Mel Leong says Jock Zonfrillo’s metabolism ‘should be studied’ given how much he eats

Melissa Leong tells news.com.au that fellow MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has one crazy habit that “frustrates the hell out of everybody.”

Melissa Leong has opened up about Jock Zonfrillo’s “freakish” onset habit, revealing he will often consume a full 18-course tasting followed by an enormous order of takeaway.

Opening up to news.com.au about the current season of MasterChef Australia, Leong was hesitant to list any annoying traits of her “work husbands”, who she said she felt “instantly comfortable” around when they were first announced as a trio last year.

But she did admit Zonfrillo’s eating habits have become a source of “frustration”.

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Mel has praised her “work husbands Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“They’re pretty delightful humans to be honest with you, I don’t really think that they have annoying traits …” she began, adding: “Probably for Jock, his ability to consume food on a constant rapid pace, it just frustrates the hell out of everybody.

“If he doesn’t eat he loses weight rapidly. He’s a freak,” she explained.

“He’s a freak in the best possible way. His metabolism should be studied, because he can do a full tasting of 18 different courses throughout the day but still eat an entire bucket of fried chicken and a box or two of chips or several containers worth of dumplings on a lunch break; it’s quite a thing to behold.”

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Mel jokingly called Jock a “freak”. Picture: Channel 10.

Having debuted on the MasterChef panel for last year’s wildly successful Back to Win season, Leong muses that her, Allen and Zonfrillo’s chemistry as judges comes from their differences as professionals in the food industry.

“I think what’s been great from the get-go with joining the MasterChef Australia team is that we are always encouraged to be ourselves. Day one Jack, Andy and myself have always just been who we are, but of course the more time we spend together, the more we understand why we work.

“It’s all about contrast of approach and style. But also, we all agree wholeheartedly on what is great food.

“I think what also really helped was that from the first minute that we were all sat together, it already felt very easy and very natural. And we all respect one another and our own roles within the food industry.”

While this season’s premiere wasn’t as successful ratings-wise as last year, Leong said judging their first crop of home cooks had been a delight.

“We were just so excited to meet our first crop of actual home cooks. (For Back To Win) it was so wonderful to spend time with people that we knew in the industry, and a great privilege to enter the MasterChef Australia lexicon in that capacity, but we were just so excited to meet home cooks who have just been loving what they do in their own little space, and being able to share that there’s tremendous skills within the audience. That’s been really fun.

“Especially watching Andy. Andy has come through the full circle of experience obviously being a contestant winning and now being a judge, so to be able to watch him mentor them from a place of personal experience has been really inspiring to watch.”

She added that the thrio have been in awe of the contestants’ skills when it comes to modern interpretations of classic Asian and Indian dishes.

“What surprised me is a real celebration of South Asian, Sri Lankan and Indian cuisine presented with a level of sophistication that Australia really needs to see and pay attention to.”

Mel praised this season’s crop of home cooks. Picture: Network Ten

It’s easy to see Leong’s love of food runs deep, not only through her words, but from the way she dances around the kitchen with glee when enjoying a contestant’s creation.

Admitting she’s never one to “demonise” food, when asked about her approach to staying healthy while constantly tasting different dishes, Leong said it’s all about a focus on “general health”.

“’I’m not really a fan of the word ‘diet’, especially with my job, I don’t have a lot of control over what I’m eating when I’m judging and I don’t mind that at all. I love to experience all of the things that people create and I want to honour it by eating it in complete abandonment and enjoying them for what they are.

“When I’m not at work I do believe in balance. I believe in tempering indulgence with eating foods that are good for you that make you feel good, and make you feel healthy.”

Mel says incorporating fibrous fruits into your diet can be an easy way to boost gut health. Picture: Supplied.

It comes as new research commissioned by Australian Pears reveals over 81 per cent of Australians have experienced poor gut health issues in the last six months. It also showed that while 3 in 4 Aussies are concerned about their gut health, only half know what fibrous foods, such as fruit, support better digestive wellbeing.

“We are so lucky as Australians to have some of the best produce in the world, so to eat the food as naturally as possible is so good for your general health and how you feel in your skin,” Leong said.

“Gut health is incredibly important. I’m really glad that it’s a subject that is much more in the public eye because the way we consume and digest food is also the way that our bodies are nourished and if you’re not paying attention to gut health, you’re potentially feeling not at your best.”

She said whether on a cheeseboard or as a snack as a whole, pears are an easy addition to your daily plate.

“When we’re so busy, it can be easy to forget to consider our wellbeing where food is concerned. Australian pears are a fragrant, textural addition to any meal, from snacks and salads to desserts – I love their juicy sweetness, and it’s a bonus that they also increase my intake of good gut nutrients.”

MasterChef Australia continues 7.30pm tonight on Channel 10