Elle Simone Scott Obituary, Chef and Cooking Show Stalwart, Dies At 49

Elle Simone Scott, an acclaimed chef and cookbook author who broke barriers as the first Black cast member of the PBS cooking series America’s Test Kitchen, died on Jan. 5 at her home in Boston. She was 49.

Her mother, Cheryl Price, said the cause of death was ovarian cancer. Ms. Scott became a familiar and trusted presence to viewers through her regular cooking segments on America’s Test Kitchen and as the host of the show’s podcast, The Walk-In. On the podcast, she sat down with influential figures in the food world, exploring their personal journeys, challenges and paths to success.

One such guest, chef Carla Hall, said Ms. Scott’s example pushed her to approach her own career with greater boldness.

“She was a trailblazer in that she went for what she wanted with joy and confidence,” Ms. Hall said.

Beyond television and podcasting, Ms. Scott was deeply committed to opening doors for others. In 2013, she founded SheChef, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mentorship, networking and career pipelines for women of color in the culinary industry. Through the organization, she helped connect aspiring chefs to professional kitchen opportunities across the country and supported writers and authors exploring Black American foodways.

Her generosity and sense of purpose left a lasting impression on colleagues. Toni Tipton-Martin, a former editor of Cook’s Country magazine and a leading voice on Black American cooking, said their bond went beyond professional collaboration.

“As colleagues, we bonded over our shared passions to tell a more complete American food story, while also striving to uplift and encourage the next generation,” Ms. Tipton-Martin wrote in an email. “And on a personal level, her resilience and optimism often inspired me to a higher place of strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.”