Jock Zonfrillo, a celebrated chef and judge Master Chef Australia, has passed away. He was 46.
“With hearts completely shattered and with no way of knowing how to go through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” said a statement from the Zonfrillo family, shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “There are so many words that can describe him, so many stories that can be told, but right now we are too overwhelmed to put them into words. For those who crossed his path, became his partner or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scotsman in your heart when you have your next whisky.
No cause of death was given.
“Network 10 and Endemol Shine Australia are deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of Jock Zonfrillo, a beloved member of the Chef Australian family. Jock passed away in Melbourne yesterday,” a statement from the show’s producers added Master Chef Australia would not air this week.
Born Barry Zonfrillo in Glasgow, Scotland on August 4, 1976, he trained as a chef in the UK before moving to Australia in the early 2000s. He settled in Adelaide and opened the renowned Restaurant Orana in 2013 and the equally acclaimed Bistro Blackwood four years later. The Orana restaurant has been regarded as one of Australia’s best restaurants, winning a host of awards and Zonfrillo regularly featured on published lists of the country’s top chefs.
Bistro Blackwood closed in 2019 and Restaurant Onana a year later. Zonfrillo would then focus more on his television career and become a regular judge on season 12 of Master Chef Australiawho had previously been a guest judge for seasons 10 and 11.
Next to his Master Chef Australia co-judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen, Zonfrillo also played host and judge on spin-off series Famous MasterChef Australia And Junior MasterChef Australia.
Zonfrillo is survived by his wife and four children.
More to come…
