Jock Zonfrillo Parents: Meet Ivan and Sarah Zonfrillo

Jock Zonfrillo was a Scottish chef and television host based in Melbourne, Australia. Jock Zonfrillo was the son of Ivan and Sarah Zonfrillo.

His father, Ivan Zonfrillo, was a barber and the son of Italian immigrants, and his mother, Sarah, was a farmer’s daughter. Carla, Jock’s older sister, was a couple of years older.

As a child, Zonfrillo preferred the Italian side of the family because “it was so much livelier,” as he writes in his book. It also had a rich food culture: his mother cooked mince and potatoes, but when he went to his nonno’s house, he had lasagne and cacio e pepe.

Zonfrillo developed an affinity for food and an appreciation for its unique ability to bring people together as a result of the love that accompanied these dishes.

Jock Zonfrillo began working as a dishwasher part-time in kitchens when he was 13 years old, while still in school. He dropped out of school at the age of 15 and began an apprenticeship in the kitchens of The Turnberry Hotel.

He was appointed to his first head chef position at The Tresanton Hotel in Cornwall at the age of 22 Jock Zonfrillo served as a judge on MasterChef Australia alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.

Jock Zonfrillo died on April 30 in Melbourne at the age of 46. No cause of death was disclosed.

His family confirmed his death on Monday, May 1 2023, saying “our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend” died on Sunday in Melbourne.