Michel Albert Roux
Michel Roux Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 23, 1960 Pembury, Kent, England |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur, television presenter, author |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Known for | Le Gavroche restaurant, television appearances on Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef: The Professionals |
| Notable work | Le Gavroche Cookbook, The Marathon Chef, Matching Food and Wine |
Michel Albert Roux (born 23 May 1960), widely recognized as Michel Roux Jr., is a chef of English-French heritage. He was the proprietor of the esteemed Le Gavroche restaurant in London, which held two Michelin stars and was originally established by his father, Albert Roux, alongside his uncle, Michel Roux, until it ceased operations on 13 January 2024.
Early life
Roux entered the world at Pembury maternity hospital in Kent, during the period when his father, Albert Roux, was employed by the horse racing trainer Major Peter Cazalet.
Apprenticeship and training
At the age of 16, Roux commenced an apprenticeship with Master Patissier Henri Hellegouarch in Paris. Between summer 1979 and January 1980, he served as a commis de cuisine at Le Gavroche, working under the guidance of his father and uncle. Following this, he spent two years refining his skills under Alain Chapel at his hotel and restaurant near Lyon.
After completing initial training with the French Army, Roux fulfilled his military duties at the Élysée Palace from February 1982 through March 1983, catering to Presidents Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and François Mitterrand. Upon completing his service, he dedicated four months in Paris: two months at Charcuterie Gérard Mothu in St-Mandé and another two months at Boucherie Lamartine on Avenue Victor-Hugo.
Career
Having developed much of his expertise outside the British enterprises of the Roux family, Michel Roux Jr joined his uncle at the Waterside Inn in 1985 before collaborating with his father at Le Gavroche starting April that year. He oversaw the Roux brothers' catering operations for a three-year period prior to returning to Le Gavroche in 1990, coinciding with the division of the brothers' business along familial lines. When his father retired in 1993, Michel Jr assumed leadership of the restaurant.
Since 2003, he has acted as a culinary consultant for the Walbrook club and also advises Restaurant Associates, a provider of fine dining services. Roux has penned multiple publications including Le Gavroche Cookbook, The Marathon Chef, and Matching Food and Wine, with the latter receiving recognition as best book on pairing wine and food at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
In August 2023, Roux declared that Le Gavroche would close to enable him to focus on achieving a better balance between professional commitments and personal life away from the pressures associated with running a Michelin-starred establishment. The restaurant officially closed its doors on 13 January 2024.
Media
Roux has featured on television both as a judge and presenter, notably on Gordon Ramsay's ITV series Hell's Kitchen and BBC Two's MasterChef: The Professionals from 2008 to 2013. In 2012, he appeared as a guest judge on Masterchef South Africa and co-hosted BBC Two's Food and Drink between 2013 and 2014. Additionally, he took on a mentorship role during The Chef's Protege in 2013.
In March 2014, Roux parted ways with the BBC following disagreements related to his role as brand ambassador for Albert Bartlett Rooster potatoes. He returned to television in 2015 presenting First Class Chefs on Disney Channel along with Kitchen Impossible with Michel Roux Jr on Channel 4.
In April 2016, after James Martin's departure from BBC's Saturday Kitchen, Roux temporarily stepped in as presenter but opted not to assume permanent hosting duties.
Between September 2021 and December 2022, he hosted two series of Michel Roux's French Country Cooking on Food Network.
In mid-2023, Roux served as a judge on Channel 4’s culinary competition program Five Star Kitchen: Britain's Next Great Chef.
Controversies
In November 2016, the Guardian revealed that although Roux's restaurant generated profits exceeding £250,000 in 2015, certain kitchen staff received wages below the legal minimum. Investigations indicated that chefs were working in excess of 65 hours per week, earning approximately £5.50 hourly, with shifts commencing at 7am and concluding around 11:30pm, often with limited rest periods. Roux issued a statement expressing his "embarrassment and regret" regarding these compensation issues.
By December 2016, it became public knowledge that Roux was withholding tips and service charges from waitstaff. In response, he pledged to remove separate tipping and service charges by incorporating these costs directly into the menu prices.
Personal life
Roux is married to Giselle, who formerly worked as a restaurant secretary at Le Gavroche. Their daughter Emily has also pursued a career as a chef. The family lives in London.
An avid rugby fan, Roux holds honorary membership with the Harlequins rugby club and frequently attends their matches. He supports both Manchester United and the Wigan Warriors rugby league team. Furthermore, he is an enthusiastic marathon runner, having completed the London Marathon thirteen times to support Visually Impaired Children Taking Action.
Publications
- Le Gavroche Cookbook (2001), London: W&N (Orion)
- The Marathon Chef: Food for Getting Fit (2003), London: W&N (Orion)
- Le Gavroche Cookbook: Ten Recipes from One of the World's Great Restaurants (2005), London: Phoenix
- Matching Food And Wine: Classic And Not So Classic Combinations (2005), London: W&N (Orion)
- Michel Roux: A Life in the Kitchen (2009), London: W&N (Orion)
- Cooking with The Master Chef: Food For Your Family & Friends (2010), London: W&N (Orion)
- The French Kitchen: 200 Recipes From the Master of French Cooking (2013), London: W&N (Orion)
- Le Gavroche Cookbook (2017), London: W&N (Orion)
- Les Abats (2017), London: W&N (Orion)
- The French Revolution: 140 Classic Recipes made Fresh & Simple (2018), Seven Dials
- Michel Roux at Home (2023), London: W&N (Orion)