Skye Gyngell
{{Short description|Australian chef}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox chef
| name = Skye Gyngell
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|9|6}}
| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Thomas Gore (1989 - 1996)
| style = European cuisine
| education =
| ratings = {{plainlist|
- Michelin stars {{Michelinstar|1|3}} (2011)
}}
| restaurants =
| prevrests = {{plainlist|
- Petersham Nurseries Cafe {{Michelinstar|1|3}}
}}
| awards = {{plainlist|
- Best Cookery Book Guild of Food Writers Award 2007
- Best UK Woman Chef Book Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2010
}}
}}
Skye Gyngell (born 6 September 1963) is an Australian chef who is best known for her work as food editor for Vogue, and for winning a Michelin star at the Petersham Nurseries Cafe. She first trained as a chef in France, and afterwards moved to Britain.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Early life
Gyngell was born in Sydney.{{cite web|title=Ms Skye Gyngell|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/g/27391/Skye+GYNGELL.aspx|publisher=Debretts|accessdate=29 July 2012}} Her father was Bruce Gyngell, an Australian television executive.
Career
Gyngell trained at La Varenne restaurant in Paris, France, under chef Anne Willan. She then moved to work at the Dodin-Bouffant restaurant before going to work at The French House, in Soho, London.{{cite news|title=The future is female: Industry leaders and rising stars|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/18/09/2007/315805/the-future-is-female-industry-leaders-and-rising-stars.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=30 August 2007}} She went on to work at The Dorchester under Anton Mosimann.{{cite news|title=Skye Gyngell|url=http://www.redonline.co.uk/red-women/red-panel/skye-gyngell-red-panel-profile|access-date=29 July 2012|newspaper=Red Online|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130422070357/http://www.redonline.co.uk/red-women/red-panel/skye-gyngell-red-panel-profile|archive-date=22 April 2013|df=dmy-all}} She cooked for dinner parties, including for celebrity chef Nigella Lawson.{{cite news|last=Jardine|first=Cassandra|title='Courtney Love of cooking': Skye Gyngell opens up on heroin abuse, alcohol addiction and Nigella Lawson|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/courtney-love-of-cooking-skye-gyngell-opens-up-on-heroin-abuse-alcohol-addiction-and-nigella-lawson-20110705-1h02q.html|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 July 2011}}
She joined the Petersham Nurseries Cafe as head chef at its opening in 2004, having convinced the owners of the nurseries to allow her to create the "antithesis of a West End restaurant" there. The restaurant was set in the grounds of Petersham House.{{cite news|title=Just opened|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/01/06/2005/54345/Just-opened.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=20 July 2004}} The restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in the 2011 list,{{cite news|last=Kühn|first=Kerstin|title=Michelin 2011: Where have all the stars gone?|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/25/01/2011/336641/michelin-2011-where-have-all-the-stars-gone.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=20 January 2011}} and she created a pop-up restaurant in London in conjunction with Cloudy Bay wines later in the year.{{cite news|last=Lane|first=Diane|title=Cloudy Bay and Skye Gyngell collaborate on pop-up shack|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/12/07/2011/339295/Cloudy-Bay-and-Skye-Gyngell-collaborate-on-pop-up-shack.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=12 July 2011}} After eight years at the Cafe, she left the restaurant in 2012.{{cite news|last=Kühn|first=Kerstin|title=Skye Gyngell leaves Petersham Nurseries|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/10/02/2012/342281/Skye-Gyngell-leaves-Petersham-Nurseries.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=10 February 2012}} In interviews she explained that she did not like the expectations that people had of a Michelin-starred restaurant and this led to her decision to quit,{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=David|authorlink=David Mitchell (comedian)|title=Why a Michelin star can only be a recipe for disappointment|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/26/david-mitchell-column-sky-gyngell?newsfeed=true|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=The Observer|date=26 February 2012}} and described the star as a "curse",{{cite news|last=Hall|first=James|title=Skye Gyngell: curse of the Michelin star has driven me out of the kitchen|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9094386/Skye-Gyngell-curse-of-the-Michelin-star-has-driven-me-out-of-the-kitchen.html|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=21 February 2012}} stating, "If I ever have another restaurant I pray we don't get a star." She explained later that she regretted her comments about the Michelin star, but thought that the set up at Petersham just did not allow for the expectations of customers to be met, describing the facilities as "cooking out of a garage".
Later that year she announced a collaboration with Heckfield Place, and was named Culinary Director for the three restaurants there. In addition, she is being backed by the same investors to head a new restaurant in London.{{cite news|last=Harmer|first=Janet|title=Skye Gyngell to join Heckfield Place and launch restaurant in London|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/29/06/2012/344293/skye-gyngell-to-join-heckfield-place-and-launch-restaurant-in-london.htm|accessdate=29 July 2012|newspaper=Caterer and Hotelkeeper|date=29 June 2012}} She has already said that she would not turn down a star should one come along. She had declined offers to run the kitchens of Kensington Place restaurant and the café of the Serpentine Gallery.
In November 2014, she opened{{cite news |title=Spring, restaurant review: Skye Gyngell's smart new venue could hardly be more different from Petersham Nurseries|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/reviews/spring-restaurant-review-skye-gyngells-smart-new-venue-could-hardly-be-more-different-from-petersham-nurseries-9846641.html|accessdate=9 November 2014|newspaper=The Independent|date=8 November 2013}} Spring, a restaurant at Somerset House.
She has written for The Independent on Sunday,{{cite web|title=Skye Gyngell|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/biography/skye-gyngell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229175129/http://www.independent.co.uk/biography/skye-gyngell|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 February 2012|work=The Independent|accessdate=29 July 2012}} and has been the food editor for magazine Vogue.
Personal life
Published works
- {{cite book|last=Gyngell|first=Skye|author2=Lowe, Jason|title=A Year in My Kitchen|year=2006|publisher=Quadrille|location=London|isbn=9781844005925}}
- {{cite book|last=Gyngell|first=Skye|title=My Favourite Ingredients|year=2008|publisher=Quadrille Publishing Ltd|location=London|isbn=9781580080507}}
- {{cite book|last=Gyngell|first=Skye|title=How I Cook|year=2010|publisher=Quadrille|location=London|isbn=9781844008506}}
- {{cite book|last=Gyngell|first=Skye|author2=Sewell, Andy|title=Spring|year=2016|publisher=Quadrille|location=London|isbn=978-1849497541}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120215223631/http://skye-gyngell.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gyngell, Skye}}
Category:Australian women chefs
Category:Head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants
Category:Australian expatriates in France