Through a brief and devastating statement on the Instagram account of Scottish chef Jock Zonfrillo himself. This is how his relatives broke the news of his sudden death yesterday, at the age of 46: “With our hearts completely broken and not knowing how we can continue to live without him, we are devastated to report that Jock passed away yesterday.”
The Australian television network Network 10 and the MasterChef Australia program would not take long to react, which issued a joint note in which they were “deeply shocked by the sudden death of Jock Zonfrillo.” Those responsible for the reality show also announced that they were postponing the premiere of the new season of MasterChef, in which the chef was one of the stars, and that it was to start on the same Monday that the tragedy occurred.
Son of an Italian father and a Scottish mother, Zonfrillo was born in Glasgow (Scotland) and began as a cook apprentice in a renowned restaurant in his country when he was barely 15 years old. Later, he worked under the renowned British chef Marco Pierre White, as well as in other large restaurants. When he moved to Australia 23 years ago, he opened his Blackwood Bistro and Orana restaurant in Adelaide. In 2016 he launched the Orana Foundation, dedicated to preserving Aboriginal culinary heritage. Zonfrillo had visited hundreds of remote communities to support them in the production and marketing of more than 10,000 native ingredients and in researching their new uses in the kitchen.
Knowledge and a legacy that he made known in Europe through a presentation at the San Sebastián Gastronómika congress and, especially, by becoming the winner of the prestigious Basque Culinary World Prize in 2018, which recognizes the work of chefs with transformative initiatives. for the betterment of society. It was an award that was announced in Modena, where the annual meeting of the Advisory Council of the Basque Culinary Center, chaired by Joan Roca, took place.
On the occasion of the award, the eldest of the Roca brothers pointed out that it represented “recognition of all those initiatives that seek support for forgotten communities in many parts of the world and whose legacy is in danger of extinction.” It is, he added, “an award for the work of perseverance and commitment to those indigenous communities around the planet, in this case represented by the magnificent initiative of Zonfrillo.”
Joxe Mari Aizega, director of the Basque Culinary Center, also pointed out in 2018 that the prestigious award that the Scottish chef had obtained, whom he praised, wants to help identify transformative people: “Hard-working, entrepreneurial men and women with a vocation for excellence . Innovative and creative capable of moving against the current and with a clear commitmentâ€.
After learning the tragic news, the Basque Culinary Center have expressed on their social networks that they feel devastated and have pointed out that “Zonfrillo’s work in preserving the food traditions of indigenous peoples is an inspiration for the culinary community”. At the same time, they have expressed their deepest condolences to the cook’s family, who leaves behind a wife and four children.
The financial problems he suffered in recent years led him to have to close his restaurants in the midst of a pandemic. Empathetic and with a great sense of humor, the Scottish chef became one of the stars of Masterchef Australia, where he was part of the jury.
