Roux Scholarship

Last updated
Roux Scholarship
Awarded forTo find new talent in the catering industry.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented by Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr
Reward(s)Three months at a three Michelin star restaurant
First awarded1984
Last awarded2022
Website Official website
Television/radio coverage
Network Good Food (2012)
Watch (2013)

The Roux Scholarship is a cooking competition for young chefs in the UK. Set up by the brothers Michel and Albert Roux, and now run by their sons Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr. It was first run in 1984 with Andrew Fairlie being named the first winner. It has since been run on an annual basis, with winners undertaking a three-month placement in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Contents

History

Colin Page, Director of Marketing, Diners Club UK, conceived the idea of the chef's scholarship with Michel Roux in 1983. The sponsorship of the scholarship was finally agreed between Nick Rowe of Diners Club that same year following a luncheon at Roux's Waterside Inn when it was agreed the Roux brothers could front a scholarship for up and coming chefs and that Rowe's credit card company would back it financially. Michel spoke to his brother Albert the following day, who said that Michel could lead on it. Michel thought it would be a good way for young chefs to gain experience in French restaurants, which were not open to employing British chefs at the time. [1] The competition was formerly known as the Roux Diners Club Scholarship. [2]

Each entrant must enter a paper application, which are then reviewed and broken down into regional competitions. Each regional winner goes through to the final, where there is one Scholar named. [3] [4] Entrants are limited to chefs who are working in full-time employment. [5] Chefs are not limited to applying on one occasion; both Simon Hulstone and Mark Birchall competed on four occasions before winning. [4] The winner of the competition is allowed to choose a three Michelin starred restaurant to cook in for three months. [3]

The Current Judging panel for the competition includes Michel Roux, Jr. and Alain Roux as the chairmen, alongside Brian Turner as vice chairman and chefs James Martin, Clare Smyth, Angela Hartnett, Rachel Humphrey, as well as former Roux Scholarship winners André Garrett, Sat Bains & Simon Hulstone.

From 2016, Each year's National Final has also featured an Honorary President of the Judging Committee, providing unique insight and wisdom to the critique of the finalists abilities. These Chefs are noted for their reputations as some of the best chefs in the world with an emphasis on their passion to help young chefs advance their careers.

YearHonorary President [6]
2023 Michel Troisgros and César Troisgros
2022 Hélène Darroze
2020/2021 Björn Frantzén
2019 Peter Gilmore
2018 Michel Guérard
2017 Anne-Sophie Pic
2016 Pierre Gagnaire

Former Judges include Albert Roux, Michel Roux, Victor Ceserani, Peter Kromberg, Heston Blumenthal, Rick Stein, Gary Rhodes, David Nicholls, former Roux Scholar Steve Love and inaugural Roux Scholarship winner Andrew Fairlie.

The 2020 Competition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a combined 2020/2021 competition taking place in September and October, 2021. [7]

In 2023, rather than a pre-selected dish that the finalists would be given on the day, the 6 contenders were allowed to prepare their own version of a French dish using Key ingredients (Dry Aged Sirloin Steak, Endives & Some form of Offal). [8] April Lily Partridge became the 2nd woman to win the competition.

Highlights of the competition, including a Masterclass of the National Final dish(s) by Michel Jr. and Alain are featured on The Roux Scholarship YouTube Channel. [9]

Past winners

YearWinner [10] Restaurant chosenRef
2023April Lily Partridge [11]
2022Jonathan Ferguson The French Laundry [12]
2020/21Oli Williamson Zén [13]
2019Spencer Metzger Frantzén [14]
2018Martin Carabott Eleven Madison Park [15]
2017Luke Selby Ryugin [16]
2016 Harry Guy Saison [17]
2015 Ian Scaramuzza Benu [18]
2014 Tom Barnes Hof van Cleve [19]
2013 Paul O'Neill Pierre Gagnaire [20]
2012 Adam Smith Le Meurice [21]
2011 Mark Birchall El Celler de Can Roca [22]
2010 Kenneth Culhane Jean Georges [23]
2009 Hrishikesh Desai French Laundry [24]
2008 Dan Cox Can Fabes [25]
2007 Armand Sablon Auberge de L’Ill [26]
2006 Pravin Sharma Les Maisons de Bricourt [27]
2005 Matthew Tomkinson Les Prés d'Eugénie [28]
2004 Andrew Jones Restaurant Bras [29]
2003 Simon Hulstone Marin Berasategui [30]
2002 André Garrett Restaurant Guy Savoy [31]
2001 Steve Drake L'Auberge de l'Eridan [32]
2000 Frederick Forster Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire [33]
1999 Sat Bains Le Jardin de Sens [34]
1998 Patrick Thompson Restaurant Alain Senderens [35]
1997 Stephen Love Restaurant Alain Ducasse [36]
1996 Trevor Blyth La Côte Saint-Jacques [37]
1995 Chris Colmer Troisgros [38]
1994 Mercy Fenton La Résidence de la Côte-d’Or [39]
1993 Jonathan Harrison Le Louis XV [40]
1992 James Carberry George Blanc [41]
1991 Eugene Callaghan Lameloise à Chagny en Bourgogne [42]
1990 Scott Hessel Aubergine [43]
1989 Martin Hadden Maison Pic [44]
1988 Ricky Perrin Restaurant Bocuse [45]
1987 Richard Stuart L'Espérance [46]
1986 Rene Pauvert Au Crocodile
Restaurant Joël Robuchon
[47]
1985 John Murray Moulin de Mougins [48]
1984 Andrew Fairlie Les Prés d’Eugenie [49]

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References

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