"A pioneer of the UK food scene"

Alex South

Editor

Tributes have been made for Joyce Molyneux after reports confirmed she had passed away at the age of 91.

Joyce has been credited for changing the culinary landscape of Britain, being seen as a lone female figure amongst a male dominated industry.

Combined with an instinctive understanding of ingredients and an enormous amount of hardwork, Joyce surpassed many of her male counterparts within the industry, before famously becoming one of Britain's first female chefs to earn a Michelin star.

In the 1970's, Joyce took up the role of head chef at the Carved Angel in Dartmouth, which she oversaw before retiring in 1999.

Before the Carved Angel, Joyce worked at the Mulberry Tree in Stratford-upon-Avon and Perry-Smith’s Hole in the Wall in Bath.

Chefs, restauranteurs, and critics have paid their tributes to Joyce after news of her death were released publicly over the weekend.

Elly Wentworth, Head Chef of the renamed Angel, posted on Instagram on behalf of herself and the restaurant: "Joyce was a great inspiration for many of today's top chefs and highly regarded by her peers from the 1970s through to her retirement in 1999. I will always fondly remember her visit for lunch in 2018."

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A post shared by Elly Wentworth 🌻 (@ellywentworth)

In a tweet, TV chef James Martin said: "While I was working in the kitchens training with the superstar chefs of the day in London, this amazing superstar woman was trailblazing her own Michelin star food at the Carved Angel in Devon…RIP Joyce Molyneux, a pioneer of the UK food scene"

While I was working in the kitchens training with the superstar chefs of the day in London, this amazing superstar woman was trailblazing her own Michelin star food at the Carved Angel in Devon…RIP Joyce Molyneux, a pioneer of the UK food scene pic.twitter.com/I6FHIiqK9F
— James Martin (@jamesmartinchef) October 29, 2022

The Observer’s restaurant critic Jay Rayner commented: "Her contribution to Britain's WWII food culture really can't be overstated.”

Farewell to the very great Joyce Molyneux. Her contribution to Britain's WW2 food culture really can't be overstated. https://t.co/xiVCIIdPpK
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) October 29, 2022

Baker Richard Bertinet, said: "Sad to hear that the legend and our neighbour in Bath has passed away, I'll miss her stories and smile."

So sad to hear that the legend and neighbour in Bath has passed away … I’ll miss her stories and smile rip Joyce molyneux #joycemolyneux pic.twitter.com/JIlod4bFPI
— Richard Bertinet (@RichardBertinet) October 28, 2022

In a post on Twitter, TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: "Sad to hear of the passing of Joyce Molyneux, who influenced so many of us and made the Carved Angel one of the most exciting, but also reassuring, places you could ever wish to eat."

Bryan Webb, chef-patron at Tyddyn Llan in Llandrillo, Denbighshire, described her as "a fantastic cook" and "a great inspiration to all of my generation".

Very sad a fantastic cook. And a great inspiration to all of my generation. X
— Bryan Webb (@BryanWWebb) October 28, 2022

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