Farewell to Skye Gyngell: Australia’s Trailblazing Michelin-Star Chef Dies at 62
Famed Australian restaurateur and chef Skye Gyngell has passed away at the age of 62.
Her family confirmed the news in a statement released overnight.
“We are deeply saddened to share that Skye Gyngell passed away on 22nd November in London, surrounded by her family and loved ones,” the statement read.
“Skye was a culinary visionary whose influence inspired generations of chefs and growers around the world to think differently about food and its connection to the land.
“She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and remains an inspiration to us all.”
Skye was the daughter of legendary broadcaster Bruce Gyngell and his first wife, interior designer Anne Barr, whose own death was reported over the weekend.
Tributes from fellow chefs poured in. Jamie Oliver called the news “terribly sad,” writing that Gyngell had been “an amazing woman, an incredible cook, and deeply kind-hearted.”
“She will be very, very, very missed. Thank you for all you did to inspire young cooks,” he added.
British pastry chef and TV presenter Ravneet Gill also described Skye as an “inspiration.”
Gyngell’s family has requested privacy as they grieve.
Her passing comes after a battle with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer discovered when she noticed a lump on the side of her neck in April 2024.
She underwent a grueling nine-hour surgery at a London hospital, during which doctors removed 40 glands, including her saliva glands.
Physicians later warned her that she would lose her sense of taste and smell — and that the loss could be permanent.
Gyngell admitted the diagnosis brought her to tears, not because of how it would affect her career, but because she feared she might never again enjoy the experience of tasting food.
Skye Gyngell was, and remains, the only female Australian chef ever awarded a Michelin Star, one of the most prestigious honors in culinary arts.
She trained in France and worked in London before becoming head chef at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond when it opened in 2004. She earned her Michelin Star seven years later.
Born in Sydney in 1963, Skye grew up with a father who was already a household name — Bruce Gyngell was the first person to appear on Australian television in 1956.
It didn’t take long for her to leave her own mark on the hospitality world.
In 2012, she was appointed culinary director of Heckfield Place, and two years after that, she opened her own restaurant, Spring, at Somerset House.
Her remarkable culinary talent also led her to write a series of successful cookbooks and contribute widely to hospitality commentary through newspaper columns.