Jamie Fleming
Age: 36
State: Queensland
Instagram: @jamieflemingofficial
Previous season & place: Season 6, finished 4th
After finishing fourth on his first spin around the MasterChef Australia kitchen, Jamie’s culinary journey has delivered both highs and lows. Jamie ran the award-winning Alba Bar & Deli in Brisbane for five years before having to make the tough financial decision to close its doors. Happily, Jamie bounced back to open Spill Wine in Maleny in 2024, and says that his latest venture, run alongside partner Clare, serves as his love letter to the wine world and celebrates the best of the Hinterland’s produce.
Raised in Adelaide with his mum working long hours, the dinner table was the place the family could come together. Getting to know restaurateurs over the years showed Jamie firsthand just how much food and dining has the incomparable power to unite, and he wanted in.
Indulging his love of travel after school, Jamie spent time in New Zealand, Japan, Nepal and India and when he returned to Australia he became a bar tender. Over the years he has worked extensively across the food and alcohol industry, providing mentoring and education for bartenders across Australia.
Inspired by the culinary credentials of Paul Carmichael, David Thompson and Albert Adria, food is Jamie’s love language. It’s the way he shows his appreciation, the way he communicates care and security to his three children and even the way he apologises. Jamie can think of no better day than one spent in the kitchen with his partner and kids, making pasta from scratch or folding dumplings.
Passionate about food education, Jamie is inspired to help the community address the lack of food education amongst youth, with future success a generation who respect food and learn how to prepare nourishing meals.
With garlic, butter and thyme making up his holy trinity, Jamie notes his fridge is full of flavour bombs like butter and kimchi, and plans on bending big flavours to his will during Back To Win. With less unbridled confidence and more experience and maturity guiding him now, this could be Jamie’s time to go all the way.
