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Published December 26, 2023, 5:01 PM ET
Top Australian chef Bill Granger has died “peacefully” in a London hospital aged 54.
The news was shared on Instagram by his family, who wrote with “great sadness” that the celebrated chef died on Christmas Day.
“Bill was a dedicated husband and father and died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters Edie, Ines and Bunny at his bedside in their adopted home of London,” they wrote.
“He will be deeply missed by all, his loss will be felt most deeply by his beloved family, who are grateful for all the love and support shown to him.”
The self-taught chef went on to become a globally acclaimed restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning more than 30 years.
He and his wife Natalie began a professional partnership that took the company around the world. Together they built a successful company that now has 19 restaurants in Sydney, London, the Tokyo metropolitan area, Osaka, Fukuoka and Seoul.
He is the author of 14 cookbooks, directed five television series and was most recently honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023.
Tributes are pouring in for Granger.
Jamie Oliver commented on the Instagram post saying the news was “devastating” and that he would be “sorely missed.”
Bill Granger takes part in a cooking demonstration at Waterstone's, Piccadilly. Corbis via Getty Images
“What a guy he was… a wonderful person, a kind, calm soul… I admired everything he represented in the food.
“I remember the first time I met him many moons ago, he couldn't have been nicer and his food was so good.”
Nigella Lawson wrote that she was “heartbroken”.
“So cruel, deepest love for N, E, I and B.”
“Nat and dear girls, I thought about you so much and prayed that there would be other news. “Sending you all our love and keeping your wonderful husband and father in our hearts forever,” wrote Maggie Alderson.
Celebrity chef Bill Granger shows up at the store to promote and sign his new recipe book. Getty Images
Australian chef Darren Robertson, co-owner of the Three Blue Ducks cafe, wrote that Granger “changed the whole breakfast game, he was an absolute gentleman.”
Many credit Granger with the creation of the popular Australian brunch item, avocado toast.
His toast, along with dishes from world-famous chefs such as Ferran Adria, Alain Ducasse, Rene Redzepi and Heston Blumental, were featured in a book called Signature Dishes that Matter.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review earlier this year, Granger's avocado on toast was described as his “gift to the world”.
Granger's death was announced on Instagram. Fairfax Media via Getty Images
“How did this happen? Surely it's a natural pairing that you don't even have to think about. You have an avo, you want toast – so you smash it,” wrote food writer Jill Dupleix.
Granger agreed, saying, “I know, it's just a few ingredients, hardly a recipe.” He went on to say that he ate avocado on toast because it was easy. “Hospitality people always eat quickly because they have so little time. It is instantly accessible, fresh and light. And it’s green.”
He told Dupleix that it involved getting up on a sunny morning.
“I grew up in Melbourne and when I moved to Sydney I was shocked by the morning life there. People were at the beach, walking through the park and having the day under control. It felt very Australian, very upbeat. I think avocado on toast is optimistic.”
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