Born and raised in Detroit, Chef Elle Simone Scott— food stylist, author, and veteran America’s Test Kitchen (ATK) cast member—is a culinary maverick. She found her love for food while spending time in the kitchen with a food enthusiast family. After an internship at the Food Network, Chef Scott discovered her inclination towards the creative aspects of culinary preparation, particularly in designing and decorating as a food stylist, which led her to work in culinary production for The Chew, Cook’s Country, and shows on Bravo, the Food Network, the Cooking Channel, and more.
She has been dazzling the culinary world since 2003, and now resides in Boston as a full-time ATK cast member and food stylist. She also focuses on her role as a board member for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA), which she became involved with after her 2016 cancer diagnosis. OCRA is the leading organization in the world fighting ovarian cancer on all fronts while supporting patients and their families ( https://ocrahope.org/ ).
From the start, Chef Scott has been open and honest about her diagnosis and treatments. Viewers could see some of this play out on television, as her weight greatly fluctuated. She told the Foundation for Women’s Cancer: “I was feeling pain in my lower right abdomen. I also noticed that I would have extreme fatigue. I started running because I noticed my belly getting bigger. I noticed that I was toning up and I was definitely losing the weight but my belly wasn’t getting flat.”
A member of the San Francisco Bay Times team, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023, additionally experienced an extended abdomen. In her case, it was not only due to the disease, but also to an exceptional amount of fluid buildup. These are just a few possible symptoms of ovarian cancer and other ovarian disorders, and we advise women to regularly get gynecological check-ups, particularly if ovarian cancer runs in their families. An aunt of the Bay Times team member died of ovarian cancer. Scott has relatives who have had other forms of cancer.
The media often downplays the genetic role in cancer. Our team member’s oncologist, who has decades of experience leading surgical teams, said that nearly all cases of ovarian, breast, and other cancers he has treated have family ties and therefore a likely genetic component. The Canadian Cancer Society, however, holds that “most cancers are caused by genetic changes that happen mostly by chance and are not inherited.” It goes without saying that more research is needed to pinpoint the precise causes and to pave the way for better treatments.
Cutting-edge research has already led to some promising new therapies, such as what is now helping to keep Chef Scott’s cancer at bay.
At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she is in an immunotherapy clinical trial—a combo of the drugs nivolumab, bevacizumab, and rucaparib. It has allowed her to maintain an active work schedule that includes preparing for the launch of her highly anticipated second cookbook, Food Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents (April 16, 2024, America’s Test Kitchen, $30). She is the first African American woman to appear as a regular host on ATK and is now, in addition to being a main cast member on ATK, a judge on America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation.
She is also the author of best-selling book Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings, released in 2022, where she shares tips for creating photo-worthy spreads for hosting, letting you in on trade secrets ranging from plating techniques to how to keep things looking fresh at parties and gatherings. In her unique new cookbook, Chef Scott expands the boundaries of gift giving with the first all-occasion guide to homemade food gifts with over 150 irresistible recipes, hundreds of creative packing and gift basket ideas, insider tips, and more.
On top of all this, Chef Scott is the founder of SheChef, Inc., or chefs who are women of color. She tirelessly works to support others, both in the culinary field and on the health front. She told the Foundation for Women’s Cancer: “I felt like getting the word out for women of color. I would never see women of color at the (cancer nonprofit) events. Five years in, I’m still curious what happens to women of color who have cancer. It also makes me curious about survivors—are we not surviving? Are we not getting the attention and not being believed? It could be any or all of those things.”
For more information on Chef Elle Simone Scott and America’s Test Kitchen, follow along on her Instagram (@elle_simone_scott ) and with ATK (@testkitchen ). To order Food Gifts, available in advance via the ATK website, go to: https://tinyurl.com/4dfw8f5h
Coming Out for Women’s Health
Published on March 21, 2024
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