Melbourne chef and restaurateur Philip Vakos has secured a place in the top 10 of MasterChef Greece, becoming the first Greek Australian contestant to compete on the popular cooking competition.
The achievement adds another milestone to Vakos’ culinary journey, which began on Australian television 15 years ago when he became Tasmania’s first-ever contestant on MasterChef Australia in 2010.
Now representing the Greek Australian community on the 10th season of MasterChef Greece, Vakos has emerged as one of the competition’s standout contestants, earning praise for his creativity in the kitchen and dessert-making skills while competing against chefs of Greek heritage from countries including Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates who have travelled to their ancestral homeland for the milestone season.
For Vakos, the opportunity represented much more than another television appearance.
As MasterChef Greece enters its most demanding phase, Vakos (L) and the other nine contestants face what producers have described as the “mother of all battles”, with the two remaining brigades competing for a place in the final stages of the show. Photo: Supplied
“This is really special, to come back on a show after 15 years, to cook and show my culinary experience in Greece,” he said.
“After almost 12 years of running our restaurant Bahari in Melbourne, I believe it’s good to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone in order to grow.”
Unlike the Australian version of the competition, MasterChef Greece divides contestants into two competing brigades – Red and Blue – which battle through a series of team challenges. Vakos has played a key role in the Red Brigade’s success, helping his team reach the final stages of the contest.
Despite Greek being his second language, he has impressed judges and viewers alike with both his technical ability and calm approach to the competition.
Beyond the restaurant industry, Vakos has remained a familiar face on Australian television, appearing on programs including SBS Food, Everyday Gourmet and Farm to Fork. He is also well known for his involvement in Greek community events and festivals across Australia. Photo: Supplied
Vakos said he had not initially planned to return to the MasterChef kitchen but felt the invitation to compete in Greece was an opportunity too significant to ignore.
“Sometimes life throws you an opportunity, and you either say no, or grab it with both hands,” he said.
“I’m really grateful to have firstly the love and support of my wife, and also family, to be able to partake in this season and represent Australian Greeks.”
Born and raised in Hobart, Vakos grew up surrounded by Greek food and traditions. With two Cretan grandmothers and grandparents who migrated to Tasmania from Greece in the 1940s, food became a central part of family life from an early age.
Although he originally trained and worked as an accountant, his passion for cooking eventually led him into hospitality, prompting a move to Melbourne after his appearance on MasterChef Australia.
The next part of the competition with see Vakos and his fellow contestants up the level of complexity and originality under pressure in order to secure a spot in the final stages of MasterChef Greece.
Vakos and his wife, Helene have also expanded into healthily prepared Greek and Mediterranean meals through their business Phlavour. Photo: Supplied
