Mourning in Australia: The star chef and “MasterChef Australia” judge Jock Zonfrillo is dead. The native of Scotland died unexpectedly at the age of 46 in Melbourne, his family announced today.
Nothing was initially known about the cause of death. The father of four children emigrated to Australia in 2000 and became one of the country’s best-known restaurateurs.
Zonfrillo’s previous restaurant Orana in Adelaide was considered one of the best in the country and has won multiple awards. His culinary art was a homage to the country’s culinary history: he was repeatedly inspired by the traditions of the Aborigines in his creations. In 2016 he founded the “Orana Foundation”. The aim of the non-profit organization is to preserve the food culture and knowledge of the Australian Aborigines.
In 2021, Zonfrillo published his memoir, Last Shot, about his drug addiction during his years in the UK. “It is with complete broken hearts and without knowing how to go through life without him that we sadly have to announce that Jock passed away yesterday,” the family said in a statement. Network 10 has announced that the broadcast of the latest season of “MasterChef Australia” will be postponed.
