Albert Roux
Encyclopedia
Albert Roux OBE is a French-born restaurateur and chef working in Britain. He and his brother Michel
operated Le Gavroche
, the first restaurant in the UK to gain three Michelin stars. He helped train a series of chefs that went on to win Michelin stars, and his son, Michel Roux, Jr.
continues to run Le Gavroche.
, was born at 67 Grande Rue, Semur-en-Brionnais
, Saône-et-Loire
. Upon leaving school, he initially decided to train as a priest at the age of 14, however he decided that the role was not suited for him and sought other employment and instead trained as a chef. His godfather worked as a chef for Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, and arranged for Albert, at the age of 18, to be employed working for Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
.
which were due to go to Harold Macmillan
, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
. Otherwise, his apprenticeship at Cliveden
went without problems. He moved on to work at the French embassy in London and became a private chef for Sir Charles Clore
. He was then called
up by the French Armed Forces to serve his military service
in Algeria
, where he would cook on occasion for the officer's mess
. Once he left the military, he worked as a sous chef at the British Embassy in Paris, before returning to the UK to become private chef to Major Peter Cazelet where he worked for eight years.
In 1967 he and his younger brother Michel
opened Le Gavroche
, on Lower Slone Street in London. It became the first restaurant in Britain to win a Michelin star, the first to win two, and the first to win three in 1982. The restaurant became a favourite of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
, the Queen mother
.
In 1974, he and Michel set up the Roux Scholarship to enable up and coming chefs to get a start in the industry. During his time in the kitchen, he trained several other chefs who went on to gain Michelin stars of their own, including Gordon Ramsay
, Marco Pierre White
, Pierre Koffmann and Marcus Wareing
. Although all his protégées, he no longer gets on with White, saying in an interview in 2010 that, "We don’t talk. No, he is a truly talented man — and a man who used to call me his godfather — but he has got a chip on his shoulder". Marco explains the rift in his autobiography but goes on to explain, "Albert employing me was without doubt one of the defining moments of my life. I won't hear a word said against them." Albert speaks highly of Gordon Ramsey, "I recognised straight away that Gordon would go a long way."
Albert continues to run a series of restaurants around the world, though his company Roux Consultancy, including one at the Greywalls Hotel in Muirfield, Edinburgh
, and Brasserie Roux at the Sofitel St. James
. He no longer chases Michelin stars for his restaurants, but instead seeks to "... recreate the kind of restaurant I remember from my home town, offering good and honest country cooking. The kind of place you can go to eat without ringing the bank for permission." He remains the owner of La Gavroche.
In a poll of UK chefs carried out by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine in 2003, Albert and his brother Michel were voted the most influential chefs in the country. In 2006, he and Michel were jointly given the Lifetime Achievement Award by S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants
.
, and has traveled around the world to pursue his hobby, but is particularly fond of Scotland, saying "For me, the Highlands and islands of Scotland are paradise. I can have whole days where I catch nothing, but I still enjoy every second. I am a lover of nature and fishing allows me access to some of the most beautiful and secluded spots in the world."
He married Monique in 1959, before moving to the UK. The pair were divorced in 2001. His current wife is Cheryl from South Africa. His son Michel Roux, Jr.
now has two Michelin stars of his own, running Le Gavroche
.
Michel Roux
Michel Roux is a French-born chef and restaurateur working in Britain.Born in Charolles, Saône-et-Loire, Roux moved to Paris with his family after the war, where they set up a charcuterie...
operated Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is a restaurant on 43 Upper Brook Street in Mayfair . It was opened in 1967 by Michel and Albert Roux although the original premises were on 61 Lower Sloane Street until 1981....
, the first restaurant in the UK to gain three Michelin stars. He helped train a series of chefs that went on to win Michelin stars, and his son, Michel Roux, Jr.
Michel Roux, Jr.
Michel Roux Jnr , is an English two-star Michelin chef at the London restaurant, Le Gavroche.-Biography:...
continues to run Le Gavroche.
Early life
Roux, the son of a charcutierCharcuterie
Charcuterie is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, pâtés, and confit, primarily from pork. Charcuterie is part of the garde manger chef's repertoire...
, was born at 67 Grande Rue, Semur-en-Brionnais
Semur-en-Brionnais
Semur-en-Brionnais is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Sights:The oldest castle in Burgundy, Château St Hugues dating from 9th century is located in Semur-en-Brionnais. It is the birthplace of Henriette d'Angeville, the second woman to climb...
, Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers between which it lies.-History:When it was formed during the French Revolution, as of March 4, 1790 in fulfillment of the law of December 22, 1789, the new department combined parts of the provinces of southern...
. Upon leaving school, he initially decided to train as a priest at the age of 14, however he decided that the role was not suited for him and sought other employment and instead trained as a chef. His godfather worked as a chef for Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, and arranged for Albert, at the age of 18, to be employed working for Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
Nancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor, CH, was the first woman to sit as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons.Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to the House of Commons in December 1918 after running for the Sinn Féin party in 1918 General Election, but in line...
