“It’s a new world we find ourselves in,” says Jock Zonfrillo, celebrity chef known to Adelaide locals as the mastermind behind and owner of Orana.
He is speaking, of course, of the current landscape, the COVID-19 pandemic that has so swiftly altered business as usual.
The world may look undeniably different, but there are some things that remain the same, like the return of beloved cooking show, MasterChef Australia. Jock is one of three new judges, alongside Andy Allen and Melissa Leong.
You might be wondering what you can expect from the newest season.
“Honesty, sincerity, and a sense of escapism,” Jock says. “You’ll be able to turn on the telly and actually relate to something valuable in this time—cooking.”
(Hands up if you’ve already tried making bread?)
This season bring new twists and different challenges but the amazing food remains, alongside friendly faces from seasons gone by.
“There’s a hunger,” Jock explains. “A few of these contestants just missed out last time, so they’ve got something to prove.”
For many, being back in the MasterChef family and having the opportunity to cook in the iconic kitchen is enough. For others, lifting that trophy is what they really want.
By the sounds of it, sifting through the talent is going to be tough.
“You couldn’t have picked 24 more diverse cooks if you tried,” Jock says. “They’re not all from one particular category and they’re so culturally diverse as well. I love being presented everything from a super fine-dining dessert to a comforting curry.”
Naturally, we also touched on the effects of the current crisis, particularly on an industry so closely linked to MasterChef, the hospitality industry.
“I’m probably more realistic than most people. I knew money would become a really tight commodity. People weren’t going to be buying takeaway food from restaurants, because it would inevitably be more expensive than buying groceries,” he says.
This is a reality shock many in the hospitality industry are facing and Jock is no stranger to it, having made the difficult decision to shut Orana’s doors in March, a decision he describes as, “inconceivably hard.”
“It’s very hard to build up a business, and a family within that business, and then suddenly have no other option than to make people redundant,” he says.
To businesses facing a similar situation, he recommends: take a step back and be realistic. Ask yourself the tough questions and make some tough decisions.
On the topic of an inevitable shift to more home cooking, we also asked Jock for his tips for cooking at home during a pandemic.
“Keep it simple,” he says. “The less you’re trying to cook for dinner, the better it’s going to be.”
Jock suggests drafting a plan of what you want to cook throughout the week, finding the recipes, and from those recipes, writing a strict grocery list, with the intention of minimising waste.
“Always be thinking about what you can use, the ends of the leeks and things like that. This is the time where you want to be having zero waste.”
Catch Jock Zonfrillo on the new season of MasterChef, which kicked off earlier this week.
The show airs at 7:30pm on Network Ten on Monday to Thursday and Sunday nights.
For more MasterChef related news, head to https://10play.com.au/masterchef.
LATEST NEWS
- Popular Italian restaurant on The Parade to close after almost two decadesMartini on the Parade, a well-known Italian restaurant in Adelaide’s East, is bidding farewell after serving diners for almost 17 years.
- First glimpse of 19-storey tower planned for Crown & Anchor SiteA first look of the proposed student-housing development at Adelaide’s iconic Crown & Anchor site has been unveiled, and the public will soon be able to have its say.
- Plans unveiled for exciting Parador Inn tourist accommodation expansion in Adelaide’s westParador Inn reveals plans to expand tourist accommodation to cater for the rising demand for visitor accommodation within close proximity to Adelaide Airport.
- Sleep under the stars and among the vines in McLaren Vale’s luxury Divine DomesThe Divine Domes in McLaren Vale offer 4 different geodesic domes with stunning starry night and vineyard views.
- Have you tried this Adelaide CBD hidden gem?Tutto Cucina + Bar is one of Adelaide hidden gems, boasting a juicy Italian menu with a twist. Have you tried it?
More News
