MasterChef’s Greg Malouf dies, leaving behind legacy as ‘Godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine’
Celebrity chef, Greg Malouf, who appeared on MasterChef Australia as a guest several times, has died at the age of 64. He is best known for being the “Godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine”. Former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris shared the heartbreaking news of Malouf’s death with his followers on Saturday, in an Instagram post showing the […]
Celebrity chef, Greg Malouf, who appeared on MasterChef Australia as a guest several times, has died at the age of 64. He is best known for being the “Godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine”.
Former MasterChef Australia judge George Calombaris shared the heartbreaking news of Malouf’s death with his followers on Saturday, in an Instagram post showing the chef hard at work.
MasterChef’s Greg Malouf dies
Greg Malouf has died at the age of 64. After several years starring on MasterChef Australia as a guest judge, the Michelin star chef worked as a global chef consultant.
He was a self-proclaimed “Modern Middle Eastern Master” who also starred on Food Safari, having released six award-winning food books including Arabesque and Saha.
Tributes are now pouring in for the chef, who climbed the ranks as head chef of high-end restaurant O’Connell’s in the 1990s before becoming Executive Chef at Middle Eastern restaurant MoMo.
He was second for heart transplant
After he was born to Lebanese parents in Melbourne, the renowned chef became the second person in Victoria, Australia, to receive a second heart transplant, just 21 years earlier.
He had a triple bypass surgery at age 21 in 1981, before having his first heart transplant in 1989. Malouf went on to be given two hats from The Age Good Food Guide in 1991 to 2010 for his work.
For Malouf, the warning signs with his donor heart began about two years ago, when he started to feel the familiar symptoms of shortness of breath and tiredness, and his cholesterol reading shot up.
He was put on the list for a new heart, and then had to wait. After 14 months, the good news came through, and the procedure was performed, with the star recovering in hospital for just two weeks.
‘Godfather of Middle Eastern cuisine’
Tributes are pouring in across socials for Malouf. Former MasterChef Australia star George Calombaris wrote, “Along with so many, today is a sad day for us all. We lost a giant of a human, Greg Malouf.”
He continued: “A beautiful man. Yes an amazing chef. I send love to his family and strength. I will miss the banter of all things Greek v Lebanese food. RIP great man. See you on the other side. Gc.”
“Very sad to hear of the death of one of Australia’s greatest ever chefs… Greg Malouf… aged just 64. The godfather of modern middle eastern cuisine,” journalist Stephen Quartermain wrote on X.