Tragic News: ‘Master Chef Australia’ Judge Jock Zonfrillo Passes Away At Age 46, Just Before New Series Premiere. Did He Kill Himself?
Jock Zonfrillo was a Scottish chef, restaurateur, and TV presenter who co-founded The Orana Foundation.
He was also known for his role as a judge on MasterChef Australia.
Zonfrillo had worked at various high-profile restaurants in Australia, including Restaurant 41, where he received a highly-coveted three-hat rating from The Age Good Food Guide.
Jock established his restaurant, Orana, in Adelaide in 2011.
Similarly, Orana gained widespread recognition as one of Australia’s most esteemed dining destinations, receiving numerous awards, such as Restaurant of the Year at the 2018 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards and the inaugural Good Food Guide’s National Restaurant of the Year award in 2019.
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Todesursache- Jock Zonfrillo Drug Overdose: Did He Kill Himself?
Jock Zonfrillo, a revered chef and judge on MasterChef, passed away in Melbourne at 46 on Sunday.
It remains unclear whether a drug overdose caused Zonfrillo’s death, as the Police have stated that they are not treating the death as suspicious & will prepare a report for the coroner.
His passing has triggered a wave of sorrow from the culinary and entertainment community, with celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay and several former MasterChef participants leading the commemorations.
In 2021, before his passing, the chef spoke publicly about his struggles with addiction, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He admitted that feeling inadequate upon arriving somewhere is a problem plagues the working class.
Zonfrillo confessed that this sentiment he had carried with him his whole life. Even when he managed to secure a job, he always felt as though he was undeserving of his position.
Further, in interviews, he disclosed that he had been grappling with a severe addiction to heroin in the UK, which had taken control of his life by the time he was just 15 years old.
At 17, Zonfrillo secured a job at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chester, located northwest of England, while battling his drug addiction. Unfortunately, he was fired after an outburst that involved foul language.
Undeterred, Zonfrillo persisted and approached celebrated chef Marco Pierre White’s restaurant for a job, despite having a terrible reference. He was hired despite this.
Remembering Jock Zonfrillo’s Legacy and Family: A Look Back at His Life and Career
Jock Zonfrillo raised in Ayr after being born in Glasgow, hails from a family of hairdressers and barbers.
While his mother’s family is of Scottish descent from Dalmellington, Ayrshire, his Father originates from Scauri, Italy. He grew up with an older sister and attended Belmont Academy in Ayr.
In 2017, Zonfrillo tied the knot with his third spouse, Lauren Fried, whom he met through Twitter in October 2014.
The couple welcomed a son in February 2018, who arrived prematurely two months prior and weighed only 1.2 kilograms.
They also welcomed a daughter in October 2020 and Zonfrillo’s two daughters from his previous marriages.
After the closure of his restaurants, Zonfrillo relocated with his family to Melbourne around March 2020. Before his untimely passing, the family resided in Carlton.
On the other hand, Jock began his career in the UK before moving to Australia in 2000 and has worked at several high-profile restaurants, including Restaurant 41.
In 2011, he ventured into entrepreneurship by launching his eatery, Orana, in Adelaide, which has grown into a highly acclaimed gastronomic destination.
In addition to his culinary work, Zonfrillo is an enthusiastic supporter of indigenous Australian cuisine and traditions, and thus, he founded The Orana Foundation.
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