Jock Zonfrillo was a Scottish chef, television presenter, and restaurateur who relocated to Australia. He was probably best known for presenting MasterChef Australia and for founding the Orana Foundation. Tragically, Zonfrillo hit the headlines when he died suddenly in April 2023. As a tribute to the talented chef, we have compiled some interesting Jock Zonfrillo facts for you to read. Here are some interesting facts about Jock Zonfrillo.
Jock Zonfrillo Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Jock Zonfrillo Born?
Barry ‘Jock’ Zonfrillo was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 4 August 1976. His mother was a hairdresser, and his Italian father was a barber.
Did Jock Zonfrillo Cook as a Child?
Zonfrillo’s first introduction to working in restaurants was at the age of 12. He worked as a pot washer at the same restaurant in which his older sister was a waitress. Zonfrillo first experiences chef work when he was 12, and the restaurant’s chef was involved in a motorbike accident. By the time he was 15, Zonfrillo had left school to start an apprenticeship, and he was named the Scottish Young Chef of the Year when he was 16.
Did Jock Zonfrillo Once Have a Drug Problem?
Zonfrillo once had a drug addiction, which began when he was 15, and he sold drugs to fund his habit. It led to him being fired from Arkle Restaurant, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chester, England. He quit heroin in 2000 and has remained clean ever since.
When Did Jock Zonfrillo Move to Australia?
Zonfrillo spent a year working in Australia in 1994 and was rejected by many restaurants. However, he worked at Restaurant 41 in Sydney, first as a line cook and then as a sous chef, before returning to the UK. The chef then returned to Sydney in 2020.
Is Jock Zonfrillo Married, and Does He Have Children?
Jock Zonfrillo has been married three times. He has two daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages. He married Lauren Fried, his third wife, in 2017. A year later, their son, Alfie, was born, followed by a daughter, Isla, in 2020.
Where Did Jock Zonfrillo Live?
Jock Zonfrillo moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia, in 2020, and they lived in the Carlton area. They also had a property in Rome, Italy, since 2023.
Facts About Jock Zonfrillo and His Culinary Career
Where Has Jock Zonfrillo Worked?
During his career, Jock Zonfrillo has worked in multiple prestigious establishments. In the UK, he worked in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Aubergine, the Michelin-starred restaurant Arkle, David Cavalier’s restaurants Chapter One and Quaglino’s, London restaurant Pharmacy, Tresanton Hotel in Cornwall, and Marco Pierre White’s restaurants Oak Room and Les Saveurs. In Australia, he worked at Restaurant 41, Austral, and Penfolds Estate Restaurant.
For What Style of Cooking Was the Chef Known?
Jock Zonfrillo was particularly well known for his love of cooking with native Australian ingredients, despite his Scottish heritage. However, one of his most famous signature dishes was the butter chicken jaffle, which he made with butter chicken, naan bread, and mozzarella.
When Did Jock Zonfrillo Open His First Restaurant?
In 2013, Jock Zonfrillo opened two restaurants, Street ADL and Orano, both in Adelaide. Orano won multiple awards. Zonfrillo replaced Street ADL with Bistro Blackwood in 2017, but it closed in 2019. Orano followed the same fate, closing in 2020. From 2016 to 2017, Zonfrillo had an Italian food truck called Nonna Mallozzi. He also owned a bar called Mallozzi that opened in 2018 and closed after only seven months.
His Career in Television
When Did the Chef First Appear on Television?
Zonfrillo first appeared on television when he hosted Nomad Chef. A year later, he was the host of Restaurant Revolution. Between 2016 and 2018, Zonfrillo hosted Chef Exchange.
When Did Jock Zonfrillo First Appear on MasterChef Australia?
Zonfrillo first appeared on MasterChef Australia as a guest in season six of 2014. He appeared alongside the regular judges; Matt Preston, George Calombaris, and Gary Mehigan. He also appeared as a guest judge in 2018 and 2019 for seasons ten and 11. Others who have appeared as guest judges on the cooking competition include Shannon Bennett, Curtis Stone, Jamie Oliver, Yotam Ottolenghi, Matt Moran, Darren Purchese, Kirsten Tibballs, and Nigella Lawson.
When Did He Become a Judge on MasterChef Australia?
Zonfrillo first became a judge on MasterChef Australia in 2020 alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong. He presented the series between seasons 12 to 15, with the latter aired posthumously. Zonfrillo was also a judge of Junior MasterChef Australia for season three in 2020.
Other Jock Zonfrillo Facts
Zonfrillo Was Linked to Several Controversies
During his career, Zonfrillo was linked to several controversies. The Australian Magazine accused him of mismanaging his foundation, although they later published an apology after Zonfrillo launched defamation proceedings against them. Another controversy involving Zonfrillo was an incident in 2002 where the chef set fire to his apprentice chef’s pants, causing a burn to his hand. Although the apprentice later sued Zonfrillo and was awarded more than $75,000 in damages, the apprentice said he never received any money.
He Was the Founder of The Orano Foundation
Zonfrillo founded The Orano Foundation in 2016. The foundation’s aim is to preserve the ingredients and historical cooking techniques of Indigenous Australians. In partnership with the University of Adelaide, Xonfrillo created a database of 1,443 Aboriginal food plants. The database listed the names of the plants, their nutritional profiles, methods of preparation and cooking, and descriptions of their taste.
Jock Zonfrillo Published a Memoir
One of the Jock Zonfrillo facts that people might not know is that he published a memoir called Last Shot. However, there was debate over the accuracy of the stories included in the memoir, particularly about Zonfrillo’s alleged drug use and his claims about visiting hundreds of indigenous communities. Marco Pierre White also commented that almost everything Zonfrillo said about him in the book was untrue.
What Was Jock Zonfrillo’s Favourite Food
Jock Zonfrillo loved to cook with native Australian ingredients, but he also loved Italian dishes, such as carbonara. He said in an interview with Daily Mail that he disliked foods including Brussels sprouts and tinned fruit cocktails.
How Did Jock Zonfrillo Die?
Police were called to Zagame House hotel, where Zonfrillo was staying, to conduct a welfare check. The chef was found dead in bed, but police say there were no suspicious circumstances. He likely died of natural causes, although the cause of death is currently unconfirmed.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Jock Zonfrillo facts!