MasterChef judges tear up during emotional tribute to Jock Zonfrillo
The judges on MasterChef Australia have teared up as they paid tribute to their "late great mate" Jock Zonfrillo.
During the beginning of Finals Week on the cooking show, the contestants and judges began discussing their "food heroes", who would inspire their dishes for the upcoming challenge in the kitchen.
While many contestants shared stories about their family members being their inspiration, judge Andy Allen took a moment to pay tribute to the late MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo.
He opened up about everything the late chef instilled in him, and quickly began welling up as his fellow judges rallied around him.
“My food hero is my late great mate Jock,” he said, as tears began to form in his eyes.
“The time that we spent cooking in this kitchen and creating an energy where people like you could just reach for the stars and succeed in everything you do."
As fellow judge Poh Ling-Yeow placed her hand on his shoulder, he continued, “I learned so much about that from Jock and he taught me so much about being a good husband and being a good son, and one day hopefully being a good dad. So I miss him a lot.”
The 46-year-old died in Melbourne in the early hours of April 30th last year on the eve of the launch of the 15th season of MasterChef.
Following his untimely death, Andy Allen shared that he wanted to take part of the latest season of the show in memory of his late friend and colleague.
“It’s nearly a year. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times it feels like it was a long, long time ago,” Allen told the Carrie and Tommy Show.
“It was hard. It was really hard. I didn’t actually know if I was going to do it (MasterChef) again."
“It just felt so wrong to do it without him, because we just loved it so much together and walking back into that kitchen was huge.
Allen said while parts of filming the show were difficult, he knew he was honouring his friend by continuing on in the judging role.
“It was … there was just this weight of grief over me,” he said. “I just didn’t know if I’d be able to get through it. I just didn’t know if I’d be able to do it justice, to give the show what it needed because there was so much grief attached to that kitchen."
Image credits: Channel Ten