Celebrities pay tribute to late Australian chef Bill Granger

American actress Gwyneth Paltrow wrote under Granger’s family’s post: “Oh my goodness, this is so heartbreaking! Love to you all.”

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Granger 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 began a professional partnership that launched the business globally and established 19 restaurants in Sydney, London, Greater Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Seoul, according to his family.

He authored 14 cookbooks, made five television series and was most recently 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,” his family wrote.

The culinary world also eulogised Granger.

“Shocking and deeply sad news to hear of his death today,” wrote English celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on Instagram. “I loved @bill.granger so much, he was such a wonderful man, warm, charming, and had an extraordinary ease and style in cooking that could come only from Australia.”

He added: “Many moons ago, I remember going to his first Sydney restaurant in Darlinghurst. It was so cool, so relaxed, great food and coffee and years ahead of its time. He was there in full effect, so welcoming and just so nice.”