He entered the MasterChef Australia kitchen as a chartered accountant with a passionate dream, and walked out as one of the most celebrated culinary talents in the country.
Now, following a devastating grand finale loss, Petro has officially broken his silence to reveal the astonishing next chapter of his career.
Reflecting on the emotional high-stakes finale, Petro candidly admitted to New Idea that he felt his hopes of lifting the iconic trophy slip away early in the broadcast.
“I had a feeling because obviously I was five points behind in the first round,” he explained.
In that opening round, both finalists were handed a high-pressure “Superstar Mystery Box” filled with select ingredients from this season’s guest judges.
With just 75 minutes on the clock to execute a show-stopping dish, Petro decided to double down on his proven strength: desserts.
Throughout the competition, his pastry work had earned him high praise from judges and viewers alike.
However, despite maintaining a calm demeanor under the ticking clock, tragedy struck his dish.
One of his carefully crafted tart shells developed a subtle bitter note, throwing the delicate balance of flavors completely out of alignment.
When the judges cast their final verdicts, Petro finished the opening round with a score of 32 out of 40, trailing behind his opponent Vinnie, who stormed ahead with 37 points.
“I had a feeling it was going to be very hard for me to gain momentum back after that,” he admitted.
A brutal pressure test sealed his fate
The second round offered no breathing room for the trailing contestant.
Petro and Vinnie were tasked with recreating a complex, intricate Chinese afternoon tea set designed by legendary pastry chef Cherish Finden.
The pressure test featured three separate, highly technical desserts that demanded absolute precision.
Despite his remarkable track record in past elimination rounds, Petro’s journey through the final cook was plagued by unexpected setbacks.
He was forced to remake several key elements from scratch after minor execution errors.
To make matters worse, a crucial page in the recipe was accidentally skipped during the frenzy, forcing him into a frantic, high-stress race against the clock.
Ultimately, Petro scored 35 out of 50 points in the second round, finishing with a cumulative total of 67 points.
Vinnie secured a decisive victory, claiming the title with an impressive total score of 80 points.
“I was really just focusing on doing the best I could, so I just took it step by step and focused on the job in front of me,” Petro shared with New Idea.
“There were times where I felt a bit overwhelmed by the pressure. I think it was a challenging experience, and I just tried my best to stay in the moment.”
Overcoming family anxiety and honoring legacy
Beyond the intense heat of the television studio, Petro carried an even heavier emotional burden throughout his time in the competition.
Prior to entering the MasterChef kitchen, he made the agonizing decision to step away from his father’s established business to pursue his culinary ambitions.
He constantly worried that falling short of the top prize might leave his family disappointed by his choice.
Fortunately, those fears were completely unfounded.
“I think they’re really proud of me. I mean, they were so proud that I got into MasterChef, let alone made it to the finale,” Petro revealed.
“So really, they’ve just been overflowing with support and pride.”
The chartered accountant also shared that his late grandmother, Sophia, who tragically passed away while the show was filming, remained at the forefront of his mind during every single cook.
He described his finale appearance as a poignant, full-circle moment for his family, who had spent years gathered around the television watching the popular cooking series together.
The surprising career pivot: From office desk to commercial kitchen
Now, with the intense competition behind him, Petro is looking boldly toward an unexpected future that strays far from his former corporate life.
As the runner-up of the competition, he was awarded a substantial $40,000 cash prize, which he plans to use to renovate his family home.
However, it is his immediate professional plans that have left fans completely surprised.
Rather than diving straight into launching a commercial brand or rushing to open a permanent restaurant, Petro is rolling up his sleeves to start from the absolute bottom of the professional culinary ladder.
He officially confirmed that he will begin working weekends in the fast-paced commercial kitchen of acclaimed chef Tom Sarafian.
The unexpected career move comes after Sarafian made a high-profile appearance as a guest judge on the 2026 season of MasterChef Australia.
For Petro, stepping onto the line in a high-intensity commercial environment represents the vital real-world kitchen experience he needs before pursuing bigger ambitions.
Alongside his weekend line-cooking duties, the talented cook is already planning his own pop-up dining experiences.
Yet, his ultimate vision extends even further into the world of travel and television.
“I would love to do a show where I travel to more regional areas and search for undiscovered local dishes in Greece and Cyprus, and maybe a few other places around the world as well,” he shared passionately.
“I feel like that’s always been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”
“I’m really excited to do what I want, and also see what opportunities open up and maybe even what surprises come my way.”