Elle Simone, also known as Elle Simone Scott, is an American chef, culinary producer, test cook, and food stylist. She is founder of the mentoring organization SheChef.
Elle Simone | |
|---|---|
| Born | LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott[1] |
Early life and education
editSimone was born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott[1] and grew up in Detroit, Michigan in a middle-class 7th-Day Adventist family.[1][2][3] She attended Eastern Michigan University.[1] Her first cooking job was at a kosher bakery in Oak Park, MI.[1] Before entering the culinary field, Simone worked as a social worker in Detroit.[4][5] She moonlighted as a prep cook.[3] She attended Culinary Institute of New York.[1] She has a master's degree in entertainment business.[2][5]
Culinary career
editAt age 28, Simone lost her job as a social worker, her car, and her home during the 2008 recession.[5][6] She took a job on a cruise ship as a cook for two years.[3][5] In 2009 she moved to New York, working at a women's shelter, and in 2010 attended culinary school.[1][3][7] She did an internship with Food Network.[5] She worked as a food stylist for Cabot Creamery and The Chew.[3] She worked in culinary production for Cook's Country, Food Network, Bravo, and Cooking Channel.[3][5][8]
Simone was the first African American woman to appear as a regular host on the PBS television show America's Test Kitchen starting in 2016.[1][9][10] She is a test cook and food stylist for the show.[11] She also develops videos for the show's online cooking school.[12]
She was featured in a segment of NBC's The Hub Today in 2018[1] and in 2019 hosted 28 Days of Edna, a monthlong America's Test Kitchen series focussed on Edna Lewis.[3]
Simone is a member of the board of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs.[13] She has said she wants to become the "culinary Oprah."[1][7]
Books
edit- Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings. America's Test Kitchen. 2022-04-26. ISBN 978-1-954210-00-4.[14][15]
Philanthropy
editSimone founded SheChef, a for-profit mentoring and networking organization for women of color in the culinary field, in 2013.[16] As of November 2018 it had over 1000 members.[4][8][17] She was motivated to do so after realizing that although 90% of her culinary school classmates had been women or persons of color, this group was underrepresented among chefs.[18]
Personal life
editSimone is a survivor of ovarian cancer.[5] She was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 40.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j First, Devra (December 3, 2018). "Meet the America's Test Kitchen star who dreams of being the culinary Oprah". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Reliford, Alexis (July 18, 2014). "Elle Simone Scott, Creating Culinary Careers". Essence. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kearnan, Scott (February 5, 2019). "Elle Simone is Changing the Look of the Culinary Industry". Boston Magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Musho, Lee (November 14, 2018). "Who is She (Chef)?". Baked. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g Jhaveri, Rayna (November 27, 2018). "Elle Simone Scott: TV talent on "America's Test Kitchen;" Founder of SheChef". Edible Boston. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ Garcia, Maria; Mitchell, Zoe (January 14, 2019). "Elle Simone Scott's Mission To Become The Oprah Of The Food World". www.wbur.org. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Saxe, Lizzy (March 31, 2019). "Elle Simone Scott Can't Wait To Be Culinary Oprah". Forbes. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ a b Turshen, Julia (May 17, 2019). "A Conversation with Elle Simone Scott". Food & Wine. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Kandia (July 9, 2018). "How SheChef is Bridging the Culture Gap for Women Chefs of Color". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
- ^ "Elle Simone". Black Food & Beverage. 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ Swift, Sally (October 5, 2018). "America's Test Kitchen's Chicken and Pastry is a comfort food dish influenced by Edna Lewis". www.splendidtable.org. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "Elle Simone Discusses Her Unexpected Transition from Food Stylist to TV Personality". America's Test Kitchen. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "Women Chefs & Restaurateurs | About Us". Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "Elle Simone Scott Learned to Center Others by Putting Herself First". Nation's Restaurant News. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ Washington, Elizabeth (2022-11-12). "Dive into the world of food presentation with Elle Simone". WDIV. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Finding Meaning In Work: A Labor Day Edition Of 'Radio Boston'". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
- ^ "Elle Simone Scott". Women In Hospitality United. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
- ^ "Conversations with the Inspiring Elle Simone Scott - Boston Voyager Magazine | Boston City Guide". Boston Voyager. November 15, 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
- ^ Nania, Rachel (March 1, 2019). "Star chef fights for equality in food industry, cancer research". WTOP. Retrieved September 5, 2019.