Shaun O'Neale Crowned Winner of MASTERCHEF Season Seven

Last night, Season Seven of MASTERCHEF came to an unforgettable conclusion as host and executive producer Gordon Ramsay, along with fellow judge Christina Tosi, and finale guest judges Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Bouloud, named Shaun O'Neale the winner. In addition to earning the MASTERCHEF title, O'Neale, a 33-year-old DJ from Las Vegas, NV, walked away with a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize. He also will be one of the featured chefs on the MASTERCHEF Cruise, which sets sail later this year.

Watch/Share O'Neale's reaction to winning MASTERCHEF: https://youtu.be/J4twZ7F0-0A

"Winning MASTERCHEF is, by far, my greatest achievement. To be able to share my recipes with the world in my very own cookbook has been a longtime dream of mine and now I get that opportunity," said O'Neale. "The MASTERCHEF title is something I have worked my butt off for and I couldn't be more proud to represent the MASTERCHEF legacy!"

"Shaun has been a strong contender since the beginning of this season and continued to impress each of the guest judges," said series host Gordon Ramsay. "His passion, enthusiasm and dedication was evident."

In tonight's sensational season finale episode which, for the first time in MASTERCHEF history, featured three finalists, the Top Three prepared an appetizer dish, an entrée and a dessert. O'Neale created an elevated three-course meal: miso halibut cheeks with vadouvan carrot puree and pickled mushrooms; an entrée of ancho coffee-roasted venison loin with roasted chanterelles and smoked plums with a truffle demi-glaze; and a salted caramel chocolate tart for dessert. Brandi Mudd, a fifth grade teacher from Irvington, KY, prepared bourbon-braised pork belly with apricot BBQ sauce and butternut SQUASH puree, topped with rhubarb and chard slaw for an appetizer; seared duck with wilted greens and ramp hushpuppies as an entrée; and corn meal madeleines with a white chocolate mousse for dessert. David Williams, a poker player, who also is from Las Vegas, made a beet-cured salmon with uni and caviar, topped with a poached egg for an appetizer; savoy-wrapped guinea hen and foie gras with a morello cream sauce as his entrée; and glazed cherry with chocolate crumble for dessert. In the end, it was O'Neale's exquisite flavors and thoughtful dishes that won over the judges and earned him the MASTERCHEF title.

At the end of its seventh season, MASTERCHEF ranks as the season's No. 1 cooking show on television, among Adults 18-49.

MASTERCHEF is once again giving talented home cooks the chance to prove they have what it takes to make their marks on the culinary world. Visit masterchefcasting.com to pre-register and for the most up-to-date audition information.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine NORTH AMERICA and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. "Like" MASTERCHEF on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #Masterchef. Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay -@gordonramsay; Christina Tosi - @christinatosi. See photos and videos on Instagram by following @masterchefonfox.

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