Biography

Jock Zonfrillo has died suddenly age 46 on the eve of the cooking show's 'MasterChef Australia' new series, according to a statement from Australian broadcaster Network 10.

His mother's family is Scottish from Dalmellington, Ayrshire, while his father is from Scauri, Italy.

In November 2013, he opened Restaurant Orana and Street ADL in Adelaide, replacing Street ADL with Bistro Blackwood in September 2017. In August 2017, Restaurant Orana was named Australia's 2018 Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller magazine; the same year Zonfrillo was named Australia's 2018 Hottest Chef in The Australian. In October 2018, Orana was named Australia's 2019 Restaurant of the Year by The Good Food Guide.

In 2002, Zonfrillo deliberately set fire to Martin Krammer, an apprentice chef in his kitchen, for working too slowly. Subsequently, damages in excess of $75,000 were awarded against Zonfrillo. Later in May 2007, Zonfrillo was declared bankrupt after a creditors petition from Krammer was successful in the Federal Magistrates Court. According to Krammer, "He [Zonfrillo] never paid me a cent".

Jock Zonfrillo was a Scottish television presenter and chef based in Melbourne, Australia.