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The six national finalists have now been selected for the 2006 Roux Scholarship, as a result of simultaneous cook offs which took place on March 2 in Birmingham and London;. For the first time in some years there is not a previous finalist competing but there is a female finalist – the first since 1994 - Lisa Allen from Northcote Manor. The other finalists are: Paul Kavanagh from the Montague Arms; Armand Sablon from Orrery, who works for 2002 Roux Scholar Andre Garrett; Pravin Sharma from the Courthouse Hotel Kempinksi; Stephen Stevens from Plas Bodegroes Restaurant in Pwllheli and Henry Vigar from The Greenhouse.
According to Michel Roux, who judged at Thames Valley University in Ealing (along with his son Alain, Gary Rhodes, Andrew Fairlie, David Nicholls and guest judge Heston Blumenthal), the standard was the highest seen for many years and competition extremely intense. "We run the finals concurrently and I was constantly on the phone to my brother Albert, his son Michel and Brian Turner to update each other on progress and ensure we selected the top six for the National Final. There is also no guarantee that three will win through from each of the venues - this year two won through from the Birmingham heat (where we had eight) and four from London (where we had twelve). Those who were selected showed truly exceptional standards for this stage of the competition.
“What was also a great tester for the finalists was the range of desserts made from our mystery box of ingredients, one of the toughest for years and only divulged just before the cook off. “ he adds. “This year’s list comprised just eggs, sugar, flour, butter and fresh rhubarb. We had an amazing array of creative and well prepared desserts ranging from rhubarb crumbles and compotes, to soufflés, sabayon and shortbread. The main courses used fresh duckling and those chefs in particular who made it through to the National Finals handled themselves well by presenting dishes that were perfectly cooked, well balanced, and full of flavour.“
Albert Roux, who judged at Birmingham College of Food with his son Michel Junior and Brian Turner said: “It was a really exceptional regional final and it was very difficult to restrict our choice to just two, but we knew that the London judges were having equal trouble restricting their choice to four! It is very encouraging to see the quality of cooking at these heats, particularly when the chefs are naturally very tense and nervous.”
None of the regional finalists went home empty handed: they each received a knife from Global worth £40, a cafetière and coffee from L’Unico Caffé Musetti, plus a commemorative certificate signed by all the judges. In addition, all their names will go into a special prize draw to win a pair of
pair of tickets to a UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match courtesy of MasterCard.
Those who have been selected for the national finals have already won themselves at least £750 cash towards furthering their culinary education, courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, a bottle of Champagne Gosset Grande Reserve, two personalised chef’s jackets from Bragard, a year’s complimentary membership of the HCIMA, registration with the Hospitality Learning Network, courtesy of Hospitality & Leisure Manpower, and a free management study unit under the Ecarus Scheme, courtesy of the European Catering Association International, a day’s butchery course, courtesy of Fairfax Meadow, plus a set of Global knives worth £250.
They will compete at the National Final which takes place at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel on March 27 where there are prizes galore for the Roux Scholar. Not only does he or she win the famous three month expenses paid stage at a 3-star Michelin establishment and £3,000 cash, courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, but he also receives a week’s paid work-experience in New York, courtesy of Restaurant Associates; an expenses paid trip including travel and overnight accommodation to visit the wine cellars of Champagne Gosset at Aÿ for a guided tour of the production process, a trip for two to visit the Caffé Musetti roasting factory in Milan, courtesy of L’Unico and a set of Global Knives to the value of £1,000. The Scholar also becomes a member of the elite Roux Scholars’ Club, which meets on a regular basis, offers special privileges to members and forms a unique networking opportunity.
In addition to the aforementioned supporters, the Roux Scholarship is also kindly supported by a number of other companies including British Airways Inflight Service, Caterer & Hotelkeeper, L’Unico, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Network Magazines, Historic Sussex Hotels and the Winterbourne Charitable Trust.
Ends
For photographs of the competition, and prize giving, further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Alison Jee on 020 8744 0744 or email roux@alisonjee.co.uk
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