Australian chef and restaurateur Bill Granger has died at the age of 54 in London.
Fellow chefs, celebrities and fans of his restaurants paid tribute after the food writer’s family confirmed on Instagram that he passed away peacefully in hospital on Christmas Day.
Granger’s wife Natalie Elliott and three daughters Edie, Ines and Bunny were at his bedside, the post said.
Granger was born in Melbourne and is a self-taught cook who went on to become an international restaurateur and food writer with a career spanning more than 30 years. He will be remembered on Wednesday primarily as the man who made avocado toast popular worldwide and developed the unique style of Australian breakfast and brunch, becoming widely known as the “godfather” of avocado toast.
Granger left art school in 1993, moved to Sydney and opened his first restaurant, bills, in Darlinghurst. This corner cafe has become known for its fresh flavors and breakfast dishes served at a central communal table.
In 1999, he and Elliott started their business internationally, eventually expanding to 19 restaurants in Australia, the UK, Japan and South Korea.
Mr Granger has written 14 cookbooks, produced five television series and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in January last year.
“He will be remembered as the ‘King of Breakfast’, for making unassuming food into something sunny and special, and fostering the growth of Australia’s informal and communal dining around the world.” wrote on social media.
“He will be deeply missed by everyone, but his loss is felt most deeply by his loving family, who are grateful for all the love and support they have been given.”
Nigella Lawson said on social media that she was “heartbroken” to hear the news. “It’s very cruel.”
Jamie Oliver praised Granger as “a wonderful human being (and) a kind and gentle soul.”
“[He]had an (extraordinary) ease and style of cooking that was uniquely Australian,” Oliver wrote. “Many months ago, I remember going to his first Sydney restaurant in Darlinghurst…(It) was years ahead of its time.”
In London, Granger founded the Granger & Company chain, with branches in Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Notting Hill, King’s Cross and Marylebone.
Australian author Kathy Lett said on Twitter that X. Granger was “the sweetest, most charming, humblest person” and that his restaurant was a paradise for Australians.
Goodbye, dear Bill Granger, the sweetest, most charming, most humble man. His London restaurant is an Australian haven and the home of the Gumleaf Mafia, where he always greeted us with a warm, cheeky smile and his iconic Cheers moniker. My deepest condolences to Nat and the girls. #Rest in Peace Bill Granger pic.twitter.com/2HsbhBe7uG
— Kathy Lette (@KathyLette) December 26, 2023
Australian actor Hugh Jackman and his former partner Deborah-Lee Furness said they will miss their friendship with Granger “more than anything”.
“His talent, joie de vivre, way of bringing people together, and dedication to his family were inspiring,” they said in a joint statement.
Gwyneth Paltrow said the news was “heartbreaking.”
Food writer and former MasterChef Australia host Matt Preston said Granger was “a really lovely person and an inspiration”.
“Together he (with Natalie) helped shape the image of modern Australian cuisine around the world.”
Similar tributes were heard across social media, with chefs and cookbook authors expressing their sadness, including Darren Robertson, Christine Mansfield, James Martin, Hetty McKinnon and Mark Best. Mr Granger was described as a gentleman who “changed the whole breakfast game”.
Writing in X, chef and television presenter Adam Liaw described Granger as “perhaps the most influential pioneer of modern Australian cooking”.
“His codification of Australian cafe culture at Bill’s ‘Sunny’ (his words, not mine) is the model on which all Australian cafes around the world are now built. He’s also a great guy. ”
Neil Whittaker, founding editor of Food Illustrated and Delicious Magazine, said Mr Granger “defined the era of food for many in Sydney and beyond”.
“The inspiration, influence and importance of what Bill and Nat created cannot be overstated,” said David Prior, a former Condé Nast Traveler editor and family friend of the Grangers. .
“It’s brought about a change in our culture. Rather than a canon of fine dining and strict recipes, it’s a bright, optimistic, quietly sophisticated, thoroughly egalitarian approach to food. Australian food is… I had doubts before, but Bill voiced it. He first changed Australian food culture, and then, via Granger and company, London and its many offshoot cafes were directly inspired.
“Bill was never polite and took pride in being the author of his recipes, designs and approaches, but the truth is he was never better. The café’s original DNA has been telegraphed all over the world, but it has always evolved thanks to his curiosity and perfect taste.”
Granger is beloved by many in the Australian fashion industry, with Karyn Upton-Baker, managing director of Hermès Australia and former editor of Harper’s Bazaar Australia, describing him as “a man of the light”. “It’s full,” he recalls.
“After many sleepless nights, my babies came to Bill’s with me for breakfast,” she wrote. “And beautiful Bill, smiling and charming, made us some delicious food to get us through the day. I’ll never forget that.”
Kirsty Clements, former editor of Vogue Australia, said Granger was a “wonderful person with an incredible legacy”.
“As I remember my first shared table at Darlinghurst…my condolences go out to his family and all the Bills staff ❤️.”
Environment Minister and Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek wrote on Instagram: “So sad to hear of Bill Granger’s passing. His cafe and books brought so much joy to so many people. A Sydney icon. My condolences to his family and many friends.”
Sydney City Councilor Linda Scott also paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “Sydney wouldn’t be Sydney without the Bill. Thank you Bill Granger for everything. Your breakfast will be on our @cityofsydney streets of Darlinghurst. Your cookbook has transformed our kitchen. We will be sorely missed.”
