Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations, the Roux family has decided to further postpone the 2020 Roux Scholarship regional and national finals, due to take place in Birmingham and London. This follows their earlier announcement in July to reconvene the 2020 Roux Scholarship in March 2021. These dates (March 4th/29th) are now cancelled.
Chairman Alain Roux said: “The health and welfare of our fantastic participants, as well as all stakeholders and guests, remains our highest priority. With no end to the current limitations in sight and in view of the ongoing uncertainty, postponement is the only safe option. We appreciate everyone’s brilliant support as we work through this. We cannot wait to find our 2020/21 scholar.”
Co Chairman Michel Roux Jr said: “We are disappointed at having to delay, yet again, the finale of this year’s competition but we are all facing unprecedented challenges. New dates for the regional finals and national final will be communicated in due course. We remain committed to maintaining the high quality and experience of the semi-finals, national final and award ceremony. Our determination to see this competition through remains undimmed.”
The 18 regional finalists, as well as the first reserve, selected at the paper judging stage in March 2020 will automatically qualify as regional finalists and cook their recipes for hake, palourde clams and leeks in the regional cook-offs at University College Birmingham and at the University of West London. The judges will be Michel Roux Jr, Alain Roux, Brian Turner, Clare Smyth, Angela Hartnett, Rachel Humphrey, James Martin, Sat Bains (1999 Scholar), André Garrett (2002 Scholar) and Simon Hulstone (2003 Scholar). The six most successful chefs will be selected to compete in the national final, when Honorary President of Judges Björn Frantzén, from three-star Michelin Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, will lead the panel of judges. There will be no application process in 2021.
To recap, the regional finalists are:
| Competing in Birmingham | Competing in London |
| Scott Braithwaite, L’Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria Jonathan Ferguson, The Raby Hunt Restaurant, Oliver Marlow, Aulis, London Curtis Tonge, Lerpwl, Liverpool Jac Webster, The Angel at Hetton, Yorkshire Joshua Fulcher, Restaurant 22, Cambridge | Benjamin Champkin, The Newt, Somerset Caer Timberlake, Restaurant 22, Cambridge Ryan Baker, Maison Francois, London Julian Elkjaer, Whatley Manor, Wiltshire Oli Williamson, The Fat Duck, Bray Conor Bird, House of Commons, London Christos Sidiropoulos, The Ritz, London Stephen McClarty, Restaurant Associates, London Tobias Smith, The Leathersellers Company, London Olivia Catherine Burt, Stanley’s, London Michael Cruickshank, Bohemia, Jersey Oliver Dovey, BaxterStorey Fine Dining, London Connor Wilson*, The Traddock, North Yorkshire |
Prizes
The winner receives up to £12,000, to support their career development and an invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious three-star Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months.
About the Roux Scholarship:
In 1984, Michel Roux OBE founded the Roux Scholarship with his brother Albert to enable a new generation of chefs from Britain to train in the greatest restaurants in the world. Not only has it become the industry’s most acclaimed chef competition in the UK with many scholars having gone on to win Michelin stars themselves, it ranks among the most prestigious competitions for chefs in the world. Since it was established more than three decades ago, it has helped British chefs gain the international recognition they deserve. With many young chefs entering the competition each year, it is true to say thousands have been inspired, and lives changed, by the experience of competing.
Go to www.rouxscholarship.co.uk for more information about the Roux Scholarship competition.
Hospitality & Catering News: “Our determination to see this competition through remains undimmed.” The 2020 Roux Scholarship postponed. – 23 December 2020 – “Our determination to see this competition through remains undimmed.” The 2020 Roux Scholarship postponed.
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