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Jock Zonfrillo

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Jock Zonfrillo
Born
Barry Zonfrillo

(1976-08-04)4 August 1976
Glasgow, Scotland
Died30 April 2023(2023-04-30) (aged 46)[1]
Melbourne, Australia
NationalityScottish
Occupation(s)Chef, philanthropist, television presenter
Known forMasterChef Australia judge
Children4
Culinary career
Cooking styleFrench, Italian, Scottish

Jock Zonfrillo (born Barry Zonfrillo,[2] 4 August 1976 – 30 April 2023) was a Scottish television presenter and former chef based in Melbourne, Australia. He was the founder of The Orana Foundation and one of the MasterChef Australia judges alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

He died in Melbourne on 30 April 2023.[3]

Career

Apprentice

Barry Zonfrillo started working in kitchens as a dishwasher part-time at the age of 13, while still at school. He left school aged 15 and started an apprenticeship in the kitchens of The Turnberry Hotel,[4] after which he worked at the Arkle Restaurant in Chester.[5] Zonfrillo then worked for Marco Pierre White[6] before travelling to Australia for 12 months to work at Restaurant 41 in Sydney[5] On returning to the UK, Zonfrillo was appointed to his first head chef position aged 22 at The Tresanton Hotel, Cornwall, England.[5]

Australia

Zonfrillo returned to Australia in January 2000 as the head chef at Restaurant 41 in Sydney. In November 2013, he opened Restaurant Orana and Street ADL in Adelaide,[7] replacing Street ADL with Bistro Blackwood in September 2017.[8] In August 2017, Restaurant Orana was named Australia's 2018 Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Magazine;[9] the same year Zonfrillo was named Australia's 2018 Hottest Chef in The Australian.[10] In October 2018, Orana was named Australia's 2019 Restaurant of the Year by the Good Food Guide.[11]

Closures

Zonfrillo opened Nonna Mallozzi in December 2018. He closed it in July 2019 after posting losses exceeding $140,000 in the time it was open.[12] Late 2019 Bistro Blackwood closed, followed by Orana in March 2020. The combined debts amounted to approximately $3.2 million.[2] Zonfrillo's long-term restaurant manager, Greta Wohlstadt, had resigned in the weeks leading up to the closure of Orana.[13]

MasterChef

In October 2019, Zonfrillo was announced as one of the new judges for MasterChef Australia, alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.[14] At that time, he remarked to an Adelaide newspaper that nothing would change for Restaurant Orana and Bistro Blackwood: "You’ll see me probably just as often (...) It’s a 50-minute flight from Melbourne and the restaurant is only a 15-minute drive from the airport so I can be standing in Orana very quickly.” [15] Some weeks later, Bistro Blackwood closed, followed by Orana in March 2020. In July 2020, Zonfrillo was announced as one of the judges for Junior Masterchef Australia in 2020.[16]

Other business

In July 2021, Zonfrillo commenced selling purportedly handmade bracelets with skulls on them for up to $500 each, under the brand Caim.[17] At the time, Zonfrillo remarked: "Caim is Scottish Gaelic, pronounced kyem. It’s not religious – it’s an invisible circle of protection that you draw around your body with your hand, to remind you of being safe and loved, even in the darkest times.”[18]

Controversies

Assault and bankruptcy

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.[19] Later in May 2007 Zonfrillo was declared bankrupt after a creditors petition from Martin Krammer was successful in the Federal Magistrates Court.[20][21] According to Krammer, "He [Zonfrillo] never paid me a cent".[19]

The Orana Foundation

In 2016, Zonfrillo started The Orana Foundation, to preserve historical cooking techniques and ingredients of the Indigenous Australians. The Orana Foundation was awarded the Good Food Guide Food For Good Award[22] in October 2017. Questions were subsequently raised in the media regarding Zonfrillo’s management of the charity.[23] Zonfrillo launched defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia in September 2020 against Nationwide News relating to an article concerning the Orana Foundation. Nationwide News settled the court case. An apology was printed in The Australian newspaper on 17 December 2020 and published on their website.[24]

