Australian chef, restaurateur and food writer Bill Granger has died. He was 54 years old.
Granger’s family announced his death on his Instagram on Tuesday. Granger “died peacefully” on Christmas Day in a London hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and their three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny, at his bedside. The cause of death was not given.
Among those to post moving tributes following the news were Granger’s friends and fellow Australians Hugh Jackman and his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Jackman.
“We are devastated by the news of Bill’s death,” they wrote in an Instagram story. “His talent, his the joy of living, the way he brought people together and his dedication to his family were inspiring. We will miss his friendship the most. Our love goes out to Natalie and their 3 amazing daughters Edie, Ines and Bunny.”
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The Jackmans captioned their post, “Rest in Peace. Deb & Hugh.” (Hugh and Deborra-Lee announced they were ending their marriage by mutual consent in September.)
Bill Granger died at 54.
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Granger was a famous self-taught chef with 19 restaurants around the world. He has written 14 cookbooks and starred in five TV shows broadcast in Australia and the United Kingdom. A statement from his family called him the “King of Breakfast” – and he is credited with making avocado toast popular in recent years. (Simplot notes that the first recorded sighting of the menu is believed to be at one of Granger’s restaurants in 1993.)
Chef Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson also mourned Granger with posts on social media.
“It breaks my heart to hear this. So cruel,” Lawson commented on the family’s post.
“Shocking and deeply saddened by the news of his death,” Oliver said on Instagram. “I loved @bill.granger so much, he was such a wonderful man, warm, charming and had an amazing ease and style in his cooking that can only come from Australia.”
The judge of “MasterChef” “Australia” Jock Zonfrillo died at the age of 46.
“Many moons ago I remember going to his first restaurant in Sydney in Darlinghurst, it was so cool, so relaxed, great food and coffee and years ahead of its time,” Oliver added. “He was completely there, so welcoming and so nice.”
Granger’s family thanked fans for their tributes: “He will be greatly missed by all and his loss is felt most deeply by his adoring family, who are grateful for all the love and support they have shown her.”
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Source: HIS Education