Renowned Australian chef and the ‘godfather of avocado toast’ Bill Granger has died, aged 54.
The restaurateur, chef, and food writer “died peacefully in hospital” in London on Christmas Day, with his wife and children by his side, his family said in a statement.
“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,” they wrote on Instagram.
“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.
The self-taught cook became a global star with a career spanning 30 years that saw him build an empire of 19 restaurants across Sydney, London, Greater Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Seoul.
But perhaps his most iconic creation was the humble avocado toast, with the first sighting of the dish seen on the menu of his cafe, bills, in 1993.
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But speaking to a Melbourne newspaper in 2015, he said he couldn’t take all the credit.
“Avocado was on a list of sides that went with toast. So I’ll give credit for the creation of the dish to our customers who put it together.”
Hollywood stars have joined figures from the food world in paying tribute, with fellow Australian Hugh Jackman making a joint statement with his former partner Deborah-Lee Furness saying they were “devastated” to hear the news.
Fellow actor Gwyneth Paltrow also replied to the Granger family’s online statement.
“Oh my goodness, this is so heartbreaking! Love to you all,” she wrote.
Nigella Lawson said she was “heartbroken” in a post on Instagram, while Jamie Oliver described the news as “heartbreaking”.
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“This is devastating news, I’m so sad to hear this, what a guy he was… a wonderful human, kind calm soul,” TV chef Oliver said.
“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.”
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He added he is sending “so much love to all his family” for Granger, who he said will be “sorely missed”.
Actor Richard E Grant shared a row of heartbreak emojis while Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan dubbed Granger a “ray of Aussie sunshine”.