Australian chef Skye Gyngell, known for receiving a Michelin star for her work at Petersham Nurseries, has died at the age of 62. Her family confirmed her passing on Saturday in London.
Career and Culinary Philosophy
Gyngell gained recognition in the United Kingdom after Petersham Nurseries cafe in south-west London was awarded a Michelin star in 2011. She subsequently led the kitchens at Spring restaurant at Somerset House and Marle and Hearth at Heckfield Place in Hampshire.
During the 1980s, Gyngell contributed to the development of the 'slow food movement'. Her early career also included working as a private chef for clients.
Notable Ventures
In 2004, Gyngell became head chef at Petersham Nurseries cafe in Richmond. Following the Michelin star award in 2011, she departed the cafe a year later, citing expectations from customers for a traditional Michelin dining experience that differed from the cafe's rustic approach.
Her later initiatives included Spring at Somerset House, which was London's first restaurant to eliminate single-use plastics.
Gyngell also authored cookbooks and served as the food editor for Vogue, contributing columns.
Tributes and Personal Life
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver acknowledged Gyngell's role in inspiring young cooks. Nigella Lawson also expressed sorrow regarding her death.
Skye Gyngell's death occurred days after that of her mother, Ann Barr, an interior designer. Her father, Bruce Gyngell, was noted as the first person to appear on Australian television in 1956.
Born in Sydney, Gyngell pursued culinary training in Paris at age 19, working in establishments including the two Michelin-starred Dodin-Bouffant. She later worked in London at the French House in Soho. She also addressed drug and alcohol addiction in her earlier life.
Illness
Last year, Gyngell was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer, after discovering a lump in her neck. She underwent an operation that included the removal of salivary glands, which led to a temporary loss of her sense of smell and taste.