Bill Granger, the beloved chef behind the famed Bills cafes, has passed away on Christmas Day, aged 54.

The chef died in a London hospital surrounded by family, following a short battle with cancer.

The family shared the devastating news on Bill Granger’s Instagram account. “It is with great sadness that the family of Bill Granger announce he has passed away on 25th December at the age of 54. 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.”

 

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Chefs from around the world paid tribute to the Aussie icon. British celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver shared his heartfelt condolences. “This is devastating news, I’m so sad to hear this, what a guy he was …. a wonderful human, kind calm soul….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.” Food writer and TV star Nigella Lawson also paid tribute, “I’m heartbroken to hear this. So cruel,” she commented.

The news hit deeply Down Under, with chefs who had worked with him or been inspired by him, sharing their shock and sadness.  Australian chef Neil Perry paid tribute to the “passionate cook and writer” but also the “brilliant person, husband and father” that he was. “I still remember all those years ago visiting Bills and seeing an energetic cook scramble divine eggs in that little kitchen in Darlinghurst, the beginning of something very special.” Sean Moran from Sean’s in Bondi commented. “Way too soon. What a class act you were Bill. Thank you for everything you have done to put Australian food on a global stage. You will be greatly missed.”

Related news: Bill Granger shares his top entertaining tips

Bill Granger was born in Melbourne in 1969. He studied art and architecture at university before dropping out to open his first cafe Bills in Darlinghurst, aged just 24. The cafe was an instant success and Bill shot to fame as Australia’s ‘King of Breakfast’. His name has become synonymous with his most famous dishes – fluffy ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter, sweetcorn fritters with avocado salsa and, of course, silky scrambled eggs.

His casual style of cooking spurred on the growth of informal and communal eating both in Australia and around the world.

Bill and his wife Natalie Elliot are behind 19 cafes and restaurants around the world, including four Bills cafes in Sydney, with other venus located in London, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Seoul. His 14 cookbooks were best sellers, and many young Australians learned to cook with a trusted copy of Bills Food or Simply Bill by their side.

Bill Granger was also a beloved contributor of delicious. His recipe for buttermilk pancakes with chocolate fudge sauce graced the first-ever cover of the magazine in 2001. He was a columnist with the magazine from 2002-2011.

He was recently awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023, for service to the tourism and hospitality sector.

Bill Granger is survived by his wife Natalie Elliott and their three daughters, Edie, Inès and Bunny.

Related recipes: Bill Granger’s 8 best Aussie brunch recipes