Hélène Darroze appointed honorary president of judges for 2022 Roux Scholarship

French chef Hélène Darroze of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in London’s Connaught hotel has been appointed honorary president of judges for the 2022 Roux Scholarship.

 

Applicants have until midnight on 31 January 2022 to submit their recipe for the contest. Those who qualify will be invited to compete in regional heats, where they will prepare their dish as well as a dessert made from a mystery box of ingredients presented on the day.

 

Björn Frantzén served as honorary president of judges for last year’s Roux Scholarship.

 

Darroze said: “I am looking forward to discovering the young talent that can be found in the kitchens across Britain. It will be a great honour to be leading the judging panel at the national final in April.”

 

Michel Roux Jr said: “Hélène is an icon of our industry, with her inimitable style she brings joy to every plate of food she creates. It is such an honour to have her joining the Roux Scholarship judging panel for 2022.”

 

Co-chairman Alain Roux said: “We are so fortunate to welcome Hélène as honorary president of the judges. Hélène’s mentorship is a very special gift to our scholarship and the next generation of chefs who flow from it.”

 

Born in Mont-de-Marsan in Les Landes, south-western France, Darroze is the fourth generation of chefs in her family, although she initially entered the operational side of the industry, having completed a business degree at L’Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Bordeaux. While working with Alain Ducasse at his three Michelin-starred Le Louis XV in the Hotel De Paris, Monaco, Ducasse recognised her potential and encouraged her – initially part-time – into the kitchen.

 

In 1995, Darroze returned to Les Landes, when her father gave her the keys to the kitchen of the family-run restaurant in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, where she remained for four years before returning to Paris to open her own venture, Restaurant Hélène Darroze. The restaurant was awarded its first Michelin star in 2001, followed by a second in 2011.

 

She opened her first restaurant outside France at the Connaught in 2010 and it was awarded a Michelin star just six months later, with the second following in 2011. After a refurbishment, the restaurant reopened in September 2019 and was awarded three stars in the 2021 Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.

 

In September 2018, she opened Jòia by Hélène Darroze, in Paris, and in July 2019, relaunched her flagship restaurant in Paris as Marsan by Hélène Darroze. In July 2021, she opened Hélène Darroze at Villa La Coste in Provence, France.

 

The chef is the mother of two girls and co-created the charity association La Bonne Etoile, which helps disadvantaged children. Darroze received the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2012 and has also been a judge on the TV French television series Top Chef since 2015.

 

The Roux Scholarship includes a prize of up to £12,000 to support career development as well as an invitation to cook and train in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months.

 

To compensate for the disruption brought about by the pandemic, which saw the search for the 2020/21 scholar extended over two years, the age limit for entrants will be extended to 31 this year. Applicants will also not be required to be working full-time, but their principal employment must be as a chef.

 

Alain and Michel Roux Jr have set hopefuls the challenge of submitting a recipe showcasing Dover sole alongside brown shrimps and two garnishes or accompaniments, one of which must include pasta to be made on the day of the competition, and a sauce.

 

For a second year the Mentorship Award will see the winner's prize money increased to £12,000, if they remain with their current employer for 15 months after the competition. If they take up a new role in this time the additional £6,000 will be awarded to their employer.

 

The judging panel will include Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner, Sat Bains, André Garrett, Simon Hulstone, James Martin, Clare Smyth, Rachel Humphrey and Angela Hartnett.

 

The 2021 Roux Scholarship was won by Oli Williamson, of the Fat Duck in Bray. He was promoted to head chef at the restaurant earlier this month.