camilla the title.
Prizes and reaction
The winner received the MasterChef trophy, publication of her own recipe book, and €100,000. Carlota, who placed third and won a specialisation course at the Basque Culinary Center, said through tears:
Chambo, eliminated fourth, left the kitchens acknowledging the value of the journey.I left my job to come here. Seeing myself in the final has exceeded all my expectations.
