This is sad day for Lebanese cuisine as one of its most awarded chefs and authors has passed away. Lebanese-Australian chef Greg Maalouf, long considered as the “godfather of Lebanese cuisine”, has died at the age of 64. Maalouf begun his career in the early 80s and shun in the early 90s when he took over The O’Connel’s Restaurant in South Melbourne. He then became the Executive Chef of MoMo restaurant in Melbourne where he received multiple awards by The authoritative Age Good Food Guide and won several awards. In 2011, Maalouf was awarded one Michelin Star for Petersham Nurseries Café ,Richmond, South London while heading the kitchen.

Maalouf also authored with his wife Lucy Maalouf six award-winning books, including the 1999 book “a Chef’s Journey through Lebanon and Syria” whose foreword was by American celebrity chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain. In 2019, his last book entitled “SUQAR: Desserts & Sweets from the Modern Middle East” won the James Beard Foundation Award.

I had the privilege of attending a dinner with Chef Greg Maalouf in Liza Achrafieh in 2016 and it was one spectacular experience.

May he rest in peace and our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.