Ava Zonfrillo’s New Chapter in London
Ava Zonfrillo, the eldest daughter of the late celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo, has made a significant life change by moving to London. At 24, she is now living in the UK, the birthplace of her Scottish father. This decision was not a difficult one for her, as she always knew she would live abroad at some point.
“I think he would be really proud. I always knew I would live abroad at some point and he did too. He’d be in full support,” she shared with this week’s Woman’s Day magazine. For Ava, moving to London has been a meaningful experience that has brought her closer to her late father.
“I was lucky enough to have travelled with Dad before. Going back felt like he was there with me, in a really comforting way,” she said. The move has allowed her to reconnect with her roots and feel a sense of closeness to her father.
Coping with Grief
Ava also opened up about the coping strategies she used to deal with the grief of losing her father in 2023. 
“It comes in waves. Everyone processes differently. I think it is more about allowing yourself the time and space to do it your way,” she explained. For her, this meant leaving her full-time job to freelance and slow down a bit.
“It was public and hard to escape, I would often find myself playing things back over and over,” she added. Ava emphasized the importance of giving oneself time to grieve and process emotions in their own way.
A Tribute Through Food
In addition to her personal journey, Ava played a key role in ensuring the release of the cookbook Jock was working on at the time of his death—Recipes to Remember. This book serves as a tribute to her father and highlights the deep connection they shared through food.
“Food has always been a connection point and a lot of our big family conversations have been in or near the kitchen,” she concluded. The cookbook is a testament to Jock’s legacy and the impact he had on his family.
A Family Legacy
Ava is the daughter of Jock and his first wife Amanda Ewing. She followed in her father’s footsteps into the culinary world, initially working in hospitality public relations. After graduating from the University of Technology Sydney in 2019, she continued to build her career in the industry.
In May 2023, Jock was laid to rest in a private funeral in Sydney, surrounded by 200 family and friends. 
His passing was a profound loss for his family and the culinary community.
The Circumstances of Jock’s Passing
At the time of his death, Jock’s wife Lauren Fried had been in Italy and reportedly became concerned when her husband failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls. A senior Victoria Police source told Daily Mail that officers who attended Zagame’s House in Carlton found him dead in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual.
Pallbearers included Lauren and co-host Andy Allen, and attendees included a Who’s Who of the Australian culinary scene. There was no drug paraphernalia located, no one else in his room, and police at the scene formed the initial view that Jock had died of natural causes.
Final Projects and Legacy
Before his death, Jock had been preparing for the launch of MasterChef’s 15th season, which was set to premiere the night his body was found. He was also in the early stages of planning a new restaurant and had started working on a cookbook prior to his death.
Jock left behind four children: Ava, Sophie, Alfie, and Isla. His legacy continues through his family, his work, and the impact he had on the culinary world.