Tributes have started pouring in from different quarters, including friends and colleagues, for MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo following his sudden death on Sunday.
The celebrity chef’s family on Monday officially announced the news of his passing on Instagram. “With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” their statement reads.
Fellow MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen also took to Instagram to pay respects to Zonfrillo. “When I met you 5 years ago I knew our lives were about to change forever,” he wrote in a post.
“I'll miss the way you mentored me and every contestant that walked into the MasterChef kitchen, I'll miss you ordering the entire menu no matter how many dishes deep and making me eat every last bite, I'll miss your morning on-set coffees that made me shake from the amount of caffeine you were able to extract out of every individual bean, I'll miss the morning FaceTimes with Loz, Alfie and Isla, but overall I'll miss you looking out for me every single day,” he added.
“Four years ago, the three of us stood on a precipice and jumped. I could never have guessed how much of an impact your arrival in my life would have, or that we would be saying goodbye to you so soon. You were always supposed to be the bulletproof one who outlived us all,” Jock’s MasterChef colleague Melissa Leong wrote.
Sharing a photo with Zonfrillo, Kishwar Chowdhury, Top 3 finalist on MasterChef Australia Season 13, recalled how the celebrity chef had mentored them during the reality cooking show. “He was a no nonsense, pull your socks up leader who extended himself well beyond his role as a judge on camera to teacher and mentor off camera,” she wrote in the caption.
Scott Bagnell, Top 9 Finalist of Masterchef Australia Season 13, fondly recalled the time spent with Zonfrillo on the show.
“I had the absolute privilege of being mentored by Jock during my time on MasterChef. He was always joyful and mischievous on set and helped distract us from the pressure of the competition. He was passionate, playful, professional, personable, firm and kind.”
Indian actress Jennifer Winget shared a throwback video where she cooked with Jock. The Bepanaah actress also penned a poem in his memory.
“This is so shattering, I’m still in shock,” MasterChef Season 13 contestant Depinder Chhibber commented on the post shared by Jock’s family. “Sending you all love.”
Ponlaphat Mahasukon, who served as Jock’s assistant in 2017, described Jock’s death as a “a great loss” in his career path as chef. “I learnt a lot from him during the day we shared in the kitchen,” he added.
Former MasterChef India judge chef Kunal Kapoor was also shocked by the news of Jock’s death. “R.I.P. Jock. It was a pleasure working with you and knowing you,” he wrote on Instagram, adding, “Your talent, creativity and infectious energy will be sorely missed in the kitchen and beyond.”
Indian pastry chef Pooja Dhingra shared the statement of Jock’s family on her Instagram stories with a broken heart emoji. “Tried getting through the day but still pretty shocked,” chef Saransh Goila posted.