.
Career
In one notable incident whilst employed by the Viscountness, Albert managed to jam oeufs en cocotte in a dumb waiterDumbwaiter (elevator)
Dumbwaiters are small freight elevators intended to carry objects rather than people. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial and private buildings, are often connected between two floors...
which were due to go to Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. Otherwise, his apprenticeship at Cliveden
Cliveden
Cliveden is an Italianate mansion and estate at Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England. Set on banks above the River Thames, its grounds slope down to the river. The site has been home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor....
went without problems. He moved on to work at the French embassy in London and became a private chef for Sir Charles Clore
Charles Clore
Sir Charles Clore was a British financier, retail and property magnate and philanthropist.-Career:Charles Clore owned, through Sears Holdings, the British Shoe Corporation and Selfridges department store, as well as investing heavily in property.He owned Jowett Cars Ltd from 1945-1947 where he was...
. He was then called
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
up by the French Armed Forces to serve his military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, where he would cook on occasion for the officer's mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
. Once he left the military, he worked as a sous chef at the British Embassy in Paris, before returning to the UK to become private chef to Major Peter Cazelet where he worked for eight years.
In 1967 he and his younger brother Michel
Michel Roux
Michel Roux is a French-born chef and restaurateur working in Britain.Born in Charolles, Saône-et-Loire, Roux moved to Paris with his family after the war, where they set up a charcuterie...
opened Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is a restaurant on 43 Upper Brook Street in Mayfair . It was opened in 1967 by Michel and Albert Roux although the original premises were on 61 Lower Sloane Street until 1981....
, on Lower Slone Street in London. It became the first restaurant in Britain to win a Michelin star, the first to win two, and the first to win three in 1982. The restaurant became a favourite of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Queen mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
.
In 1974, he and Michel set up the Roux Scholarship to enable up and coming chefs to get a start in the industry. During his time in the kitchen, he trained several other chefs who went on to gain Michelin stars of their own, including Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
, Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is noted for his contributions to contemporary international cuisine, and his exceptional culinary skills....
, Pierre Koffmann and Marcus Wareing
Marcus Wareing
Marcus Wareing , is an English chef, currently Chef Patron of "Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley" in Knightsbridge, and previously the Grill Room at the Savoy Hotel on the Strand....
. Although all his protégées, he no longer gets on with White, saying in an interview in 2010 that, "We don’t talk. No, he is a truly talented man — and a man who used to call me his godfather — but he has got a chip on his shoulder". Marco explains the rift in his autobiography but goes on to explain, "Albert employing me was without doubt one of the defining moments of my life. I won't hear a word said against them." Albert speaks highly of Gordon Ramsey, "I recognised straight away that Gordon would go a long way."
Albert continues to run a series of restaurants around the world, though his company Roux Consultancy, including one at the Greywalls Hotel in Muirfield, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, and Brasserie Roux at the Sofitel St. James
Sofitel St. James
Sofitel St. James is a luxury 5-star hotel in London, England. It located at 6 Waterloo Place on the corner with Pall Mall in the City of Westminster, and is located near St. James's Park and Buckingham Palace.The original building was completed in 1923....
. He no longer chases Michelin stars for his restaurants, but instead seeks to "... recreate the kind of restaurant I remember from my home town, offering good and honest country cooking. The kind of place you can go to eat without ringing the bank for permission." He remains the owner of La Gavroche.
In a poll of UK chefs carried out by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine in 2003, Albert and his brother Michel were voted the most influential chefs in the country. In 2006, he and Michel were jointly given the Lifetime Achievement Award by S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants
Restaurant (magazine) Top 50
The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants is produced by British magazine Restaurant based on a poll of international chefs, restaurateurs, gourmands and restaurant critics. In addition to the main ranking, the Chef's Choice list is based on votes from the fifty head chefs from the restaurants...
.
Personal life
Albert has a love of fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and has traveled around the world to pursue his hobby, but is particularly fond of Scotland, saying "For me, the Highlands and islands of Scotland are paradise. I can have whole days where I catch nothing, but I still enjoy every second. I am a lover of nature and fishing allows me access to some of the most beautiful and secluded spots in the world."
He married Monique in 1959, before moving to the UK. The pair were divorced in 2001. His current wife is Cheryl from South Africa. His son Michel Roux, Jr.
Michel Roux, Jr.
Michel Roux Jnr , is an English two-star Michelin chef at the London restaurant, Le Gavroche.-Biography:...
now has two Michelin stars of his own, running Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is a restaurant on 43 Upper Brook Street in Mayfair . It was opened in 1967 by Michel and Albert Roux although the original premises were on 61 Lower Sloane Street until 1981....
.