Albert Roux, Chef Who Brought French Cuisine to London, Dies at 85
Mr. Roux and his brother, Michel, opened Le Gavroche in the late 1960s, raising the level of fine dining in the city and offering a training ground for some of the restaurant industry’s future stars.
Albert Roux in an undated photo. Le Gavroche, the restaurant he opened with his brother, Michel, in 1967, is credited with bringing fine French cuisine to London.Credit.Mike Egerton - PA Images via Getty Images
Jan. 6, 2021
Albert Roux, the French-born chef whose London restaurant Le Gavroche was the first in Britain to earn three Michelin stars, died on Monday. He was 85.
While a teenage Roux had intended to become a priest, the church’s loss was cooking’s gain. His start in kitchens saw him work as a commis de cuisine for Viscountess Astor, the second-ever elected female Member of Parliament, before working in the French Embassy and later serving in the French Armed Forces to complete a year of military service. A stint in the British Embassy followed but it was eight years as a private chef in Kent for Major Peter Cazalet –who himself would later rain racehorses for the Royal family – that changed Roux’s life, with the family helping Roux finance his first restaurant.
Tributes paid to chef Albert Roux as restaurateur dies aged 85 David Ellis
The influentiual chef and restaurateur Albert Roux has died at the age of 85.
Roux is best known for opening Le Gavroche in 1967, a restaurant which is often credited with changing the way Britons eat. Albert launched the restaurant with his younger Michel, who died last March aged 78.
A statement from his 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.”
Albert Roux dies aged 85
share
The Roux family has announced the sad passing of Albert Roux, who had been unwell for a while, at the age of 85 on 4 January 2021.
Chef, restaurateur, author and founder of the Roux Scholarship, Albert is credited, along with his late brother Michel Roux, with launching London s culinary revolution with the opening of Le Gavroche in 1967.
His son, Michel Roux Jr, said Albert s love of life and passion for making people happy through his food will be greatly missed: He was a mentor for so many people in the hospitality industry, and a real inspiration to budding chefs, including me.