New dates set for Roux Scholarship

The 2020 Roux Scholarship will now take place this autumn, with the regional finals taking place in London and Birmingham on 9 September and the national final on 25 October.

The 18 regional finalists and first reserve, selected at the paper judging stage in March 2020, have automatically qualified as regional finalists for this year and will cook their recipes for hake, palourde clams and leeks in the regional cook-offs at University College Birmingham and at the University of West London in September.

Six chefs will then be selected to compete in the national final in October. Honorary president of judges Björn Frantzén from the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, Sweden – where 2019 Scholar Spencer Metzger (pictured) staged – will lead the panel of judges.

Chairman Alain Roux said: “At last, we can look forward to choosing our 2020 scholar, I can hardly wait! There was never any plan to cancel and give up on the talent we discovered in our regional finalists. This year, more than ever, our 2020 scholar will represent the tenacity, resilience, stamina and forbearance that defines us as chefs.”

Co-chairman Michel Roux Jr added: “I am so excited to put dates in the diary for the Roux Scholarship, especially after such a dreadful past 12 months. It feels as if there is unfinished business to be taken care of and I can’t wait to get our regional finals underway. As the saying goes ‘the show must go on’ and as chefs we are ready to go!”

The winner will receive up to £12,000 to support their career development and an invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months, in addition to sponsor prizes.

In 1984, Michel Roux founded the Roux Scholarship with his brother Albert to enable a new generation of chefs from Britain to train in the greatest restaurants in the world.

The application process for the 2022 competition will open in November 2021.