2009 Roux Scholarship

[Corinna Dunne]

Here are the details from the press release:

Michel Roux has announced that the 2009 Roux Scholarship is now open. Chefs who wish to take part are required to submit a lamb recipe (see below) for the first stage of the competition. In addition to the main part of the prize – a stage of up to three months at a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe – the winner takes home a cash prize of £5,000 and a host of other prizes from many of the companies which support the competition.

The judging panel comprises the Roux brothers and their respective sons, as well as Heston Blumenthal; Andrew Fairlie (the original Roux Scholar); David Nicholls; Gary Rhodes and Brian Turner. They are joined by 2009 guest judge Richard Vines from Bloomberg.

For the first stage of the judging, the judges have no idea whose entry they are marking. Entries are numbered and it is only once the regional finalists have been selected, that their names are given to the judges. Entrants who fail to reach the regional heat retain their anonymity and are only known to the competition organisers.

To enter, entrants must submit a recipe, to serve four people, using two best ends of lamb (leaving bone in) accompanied by two garnishes, one of which must be potato, and the other using one green vegetable. The dish should also be accompanied by a light jus or a salsa. They are also required to submit costings for the dish.

Daniel Cox, the 2008 Roux Scholar, will return from his stage at El Raco de Can Fabes in Barcelona just before Christmas to rejoin his employer Compass Group. The Scholarship arranged for him to be given intensive Spanish language training prior to his trip and all his accommodation and travel costs are covered.

As well as the £5,000 cash prize (which is given by the Savoy Educational Trust and is to be used to further their culinary studies), the 2009 Roux Scholar will enjoy a three month stage at a three Michelin starred establishment, trips to Italy to visit Caffe Musetti, courtesy of L’Unico and Champagne courtesy of Champagne Gosset, as well as a week in New York with Restaurant Associates, in addition to other prizes. The other five national finalists will each win £1000 to be used to further their culinary skills, again courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, as well as other prizes from the supporting companies.

*Full entry details plus footage of previous competitions, further details on prizes, past scholars and judges can be found by visiting www.rouxscholarship.co.uk . The entry form can also be downloaded from the site. The closing date for entries is Friday January 23 2009.

*full entry details are on the website