As the food world mourns Anne Burrell’s sudden passing at 55, attention turns to the celebrity chef’s inspiring personal journey. The “Worst Cooks in America” host, found unresponsive in her Brooklyn home last week, leaves behind a legacy of culinary excellence and an unexpected late-in-life love story.
Burrell’s romance with husband Stuart Claxton became the stuff of Food Network legend. They met on dating app Bumble in 2018, with Claxton initially unaware of her fame. Their quarantine engagement in her upstate New York hometown – complete with family involvement and a hidden ring – led to a fairytale October 2021 wedding. Burrell arrived by horse-drawn carriage in a Caroline Herrera gown, finally living the wedding fantasy she’d long thought passed her by.
The couple transformed their Brooklyn loft into a culinary lover’s paradise, opting for home renovations over a traditional honeymoon. Burrell often shared glimpses of their life together, from cozy nights in to Valentine’s Day tributes. Her role as stepmother to Claxton’s son Javier brought her unexpected joy, proving love found her exactly when she needed it most.
