Philippine culinary legend Nora Daza passes away

Philippine culinary legend Nora Daza, 84, passed away Friday morning, her grandson Joe Daza Puyat confirmed to GMA News Online.

 

Daza had a vibrant career as a chef, restauranteur, food columnist, cooking contest judge, Manila Gas Cooking school director, radio show host, and the host of several hit TV cooking shows, one of which was "Cooking It Up with Nora," and another of which took on the name of her well-known cookbook, "Let's Cook with Nora." The said cookbook has been guiding the culinary experiments of Philippine housewives since 1969.

Her other cookbooks include: "Festive Dishes," "Galing Galing Philippines Cuisine," "Nora V. Daza: A Culinary Life - Personal Recipe Collection," "The Best of the Maya Cookfest," volumes 1 through 3.

In the 70's, the Philippines' first culinary icon opened a Filipino restaurant in Paris called Aux Iles Philippines and a French restaurant in Manila called Aux Bon Vivant.

In 1992, she also ran for the Senate.
 

In an interview with Yahoo! Philippines, her son, chef Sandy Daza, also the owner of Wooden Spoon restaurant, confirmed that she passed away in her sleep at 2:30 a.m. earlier today.

 

A few publishing firms and celebrities have tweeted their condolences.

 

We lost one of our country's greatest culinary icons today. Rest in peace, Nora Daza. Your legacy lives on in every Filipino kitchen.

— Yummy.ph (@yummyph) September 13, 2013

 

A 21-gun gastronomic salute to the passing of a culinary icon and pioneer, Ms. Nora Daza.

— Ramon Antonio (@VoodooChef) September 13, 2013

 

To the original & greatest kitchen goddess, the one who inspired me to be chef & host that i am, to my hero. May you rest in peace Nora Daza

— Sharwin Tee (@chefsharwin) September 13, 2013

Deepest condolences to the family of Chef Nora Daza who joined our creator. She was one of the #Philippines greatest cooks. RIP Tita Nora

— Rico Hizon (@RicoHizon) September 13, 2013

Apart from Chef Sandy, Nora Daza is survived by daughter Nina Daza-Puyat, editor-in-chief of Appetite Magazine, food entrepreneur Bong Daza, father of actress and commercial model Isabelle Daza, and an array of grandchildren.

She will lie at the Loyola Memorial Chapel on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City until Saturday, Sept. 14. She will be transferred to Katipunan Avenue's Della Strada Parish and cremated on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 

—KG, GMA News