Roux Scholarship Announced Press Release April 2019

Spencer Metzger crowned 36^th Roux Scholar

Spencer Metzger has won the 2019 Roux
Scholarship. The premier sous chef from The Ritz beat five other finalists in a
fiercely contested final held at Westminster Kingsway College, London, on Monday
1^st April, where they were asked to prepare and serve Monkfish blanquette and langoustines with
saffron basmati rice, garnished with seasonal vegetables and asparagus subrics.  

The
26-year-old chef was battling it out against his colleague Ryan Baker also from The Ritz, Olivia Catherine
Burt from Claridge’s, Lewis Linley from Vacherin, Adam Harper from The
Cavendish Hotel Baslow in Derbyshire, and Michael Cruickshank from Bohemia in
Jersey. It was Spencer’s first time entering the competition.

Commenting on the 36th
national final, Michel Roux Jr said: “It’s been a
fantastic event as usual, but this year is more poignant with the passing of
the first Roux Scholar, Andrew Fairlie. The feeling among the judges and the
Roux family too is that this year had to be very special and we do have a very special
Roux Scholar this year. The winning dish was exceptional, the monkfish was
beautiful, the sauce was indulgent but not rich, creamy but not heavy. In fact,
we were fighting over the last of it once we’d all had a tasting!”

Alain Roux added: “Not all the
chefs utilised all the ingredients, which was surprising. However, overall it
was a very good standard, it really does get higher and higher every year. The
winning dish was chosen by a unanimous decision among the judges, the fish was
cooked perfectly.”

Peter Gilmore (Honorary President of
Judges 2019) said: “Overall I was really impressed. The organisational
skills showed they were well prepared. Nerves did get to some of them near the
end but the winner was outstanding. Every element of the dish was right, the
flavours and textures were spot on. There was very little to find any fault
with.”

Winner Spencer Metzger said: “I was very happy with what I produced.
I was a bit rushed and stressed at the end of the cooking time, but all the
components were there and I was pleased with their flavours and the dish overall.
I really don’t know where I’ll choose for my Stage, but I would want to go
somewhere really different, maybe somewhere with a farm or something like that.”

The six chefs, all under 30 years old, had 2.5 hours to cook the Antonin Careme-inspired recipe in
front of the judges. Acclaimed Australian
chef Peter Gilmore was invited over from Sydney to be honorary president of the judges, and led the panel alongside joint chairmen Alain and
Michel Jr. They were joined by Brian Turner, James
Martin, as well as previous winners Sat Bains (1999 scholar) and André Garrett (2002 scholar) and Clare Smyth.

The winner
was announced at a glittering awards ceremony
at The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, in front of an audience of top chefs and prestigious guests from
the world of hospitality.

The winning chef receives £6,000, and an invitation to cook and
train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious three-star
Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to three months. This is in
addition to an impressive list of prizes and culinary experiences provided
courtesy of our sponsors.

Our
sponsors

The Roux Scholarship is sponsored by a number of
companies, whose support is much-appreciated: Aubrey Allen, Bridor, Cactus TV,
The Caterer, Direct Seafoods, Global Knives, Hildon Natural Mineral Water, Champagne Laurent-Perrier, L’Unico Caffe Musetti,
Mandarin Oriental, Mash Purveyors, Oritain, Qatar Airways, Restaurant Associates,
TRUEfoods, and Udale Speciality Foods.

Supporters

The Roux Scholarship would like to thank the Institute of Hospitality, HALM (Hospitality and Leisure Management), University College Birmingham, University of West London and Westminster Kingsway College for their support. Details of all sponsors and supporters are included on the website: www.rouxscholarship.co.uk.

Go to www.rouxscholarship.co.uk for more information about the Roux Scholarship competition and details of the long list of prizes the winner and finalists received courtesy of our sponsors.

Further information:

• Roux Scholar 2012 Adam Smith also worked at The Ritz under Executive
  Head Chef John Williams, who had two chefs from his brigade in this year’s
  National Final.

• Five out of the six finalists reached the final the first time on
  entering. Only Michael Cruickshank has reached the final before, in 2017
  (and competed in regional finals in 2018 and 2016).

• The film of the Roux Scholarship 2018 will be broadcast as part
  of Saturday Kitchen on Saturday 13^th April on BBC1.

from Fine Dining Guide