Restaurant Orana

On 5 October 2020, Restaurant Orana (The Living Room Bar Pty Ltd) and Bistro Blackwood (Blackwood Bistro Pty Ltd) entered into voluntary administration,[25][26] with substantial unpaid debts, amounting to approximately $3.2 million.[2] A preliminary report filed by the Voluntary Administrators with ASIC in October 2020, recorded that initial investigations were being undertaken into whether the restaurant companies were trading while insolvent, if there had been unfair preferences or potential breaches of director duties, and concerning related party loans.[27] Zonfrillo also had to sell his family home in the Adelaide Hills after the closure of Orana.[28]

Memoir

On 28 July 2021, Simon & Schuster published Zonfrillo's controversial memoir, Last Shot.[29] A subsequent feature in The Sydney Morning Herald questioned his stories, notably his claims of having visited "hundreds of Indigenous communities", as well of the stories of his alleged drug use. Marco Pierre White, referred to as a father figure in the book, stated that "almost everything he has written about me is untrue".[2] Simon & Schuster replied that the book was "a historical account written from the personal knowledge of the subject writing it.”[30]

Personal life

Zonfrillo was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His mother's family is Scottish from Dalmellington, Ayrshire while his father is Italian from Scauri, Italy.[31] He attended Belmont Academy in Ayr, Scotland.

On 1 January 2017, Zonfrillo married his third wife, Lauren Fried.[32][33] The couple met on Twitter in October 2014.[33] In February 2018, Fried and Zonfrillo had a son who was born two months premature and weighed only 1.2 kgs.[34]

After the closure of his restaurants, Zonfrillo and his family relocated to Melbourne around March 2020.[35] Prior to his death, the family resided in Carlton.[2] Fried and Zonfrillo had a daughter in October 2020.[36]

Death

On 30 April 2023, Zonfrillo died aged 46 in Melbourne, Australia.

Recognitions

  • 2014 South Australian Best New Restaurant and South Australian Restaurant of the Year – The Advertiser Food Awards[37]
  • 2015 South Australian Restaurant of the Year – The Advertiser Food Awards[38]
  • 2015 Chef of The Year – Restaurant & Catering Awards[39]
  • 2015 and 2016 Australia's Hot 50 Restaurants – The Australian[40][41]
  • 2017 Hottest Chef & Hottest South Australian Restaurant – The Australian[42]
  • 2017 Food for Good Award – The Good Food Guide[43]
  • 2018 Australian Restaurant of the Year – Gourmet Traveller Magazine[44]
  • 2018 Australia's Hottest Chef – The Australian[45]
  • 2018 Australian Food for Good Award – The Good Food Guide[46]
  • 2018 Basque Culinary World Prize – Basque Culinary Center[47]
  • 2019 Australian Restaurant of the Year – The Good Food Guide.[11]

