Roux Scholarship 2024: Entries Open as Roux Family Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Competition

The Roux Family is delighted to reveal the details of The Roux Scholarship 2024, which sees some exciting developments set to mark the 40^th anniversary of the competition. Entries open today with UK-resident chefs, aged 22-29, invited to create their own recipe using a delicious range of ingredients.

Emily Roux joins the judging panel and Board of Directors

Chef Emily Roux is chef-patron of Caractère Restaurant in Notting Hill and trained for several years in some of France’s best restaurants before returning to the UK in 2016 and opening Caractère in 2018. She brings her knowledge and talent for cooking French and Italian cuisines to the judging panel, as well as her personal expertise and perspective to the Board of Directors. She said: “I am super excited to be joining the panel of judges. Being alongside some incredible chefs and previous winners is a real honour. The Roux Scholarship is a real trampoline for any young chef’s career.”

National final to take place at the Alain Roux Culinary School at The Waterside Inn

The new Culinary School is set in Michel Roux OBE’s former home at The Waterside Inn and was created as a unique centre of culinary education and training for the restaurant’s own kitchen and front of house staff, as well as guests. The six national finalists will use state-of-the-art equipment on its six kitchen stations and will serve their dish to the judges in the adjoining Michel Roux library, which holds Alain’s late father’s extraordinary collection of books. Its interiors were designed by Laura Roux.

Alain Roux said: “The 2024 final will feel like a homecoming! We are literally bringing The Roux Scholarship home… to my father’s home and I could not be happier. There can be no better tribute, as we look to celebrate 40 years since the founding of The Scholarship by my father and uncle. The legacy of which he was most proud is The Roux Scholarship. Next year, in his own kitchen, we will choose our new Scholar to join the family.”

Michel Roux Jr said: “In life, there are ‘pinch me’ moments and to be able to hold the 40th anniversary Roux Scholarship final in what was my uncle’s house is definitely one of them. Both brothers would be so proud to see the school and that we are holding the final there.”

Recipe challenge 2024

The Roux Scholarship 2024 competition invites chefs to create a recipe for four people using the following ingredients and criteria:

• One short loin of free-range gilt pork from the shoulder end, weighing anywhere between 1.6kg and 1.8kg maximum, untrimmed with four bones in.
• In addition, use two fresh pork kidneys, together plated with crackling and two simple or composed garnishes/accompaniments. One of them must include sweet potatoes and the other can be a garnish/accompaniment of the contestant’s choice. One of these can be served separately, if preferred.
• A sauce must accompany the dish.

Entrants have until midnight on Monday 22^nd January 2024 to submit their recipes via the online application system. For additional rules and stipulations, see rouxscholarship.co.uk/how-to-enter/rules/

Chairman Alain Roux said: “The short loin of gilt pork is one of my favourite cuts and, like the kidneys, offers great value and inspiration to create a fantastic dish. The loin is super versatile with the juiciest, most succulent meat and exceptional subtle flavours. The Roux family loves offal and we will be looking for careful preparation and technique to best preserve texture and flavour. There’s so much scope here to use different styles, flavour combinations and techniques, it should prove a fascinating challenge for our would-be scholars.”

Chairman Michel Roux said: “Short loin of pork, especially from the shoulder end, is a tremendous cut; lots of marbling, skin and the kidneys to regale the palate. This recipe challenge has so much potential for creativity and different styles of cuisine.”

What else is new for 2024?

• The Roux Scholarship is delighted to welcome two new sponsors: The Macallan, renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies; Showerings Cider, a family-owned business that has making award-winning cider for 180 years.
• This will be the second year that the winner will choose from two star prizes: the two-month stage at a three-star Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world, or a bespoke training plan tailored to the chef’s skills and knowledge gaps.
• As the first step of the application, chefs must register their entry via the website. If they meet the application criteria (eg. age, UK resident, correct qualifications), they will be sent the invitation to complete online the recipe application form.
• For the two years after the pandemic, the age limit was increased to 31. However, the upper age limit for the 2024 competition will be exactly 30 years old. Therefore, if a chef turns 30 on or before 1^st February 2024 they qualify for entry.
• The Roux Scholarship continues to be dedicated to encouraging chefs of all genders and ethnicities to enter the competition, with diversity and ethnicity monitoring included in the application form. To read the White Paper produced in 2022 following the Round Table discussion, visit the website at: rouxscholarship.co.uk/diversity-and-the-roux-scholarship/
• The 2024 competition will be the fourth time the Mentorship Award is offered as a prize. As well as the £6,000 awarded to the winner for their career development, an additional £6,000 is awarded to them on completion of 15 months’ service with their current employer after they win. Should they take up a new role in that time, the funds will be awarded to the original employer to help in the development of the remaining brigade.
• The Honorary President of Judges will be announced in due course.

The Judges

In addition to Emily Roux The judging panel will remain the same for the 2024 competition and is as follows: Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner CBE, Sat Bains (Scholar 1999), André Garrett (Scholar 2002), Simon Hulstone (Scholar 2003), James Martin, Clare Smyth MBE, Rachel Humphrey and Angela Hartnett OBE.

Important dates:

22^nd January 2024: Deadline for applications.

7th March 2024: Regional finalists compete, each cooking their written recipe plus a mystery basket dessert recipe challenge.  Regional finals take place at University College Birmingham and University of West London. Six national finalists shortlisted.

8th April 2023: National Final at The Waterside Inn Culinary School. Award ceremony venue TBC.

Prizes

In addition to the two options for the star prize, the winner receives up to £12,000, to support their career development as well as a host of fabulous prizes from our sponsors.