Jock Zonfrillo was a Scottish television presenter and chef, known for his role as a judge on MasterChef Australia, and for founding The Orana Foundation. |
His mother's family hails from Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland, while his father is from Scauri, Italy. |
At 13, Jock worked part-time as a dishwasher in kitchens after school. |
By the age of 15, he had left school to apprentice at The Turnberry Hotel in Scotland, followed by stints at the Arkle Restaurant and under chef Marco Pierre White. |
In January 2000, Jock returned to Australia and became the head chef at Restaurant 41 in Sydney, incorporating Australian native ingredients in his dishes. |
In November 2013, he opened Restaurant Orana in Adelaide, which received acclaim, including being named Australia’s 2018 Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller magazine. |
In December 2018, he launched Nonna Mallozzi in Adelaide but faced financial challenges, leading to the closure of several of his establishments. |
He hosted shows like Nomad Chef in 2014, Restaurant Revolution in 2015, and Chef Exchange in 2016. |
In October 2019, Jock became a judge on MasterChef Australia and later joined Junior MasterChef Australia in July 2020. |
In July 2021, he ventured into selling handmade bracelets under the brand Caim. |
His memoir, Last Shot, detailed his struggles with homelessness and heroin addiction, which he overcame after moving to Australia in 1999. |
Following his passing, his family mourned his loss on social media. |