"HE WAS SO EXCITED"

FRIENDS REVEAL THE LATE MASTERCHEF JUDGE WAS IN GOOD SPIRITS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS NEXT CHAPTER IN LIFE

- Naomi Toy

JOCK ZONFRILLO
1976-2023 

As family, friends and fans continue to mourn the sudden loss of MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo, a picture is emerging of how the talented chef spent his last days – and it’s one that would give many comfort.

Back in Melbourne briefly to promote the cooking show’s new season, Zonfrillo enjoyed a long and large lunch with his close mate and fellow judge Andy Allen on Saturday, April 29, during which they shared their excitement about the premiere and what the future held for them both.

“It was a three hour catch-up about what we’d been up to, about the show, about the future,” shared an emotional Allen on a special edition of The Project paying tribute to the 46-year-old Scot. “We just talked each other’s ears off. It was so normal, he was in such good spirits.”

What was exciting Zonfrillo the most was returning to his wife Lauren Fried and their two young children, Alfie, 5, and Isla, 2, who had stayed behind in Rome where the family had relocated to just weeks ago. It was from the Italian capital that Fried is understood to have made the phone calls to police to check on Zonfrillo’s welfare after he failed to answer several of her calls.