Chef and restaurateur Albert Roux has died at the age of 85, his family have confirmed in a statement.
They wrote that Albert, brother of legendary chef Michel and father of Masterchef star Michel Jr, had been unwell for some time.
The statement from the family said: “The Roux family has announced the sad passing of Albert Roux, OBE, KFO, who had been unwell for a while, at the age 85 on 4th January 2021.
“Albert is credited, along with his late brother Michel Roux, with starting London’s culinary revolution with the opening of Le Gavroche in 1967.”
His son Michel Jr, who rose to fame on Masterchef, paid tribute to his son as he said in a statement: “He was a mentor for so many people in the hospitality industry, and a real inspiration to budding chefs, including me.”
Albert Roux has passed away at the age of 85, his family have confirmed (Image: Getty Images)
Albert was best known for opening London restaurant Le Gavroche with his brother in 1967, which became the first restaurant in the UK to earn three Michelin stars.
They also opened up the famous Waterside Inn in Bay in 1972, which was awarded one star, then two in 1977, and three in 1985.
It is the only restaurant in the world outside France to have retained three stars, and Albert’s nephew Alain has been the chef patron since 2001.
He and his chef brother Michel opened Michelin restaurants Waterside Inn and Le Gavroche (Image: Getty Images)
In 1985, he and his brother set up the Roux Scholarship to help budding chefs get a start in the industry, giving newcomers the chance to work in Michelin-starred kitchens for three months.
The chef also trained some of the UK’s most successful chefs, including Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing.
As well as being awarded an OBE back in 2002, Albert and Michel were given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1995 Cateys and the Silver Catey in 2008.
Food critic Jay Rayner paid tribute to Roux on social media, writing: “Albert Roux was an extraordinary man, who left a massive mark on the food story of his adopted country.
“The roll call of chefs who went through the kitchens of Le Gavroche alone, is a significant slab of a part of modern UK restaurant culture. RIP.”
Roux leaves behind wife Maria, who he married in 2018, and son Michel Jr.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
