Linger Longer owner-chef found dead

Chef Walter Ulz, owner of the Sandton Linger Longer restaurant, was found dead in his flat in Illovo, northern Johannesburg, yesterday morning.

Though rumours yesterday spread that Ulz had committed suicide, Ben Filmalter, Ulz's business partner and friend, said the circumstances surrounding the 57-year-old's death were not known and there was "nothing to support that it's suicide".

Ulz and Carlos de Freitas bought the business from Filmalter in 2006. De Freitas died two weeks ago.

Ulz's body was found by a friend, Bernard Marion, yesterday morning. It is believed that he died during the night. The cause of his death was not known yesterday.

Filmalter said Linger Longer permanently closed its doors yesterday because there was no one to take over from Ulz.

Ulz, who came to South Africa from Austria in the 1970s, had worked at the Sandton, northern Johannesburg, restaurant for more than 30 years.

Filmalter said the restaurant had been struggling but that they had been trying to find ways to save it.

"Walter was very passionate about the restaurant. The stress of knowing the business failed killed him. It was a very difficult time," Filmalter said.

He described Ulz as a "giant in the food business" and a "master" who made an "enormous" contribution to the food industry.

"He was so generous and wanted to make people happy."

Friend and fellow chef Heinz Brunner, who knew Ulz for more than 30 years, said he was "very passionate and professional".

Brunner said Ulz's death was a "huge loss".

"He was always keen to talk to people about food ... It's a chapter that is gone," he said.

Ulz was awarded the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Eat Out Restaurant Awards for his "invaluable contribution to the culinary industry and his enthusiasm and passion for cooking".

President of the SA Chefs' Association Stephen Billingham said Ulz would be sorely missed.