‘Great sadness’: Chef Bill Granger dies, aged 54
Bill Granger, the Australian-born chef famed for popularising avocado toast, has died at the age of 54, his family has announced.
Restaurateur Bill Granger died on Christmas Day. Photo: Instagram
The London-based Granger died peacefully in hospital on Christmas Day, with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters at his bedside.
Granger’s family shared the heart-breaking news on Instagram.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Bill Granger announce he has passed away on 25th December at the age of 54,” said the announcement posted on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
“A dedicated husband and father, Bill died peacefully in hospital with his wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny, at his bedside in their adopted home of London.
Granger was credited with having elevated humble avocado toast to become a cafe staple.
The meal was featured in the Signature Dishes that Matter book which listed foods created by some of the world’s greatest cooking masterminds.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Bill was a self-taught cook who became a celebrated global restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning over 30 years.
In 1999, he and his wife Natalie began a professional partnership that launched the business globally.
Together they built a successful business that today has 19 restaurants across Sydney, London, Greater Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Seoul.
Bill authored 14 cookbooks, made five TV series and most recently was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023.
“He will be remembered as the ‘King of Breakfast’, for making unpretentious food into something special filled with sunshine and for spurring the growth of Australian informal and communal eating around the world.
“He will be deeply missed by all, with his loss most profoundly felt by his adored family, who are grateful for all the love and support that has been given.”
Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson were among the first in the celebrity chef world to express shock and sadness at the news.
“This is devastating news, I’m so sad to hear this, what a guy he was …. a wonderful human, kind calm soul,” wrote Oliver in the post comments.
“I admired everything he represented in food I remember the first time I met him many moons ago he couldn’t have been nicer and his food so good.
“Sending so much love to all his family ?? rest in peace, Bill, he will be sorely missed.”
Lawson wrote that she was “heartbroken to hear this”.
“So cruel. Deepest love to N, E, I and B.”
– The New Daily
