Who was Jock Zonfrillo, 'MasterChef' judge who died at 46
In a shocking piece of news, MasterChef Australia judge and presenter, chef Jock Zonfrillo, died on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia. He was 46. The news of his sudden demise was confirmed by his family, but the cause of his death has not yet been revealed. According to a statement from Australian broadcaster Network 10, Zonfrillo died on the eve of the show's new series.
Zonfrillo was among most-celebrated chef-judges on show
Zonfrillo began his career by working under chef Marco Pierre White. On his demise, MasterChef Australia stated, "Jock was born in Glasgow to an Italian father and a Scottish mother, which meant heavy influence by two strong cultures and it was his obsession with food and desire for a new pushbike that at just 12 years old fuelled to knock on kitchen doors."
Zonfrillo's achievements at young age
Although he began his career by doing odd jobs in the kitchen, little did Zonfrillo know that he would become one of the most celebrated chefs in Australia. His love and passion for food saw him become one of the youngest culinary students to do an apprenticeship at The Turnberry Hotel at the tender age of 15, according to MasterChef Australia's statement on Instagram.
His rise as one of world's best chefs
After moving to Australia, he opened Bistro Blackwood and Restaurant Orana in Adelaide. The restaurant earned him various accolades and global recognition, including the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2018, for his exceptional skills. In 2019, he joined the team of MasterChef Australia as a judge in which he coached the contestants and inspired them to become a better version of themselves.
Besides being chef, he was author, philanthropist
In his lifetime, Zonfrillo has earned many distinctions for his passion for maintaining the highest quality standard of Australia's indigenous food. Notably, apart from being a chef, he was also a best-selling author and philanthropist. Zonfrillo published his memoir Last Shot in 2022, which was an account of his struggle with drug addiction and recovery. He is survived by his wife and four children.
