Colin Fassnidge pays emotional tribute to Jock Zonfrillo after MasterChef judge’s death

MKR judge Colin Fassnidge is reeling from the death of Jock Zonfrillo. Here’s how he’ll remember his good mate.

Like much of the tight-knit hospitality community, celebrity chef Colin Fassnidge is reeling from the death of Jock Zonfrillo. Here he tells TV writer Lisa Woolford how he’ll remember his good mate.

“I’ve known Jock for 20 years since he worked at Level 41 and I worked at Bank and we were young chefs coming up,” the My Kitchen Rules judge said.

“And then obviously we’ve lived very similar lives which we’d speak about – we’re chefs and on TV shows and all the travel.

The tight-knit hospitality community is reeling from the death of Jock Zonfrillo. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“Every year we’d wish each other good luck even though we were on rival shows.

“The minute I got the news I called my wife and then the next person I spoke to was (fellow MKR judge) Manu (Feildel) – because he’s my work husband or wife.

“And he’s in shock. It’s been like losing a partner, you know.

“He was just normal – like the rest of us.

MKR judge Colin Fassnidge says the loss of Jock Zonfrillo is like losing a partner. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images for ATC

“He realised how lucky he was actually to be on MasterChef and what a good gig that was.

“I think he relished it. And chef wise he was one of the best, you know when he had Restaurant Orana.

“Look, I’m just still pretty in shock, like everybody else.

“One of my most favourite memories was dancing on his bar with Zonfrillo at Tasting Australia (festival in Adelaide).

“I had a very sore head the next day.

“We had a few whiskeys together, I loved hanging out with him when I was down in Adelaide.

“I’ll tell you another thing – he used to call me a cheeky f — ker, because every year I used to scribble out MasterChef and write MKR on all the pots and pans and the aprons at Coles. I’ve done it again this year.

The Irish chef says he and Jock Zonfrillo bonded as fellow Celts. “We liked to drink hard and love hard,” Fassnidge says.

“He used to write me a message and say ‘You cheeky f — ker, I’ll do the same to you’.

“But he only ever threatened to – I think he had a bit more class than I did.

“We got on well because we’re Celts. He’s Scottish and I’m Irish – we liked to drink hard and love hard.

“It’s just so sad – he’s got young kids, and I’ve got young kids.

“I just don’t know what to say.”