6 April 1959–19 September 2024

Greg Malouf will live on in many memories as Melbourne’s master of Middle Eastern cuisine. The Lebanese-Australian chef trained widely before sharing his skill, obsession and irrepressible joy for the food of his heritage with a worldwide audience.

From the early 1990s, he schooled this city in halwa, dukkah and bisteeya at his restaurants O’Connell’s and MoMo.

Despite receiving two heart transplants, Malouf never let his health hamper his ambition. He moved from Melbourne to London in 2012, then to Dubai.

There he opened restaurants, trained chefs and continued to co-author cookbooks with ex-wife and long-time friend Lucy Malouf. The pair were working on their ninth book together when Greg died, aged 65.

Malouf was a cheeky friend and an exacting teacher and employer, but he ran his kitchens with respect. Along with his food, that will be his legacy.