Roux Scholarship 2020-2021 sets date for awards ceremony

With the Roux Scholarship regional finals set to place in London and Birmingham on 9th September and the national final set to take place at Westminster Kingsway College, London on 25th October, the Roux Family are delighted to reveal plans for the awards ceremony at which the name of the Roux Scholar 2020/2021 will be revealed.

Following a very difficult year in hospitality and for the Roux Family personally, the intimate occasion will
see a limited number of guests invited to a special dinner cooked by the three most recent scholars Spencer Metzger, Martin Carabott and Luke Selby, supported by the students of Westminster Kingsway College.

The exclusive event, for finalists and their guests, judges and sponsors, will take place in the hospitality suites of Westminster Kingsway College after the Final Cook-off.

The announcement will be livestreamed via the Roux Scholarship website and its YouTube Channel (www.rouxscholarship.co.uk/awardslivestream/).

The winner will be chosen from the six chefs competing in the national final on 25th October 2021, when Honorary President of Judges Björn Frantzén, from three-star Michelin Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, will lead the panel of judges.

Chairman Alain Roux said: “We don’t give up! After so many dreadful months, we’re now just weeks away from finding our 2020 scholar.

The anticipation is building for a truly memorable finale. I cannot wait to get back in the kitchen with our judges and competitors. The Award Ceremony will mark the end of a competition like no other as we celebrate a brighter future. You’re all invited to join in the excitement, so don’t miss the livestream!”

Co-chairman Michel Roux Jr said: “We are counting down the days. It seems like an eternity since we last came together to do battle in the kitchens and, like us, our 2020/2021 scholar has been patiently waiting. Now the moment has come along with some new and exciting changes for this year’s awards ceremony but most importantly everyone will be able to join us through the livestream.”

Regional finals

The 18 regional finalists, as well as the first reserve, selected at the paper judging stage in March 2020 automatically qualified as regional finalists for 2020/2021 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 on 9th September 2021.

They have been practicing hard and are all excited to be finally taking part. To find out more about them, visit our website at www.rouxscholarship.co.uk/meet-our-regional-finalists/

To recap, the regional finalists are:

Competing at University College Birmingham Competing at the University of West London

Scott Braithwaite, L’Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria

Jonathan Ferguson, The Raby Hunt Restaurant,
Co. Durham

Oliver Marlow, Aulis, London

Curtis Tonge, Lerpwl, Liverpool

Jac Webster, The Angel at Hetton, Yorkshire

Joshua Fulcher, Restaurant 22, Cambridge

Benjamin Champkin, The Newt, Somerset

Caer Timberlake, Restaurant 22, Cambridge

Ryan Baker, Maison François, London

Julian Elkjaer, Whatley Manor, Wiltshire

Oli Williamson, The Fat Duck, Bray

Conor Bird, House of Commons, London

Christos Sidiropoulos, The Ritz, London

Stephen McClarty, Restaurant Associates, London

Tobias Smith, The Leathersellers Company, London

Olivia Catherine Burt, Stanley’s, London

Michael Cruickshank, Bohemia, Jersey

Oliver Dovey, BaxterStorey Fine Dining, London

Connor Wilson*, The Traddock, North Yorkshire

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