Swedish three-Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén to join 2020 Roux Scholarship judges

The Roux family has launched its annual scholarship with the announcement that Sweden’s first three-Michelin-starred chef Björn Frantzén will join the competition as honorary president of judges.

Frantzén (pictured) is to host Spencer Metzger for the three-month stage he was awarded for winning the Roux Scholarship 2019.

Metzger, premier sous chef at the Ritz London, will move to Stockholm in January to work in the kitchen of Frantzén, which hosts just 23 diners each night.

Frantzén is the fifth honorary president of judges to join the judging panel and follows in the footsteps of Pierre Gagnaire, Anne-Sophie Pic, Michel Guérard and Peter Gilmore.

Alongside Frantzén, the 2020 judging panel will include chairman Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr alongside Clare Smyth, Sat Bains, James Martin, Simon Hulstone, André Garrett, Rachel Humphrey, Brian Turner and Angela Hartnett.

Alain Roux described Frantzén as “a modern icon, an astonishing chef, and easily one of the most exciting and creative chefs working in Europe today”.

He continued: “Björn’s breathtaking cuisine combines flawless Japanese techniques and flavours with the most sublime Nordic ingredients to create dishes of exceptional beauty and taste. Björn shares our passion for inspiring young chefs and we cannot wait for him to join us in this year’s competition.”

Michel Roux Jr added: “We’re delighted Spencer will be conducting his stage at Frantzén; and now that Björn is joining us to judge the competition, our 2020 finalists will have the chance to cook for him as well.”

The Roux Scholarship 2020 will open for entries on 12 November, with the announcement of the ingredients to be included in the preliminary recipe. Applications will close on 31 January 2020.

Regional finals will takes place on 19 March 2020 at University College Birmingham and University of West London, with the national final taking place on 6 April 2020 at Westminster Kingsway College. The 2020 winner, who will be announced on the evening of the finals at a reception at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, will enjoy the opportunity to train for three months under a three-Michelin-starred chef anywhere in the world as well as win £6,000 and a host of other prizes.