Chef, food stylist and cookbook author Elle Simone Scott has died.
It’s been widely reported that the Detroit native, 49, died Wednesday of ovarian cancer.
“We are still finding the words as we mourn the loss of an incredible human,” reads a statement from the PBS show “America’s Test Kitchen,” on which Scott was a cast member for nearly a decade. “Friends and colleagues will remember Elle for her ability to create community and provide opportunities for others, both inside and outside of work.”
She brought a straightforward expertise to the show but wasn’t afraid to crack a joke, either. Scott also co-founded a mentoring organization SheChef in 2013.
Scott said she was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer after joining “America’s Test Kitchen” in 2016, but was cancer-free years later when she spoke to The Detroit News in 2020 ahead of a local appearance with co-hosts of “America’s Test Kitchen,” Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster.
Scott talked to The News about her Detroit roots. Before the pandemic, she was considering opening a bed and breakfast in Detroit with some family members.
She said she grew up on the city’s Greek cuisine and was a fan of the city’s newer spots like Marrow in West Village, along with her old favorites.
“I rock hard with Sister Pie, and Lou’s Deli,” she told The News in 2020.
“Here at ATK, she will be remembered for her genuine appreciation for the people around her and the care she showed for her work and her colleagues,” reads the statement from “America’s Test Kitchen.” Simone also worked on the PBS show “Cook’s Country.”
“She helped shape the look and feel of ‘Cook’s Country,’ and in the process became my favorite food stylist,” said cast member Bryan Roof on Instagram Wednesday, adding that he had many happy memories with Simone and was grateful she introduced him to Detroit’s famous Boogaloo Wonderland sandwich.
“If I didn’t love something, she could sense it … she’d shimmy a tomato, adjust a sauce drip, reshingle a steak slice, and it was perfect,” he said. “It’s not often you get to work with talent like that.”
