Pioneering Australian chef Skye Gyngell has passed away at the age of 62. Gyngell gained recognition in the UK for her work at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, where the café received a Michelin star, a prestigious accolade in the culinary world. She later led the Spring restaurant at Somerset House and ventures such as Marle and Hearth at Heckfield Place in Hampshire.
Her family announced her death on Saturday in London, highlighting her influence as a culinary visionary and her role in shaping the perspectives of chefs and food growers worldwide. Notable figures in the culinary field, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, recognized Gyngell for her inspirational contributions to young cooks. It is reported that she had been diagnosed with skin cancer the previous year.
Gyngell was a pioneer of the “slow food movement” in the 1980s and worked as a private chef for clients like Nigella Lawson, Madonna, and Guy Ritchie. Lawson expressed her sorrow on social media, noting the shock brought by Gyngell’s passing despite her known illness. Gyngell died shortly after losing her mother, Ann Barr, a respected interior designer.
Born in Sydney, Gyngell initially pursued studies at Sydney University but quickly redirected her focus to the culinary arts. At 19, she moved to Paris to train under acclaimed chefs, including those at the two Michelin-starred restaurant Dodin-Bouffant. She later worked in London at the French House in Soho.
In 2004, Gyngell assumed the role of head chef at Petersham Nurseries café, revitalizing the space and achieving a Michelin star by 2011. However, she left the café the following year, citing frustration with customer expectations for a more traditional Michelin experience. Her subsequent projects included Spring, noted for being the first single-use plastic-free restaurant in London.
Gyngell authored award-winning cookbooks and contributed to Vogue as its food editor. Last year, she discovered a lump in her neck and was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Following surgery that resulted in significant changes to her taste and smell, her health declined leading to her eventual passing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy840l75gx3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss