Formerly known as Michel Roux Jr, Michel Albert Roux is a two-Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and television personality. The English-French chef is part of a well-known culinary family, and he is known for his London restaurant, his television appearances, and his best-selling cookbooks. Despite being a well-known figure in the culinary world, there are many Michel Roux facts that people do not know. So, what are some interesting facts about Michel Roux? Here are some Michel Roux facts to help you get to know the celebrity chef.
Michel Roux Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Michel Roux Born?
Michel Roux was born on the 23rd of May 1960 in Kent, England, although he has French heritage. At the time of his birth, his father was working in Kent as a chef for the famous horse race trainer Major Peter Cazalet.
Who Is Michel Roux’s Family?
Michel Roux is from a famous culinary family. His father, Albert Roux, is also a chef, famous for Le Gavroche restaurant. Roux’s namesake, his uncle Michel Roux, was also a famous chef at both Le Gavroche and the Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. Until his uncle’s death, Michel Albert Roux was known as Michel Roux Jr., although he has now dropped the ‘Junior’ from his name.
Is Michel Roux Married?
Who is Michel Roux’s wife? Michel Roux is married to Gisele, who also works in the hospitality industry. Currently, Gisele is the secretary at Le Gavroche restaurant. The couple lives in London.
Does Michel Roux Have Children?
Michel and Gisele Roux have one daughter called Emily. Their daughter followed her parents into the restaurant industry and is now an acclaimed chef. Emily Roux is married to a fellow chef, Diego Ferrari, who is originally from Milan, Italy. The couple opened the Notting Hill-based restaurant Caractere together.
Michel Roux Facts: His Culinary Career
Where Did Michel Roux Train as a Chef?
Roux began his culinary apprenticeship with Master Patissier Henri Hellegouarch in Paris when he was 16. He then continued his training from 1979 to 1980, working with his family at Le Gavroche as a commis de cuisine. Next, Roux continued his training at Alain Chapel’s hotel and restaurant in Mionnay near Lyon, France.
Where Did Roux Work First?
After completing his culinary training and his military service, Michel Roux spent two months working at Charcuterie Gerard Mothu in St-Mande, followed by another two months at Boucherie Lamartine on Avenue Victor-Hugo in Paris.
When Did Michel Roux Junior Start Working with His Family?
When his training was complete, Roux returned to the family business, working under his uncle at the Waterside Inn in Berkshire in 1985, then with his father at Le Gavroche. Roux then spent three years running the family’s catering company before returning to Le Gavroche. When his father retired in 1993, Michel Roux took over running the family’s restaurant in London.
Roux Works as a Food Consultant
In addition to his work as a chef and restaurateur, Michel Roux is a food consultant. He took on the role of food consultant for Restaurant Associates, a fine dining provider, in 2003.
How Many Cookbooks Has Michel Roux Written?
So far, Michel Roux has written ten cookbooks throughout his career. His first, Le Gavroche Cookbook, was published in 2001. His most recent was The French Revolution: 140 Classic Recipes Made Fresh & Simple, which he published in 2018.
In the Media: Facts About Michel Roux
When Did Michel Roux First Appear on Television?
Michel Roux first began appearing on television in the 2000s, making various guest appearances on food-related television series. One example is Hell’s Kitchen, as his chef friend Gordon Ramsay asked him to appear as a guest judge. He was also a guest judge on MasterChef South Africa and a mentor for the short-lived series The Chef’s Protégé.
For How Long Did Michel Roux Present MasterChef: The Professionals?
Michel Roux became a judge for MasterChef: The Professionals in 2008 alongside Gregg Wallace. A year later, they were joined by chef Monica Galetti. In 2014, Roux left the series following a dispute with the BBC over his role as brand ambassador for Albert Bartlett Rooster Potatoes. British chef Marcus Wareing replaced him. Galetti left the series in 2021, and the new judge for 2022 is Anna Haugh.
He Has Hosted Other Television Series
Between 2013 and 2014, Roux co-presented the series Food and Drink with Kate Goodman. He presented two shows in 2015, including Kitchen Impossible with Michel Roux Jr for Channel 4 and First Class Chefs on the Disney Channel. In 2016, Roux took over presenting Saturday Kitchen when James Martin left.
Other Michel Roux Facts
Michel Roux Was in the Army
One of the Michel Roux facts that many people do not know is that he served in the French army. His basic training occurred between 1982 and 1983, and then he served in military service at the Elysée Palace. Roux worked for President Francois Mitterrand and President Valery Giscard d’Estaing during his service.
Roux Caused Controversy Paying Chefs Low Wages
When the media revealed that Michel Roux was paying his chefs below the minimum wage due to their long hours with no extra hours paid, he said he was sorry and embarrassed.
He Scrapped Tips at His Restaurant
The media also revealed that Roux was keeping the service charge and servers’ tips at the restaurant. In response, Michel roux scrapped tips and the service charge by including them in the price instead. However, it caused further controversy as customers felt the optional service charge had become mandatory, and their choice of how much to pay in tips was removed.
What Is Michel Roux’s Favourite Food?
Michel Roux is known for his classic French cookery. However, he does not always dine in French restaurants when he is eating out. One of his favourite things to eat is Japanese food, as he does not prepare dishes such as sushi and sashimi at home or in his restaurant. According to S.L. Man, he loves to eat Japanese food at his favourite restaurants, Zuma and Roka.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Michel Roux facts. If you are interested in the careers of top British chefs, you might also like to read our articles about Yotam Ottolenghi, Gino D’Acampo, Jamie Oliver, Marco Pierre White, Andi Oliver, and Tom Kerridge.