When MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo died at just 46, his friends, family and closest confidants were left reeling by his sudden death, honoured in a beautiful tribute on The Sunday Project.

As a result of his passing, MasterChef Australia 2023 was halted for a week, premiering on May 7 instead of May 1.

Before the season premiere, the team at The Project honoured the late, great chef with famous faces sharing their memories of Zonfrillo including Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Maggie Beer, Matt Moran, Curtis Stone, Jimmy Barnes, Nigella Lawson, Marco Pierre White and his co-star Andy Allen.

During the hour-long tribute, chef Ramsay broke down in tears, saying how his friend “lit” up the room as moving music and photos of Zonfrillo were displayed.

“The ripples have been devastating. No-one’s gonna get over this quickly. If there’s one thing that we’ve done as chefs is we’ve united and we’re talking about the good times. So…” he said, choking back tears.

“S**t. Sorry. It’s just so painful. That’s all.”

Elsewhere, Pierre White said that his former mentee exhibited qualities “very few chefs possess”

“Jock Zonfrillo will never die. He will live on through everyone he touched,” he said before adding: “He lives within us, and everybody who watches that show, a little piece of him will be still in there. That’s the truth.”

Andy Allen reflects on his “best friend” and co-star

Speaking with The Sunday Project co-host Sarah Harris, a visibly upset Allen shared how he had had dinner with Zonfrillo on the Saturday prior to the devastating loss.

“We just talked each other’s ear off for three hours. It was so … It was so normal. He was in such good spirits,” he said. “He was so excited about the show launching.”

He then admitted he felt “guilty” that he had lunch with his friend, wishing it was his family who were able to have the final meal.

“Part of me … just feels guilty that it wasn’t them … I just wish that it was them sitting there having lunch with Jock. I’d give anything to swap positions,” he said, before adding that Lauren was “the strongest woman I have ever known”.

“She’s lost her best friend. You know … Jock’s got three daughters, and it’s things like never being able to walk them down the aisle … They’re the things that are hurting her the most.”

“Being 10 years younger than him, I still have so many things to learn. That was one of the things that he taught me, was to be vulnerable and show your emotions,” he said.

“And he’d probably be up there now going, ‘I did an all-right job ‘cause you’re a mess’.”

He then revealed how he was coping with the news.

“I want to say I’m OK, but, um … Yeah, I am not great,” he said.

“He’s just always been there for me, and … I’m just struggling to realise that he’s actually – he’s gone.

Jamie Oliver and Curtis Stone paid tribute to Jock Zonfrillo

During the episode, Oliver, who was the first guest judge on MasterChef Australia for the new season, reflected on his friend.

“Jock’s superpower I think was his curiosity. He was super curious and fascinated in people, food, travel,” he said.

“He did what he did by doing. Like seeing is believing, actions speak louder than words. That’s kind of Jock, right?”

Stone also spoke, saying that Zonfrillo “treated everyone with respect, unless they didn’t deserve it, then he wouldn’t. He genuinely loved people. He would speak to the person who made coffee the same way he spoke to the director.”

“He did a lot on this planet, and it’s time for him to rest.”

Beer and Lawson also reflected on Zonfrillo, with Beer calling him “the most creative, warm-hearted, exuberant person who was just an amazing chef”, while Lawon spoke about his young family.

“My heart breaks, as I’m sure everyone’s does, for Jock’s children. And his family and everyone who loved him of course. This is an old-fashioned phrase here but – may his memory with a blessing.”

Designer Collette Dinnigan, Grace Tame and Tommy Little also paid homage to the chef before Barnes and his family performed a rousing rendition of The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomon.

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