Television

References

  1. ^ "MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies, aged 46". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Elliott, Tim (6 August 2021). "'He's very nice. The only problem is ...': chef Marco Pierre White on Jock Zonfrillo". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ Quinn, Kate Lahey, Karl (1 May 2023). "MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo dies, aged 46". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "The Gospel, according to Jock". The Advertiser. 14 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "St Mawes the merrier". The Caterer.
  6. ^ Thomsen, Simon (24 August 2017). "The chef at Australia's best restaurant has an incredible story about how Marco Pierre White saved his career". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Street-ADL And Orana". The Adelaide Review. 15 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Jock reveals project Bistro". The Advertiser. 20 September 2017.
  9. ^ Sly, David. "Get to know Orana, Australia's Restaurant of the Year 2018". Gourmet Traveller.
  10. ^ "Hot 50 restaurants: What's hot in 2018". The Australian.
  11. ^ a b "The Good Food Guide 2019: Full list of award winners". Good Food. 9 October 2018.
  12. ^ "MasterChef host's failed venture "may have traded insolvent"". InDaily. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Chef Jock Zonfrillo has announced he is closing the doors to Restaurant Orana in Adelaide". Delicious SA. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "MasterChef Australia: New judges announced". news.com.au. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  15. ^ "New Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo, spells out the future of his Adelaide restaurants". Delicious SA. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Jock, Melissa And Andy Return For Junior MasterChef". 10 play. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Caim Worry Beads". Caim Worry Beads.
  18. ^ "MasterChef Judge Jock Zonfrillo's 'Worry Beads' Have A Beautiful Story Behind Them". The Latch. 11 July 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ a b "'He's very nice. The only problem is ...': chef Marco Pierre White on Jock Zonfrillo".
  20. ^ "File details – applications for file". www.comcourts.gov.au. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  21. ^ "In the Matter of Barry Zonfrillo: Federal Magistrates Court of Australia at Sydney, Sequestration Order dated 11 May 2007". 11 May 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "All the Good Food Guide 2018 award winners". Good Food. 16 October 2017.
  23. ^ Dye, Josh (1 October 2020). "'Insulting': Jock Zonfrillo slams negative coverage at launch of Indigenous food database". Good Food.
  24. ^ Dore, Christopher (17 December 2020). "Apology to Mr Jock Zonfrillo". The Australian Newspaper. Nationwide News. Retrieved 17 December 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Combined Notice of Appointment and First Meeting of Creditors: Blackwood Bistro Pty Ltd and The Living Room Bar Pty Ltd". ASIC Published Notices. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo calls in KPMG for Orana's closure". www.consultancy.com.au. 8 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Companies run by MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo owe more than $1 million to creditors". 28 October 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Zonfrillo sells SA home after creditor stakes claim". InDaily. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "The Last Shot". Simon & Schuster. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "Publisher adamant chef Jock Zonfrillo's memoir stands up to scrutiny". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "The Scottish 'nomad chef' redefining Australia's national cuisine". Financial Times.
  32. ^ "Jock Zonfrillo never believed in love at first sight, then he met Lauren Fried". Who. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ a b "Jock Zonfrillo's third marriage is different. He made sure of it". MamaM!a. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ "Jock Zonfrillo reveals heartache after newborn's 5 weeks in NICU". Yahoo!. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  35. ^ "Master Chef Travels to Daylesford for Day of Filming". Courier Mail. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ "MasterChef: Jock Zonfrillo's secret baby joy amid 'difficult time'". Yahoo!. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ Wilkinson, Simon (3 November 2014). "Orana named Restaurant of the Year". The Advertiser.
  38. ^ "Advertiser Food Awards: Orana named Adelaide's best restaurant". The Advertiser.
  39. ^ "Full List Of Winners From The 2015 SA Restaurant And Catering Awards For Excellence". Glam Adelaide. 4 August 2015.
  40. ^ "SA eateries shine in national restaurant awards". The Adelaide Review. 24 August 2015.
  41. ^ Lethlean, John (11 August 2016). "Hot 50 Restaurants".
  42. ^ "2017 Hot50 restaurants SA". The Australian. 10 August 2017.
  43. ^ editors, Good Food Guide (16 October 2017). "All the Good Food Guide 2018 award winners". Good Food. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  44. ^ Jepsen, Belinda (24 August 2017). "The best restaurant in Australia isn't in Sydney or Melbourne". Mamamia. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  45. ^ "MasterChef's Next Generation Has A Bold New Flavour". ViacomCBS ANZ. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  46. ^ editors, Good Food Guide (16 October 2017). "All the Good Food Guide 2018 award winners". Good Food. Retrieved 12 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  47. ^ Barth, Jill. "Winner Of Basque Culinary World Prize: 'Give Back More Than You Take'". Forbes.
  48. ^ "Who was that MasterChef hottie?". NewsComAu. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  49. ^ McIver, Brian (6 October 2014). "Chef's passion for cooking has taken him all over the world". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  50. ^ ""Nomad Chef" set for Australian debut on Discovery".
  51. ^ Rigden, Clare (22 July 2015). "Jock Zonfrillo: Reluctant restaurant revolutionary". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  52. ^ "New deal for SA cooking show Chef Exchange is a huge tourism boost". The Advertiser.
  53. ^ "Production Begins on Chef Exchange Series 2". 57 Films. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  54. ^ "MasterChef finalists battle it out on Sydney Harbour". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  55. ^ "'MasterChef' has called in one of Australia's culinary big guns for Best Of The Best Week". 10 Daily. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
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