Last Shot
A memoir of addiction, ambition and redemption
Published on 11. April 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-76142-780-0 (ISBN)
Description
A coming-of-age memoir of addiction, ambition and redemption in the high-stakes world of Michelin star kitchens.
From reckless drug addict to one of Australia's top chefs and television stars: MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo's powerful life story will shock and inspire.
Jock's life spiralled out of control when he tried heroin for the first time as a teenager while growing up in 1980s Glasgow. For years he balanced a career as a rising star amongst legendary chefs with a crippling drug addiction that took him down many dark paths.
Fired from his job at a Michelin star restaurant in Chester, England, after a foul-mouthed rant, Jock made his way to London looking for work and found himself in front of the legendary Marco Pierre White. He credits White for saving his life, but Jock continued to struggle with addiction in a world of excess, celebrity, and cut-throat ambition.
On New Year's Eve 1999, Jock shot up his last shot of heroin before boarding a plane to Sydney, where he would find passion and new meaning in life in the most unexpected places. There would be more struggles ahead, including two failed marriages, the closure of his prized restaurant during COVID-19, his time on-country, and some very public battles.
?This is the unforgettable story of an incredible life cut short too soon.
Praise for Last Shot
'I've known Jock for 25 years. He is not only a great mate but an incredibly talented chef - in Australia and around the world. Last Shot really shows how resilient Jock is and how far he has come in his personal and professional life. I'm inspired by how brave Jock has been for putting this biography out there. I couldn't put it down. Loved it!' Matt Moran
'Zonfrillo climbed his way to the top of the gastronomic ladder only to abdicate his position. He still inspires chefs worldwide.' Marco Pierre White
'An amazingly candid story of a prolific but complicated chef who made it back from the brink despite the obstacles, surely one of the best comeback stories there is!' Gordon Ramsay
'Jock absolutely lives and breathes his passion for food, which began in childhood. And between the incredible ups and downs of his life that we read about in Last Shot, what really comes through for me is his search for knowledge of Indigenous foods - I so admire how the depth of his learning combined with his amazing skill and creativity has allowed him to celebrate the uniqueness of the cultures he has embraced.' Maggie Beer AO
From reckless drug addict to one of Australia's top chefs and television stars: MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo's powerful life story will shock and inspire.
Jock's life spiralled out of control when he tried heroin for the first time as a teenager while growing up in 1980s Glasgow. For years he balanced a career as a rising star amongst legendary chefs with a crippling drug addiction that took him down many dark paths.
Fired from his job at a Michelin star restaurant in Chester, England, after a foul-mouthed rant, Jock made his way to London looking for work and found himself in front of the legendary Marco Pierre White. He credits White for saving his life, but Jock continued to struggle with addiction in a world of excess, celebrity, and cut-throat ambition.
On New Year's Eve 1999, Jock shot up his last shot of heroin before boarding a plane to Sydney, where he would find passion and new meaning in life in the most unexpected places. There would be more struggles ahead, including two failed marriages, the closure of his prized restaurant during COVID-19, his time on-country, and some very public battles.
?This is the unforgettable story of an incredible life cut short too soon.
Praise for Last Shot
'I've known Jock for 25 years. He is not only a great mate but an incredibly talented chef - in Australia and around the world. Last Shot really shows how resilient Jock is and how far he has come in his personal and professional life. I'm inspired by how brave Jock has been for putting this biography out there. I couldn't put it down. Loved it!' Matt Moran
'Zonfrillo climbed his way to the top of the gastronomic ladder only to abdicate his position. He still inspires chefs worldwide.' Marco Pierre White
'An amazingly candid story of a prolific but complicated chef who made it back from the brink despite the obstacles, surely one of the best comeback stories there is!' Gordon Ramsay
'Jock absolutely lives and breathes his passion for food, which began in childhood. And between the incredible ups and downs of his life that we read about in Last Shot, what really comes through for me is his search for knowledge of Indigenous foods - I so admire how the depth of his learning combined with his amazing skill and creativity has allowed him to celebrate the uniqueness of the cultures he has embraced.' Maggie Beer AO
More details
Edition
UK Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Australia
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
2x16pp colour plates
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
339 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76142-780-0 (9781761427800)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jock Zonfrillo was a beloved chef, television presenter and restauranter best known as a judge on MasterChef Australia and as the host of Nomad Chef. Born in Glasgow to an Italian father and Scottish mother, Jock's formative years were heavily influenced by his respective cultures. Attracted to the dynamic and competitive kitchens of London, he worked alongside top chefs like Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and David Cavalier.
On a year-long sabbatical in Sydney, Jock became curious about the taste and origins of Australia's Indigenous cuisine. He subsequently moved to Adelaide and opened Restaurant Orana in 2013, a fine-dining experience designed to acknowledge Indigenous culture through food. Jock was also a devoted father of four and married to businesswoman Lauren Zonfrillo author of Till Death Do Us Part. Sadly, he passed away in April 2023, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire the culinary world.
On a year-long sabbatical in Sydney, Jock became curious about the taste and origins of Australia's Indigenous cuisine. He subsequently moved to Adelaide and opened Restaurant Orana in 2013, a fine-dining experience designed to acknowledge Indigenous culture through food. Jock was also a devoted father of four and married to businesswoman Lauren Zonfrillo author of Till Death Do Us Part. Sadly, he passed away in April 2023, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire the culinary world.