Roux Scholarship 2009 finalists announced

The names of the six finalists who will battle it out for the chance to become a Roux Scholar have been revealed following regional finals in Birmingham and London.

Steven Stephens of Porth Tocyn, Christopher Golding of Nahm, Helene Anderson of Ambassade de l`Ile, Quinton Bennett from The Westbury, Kevin Sutherland from Baxter Storey and Hrishikesh Desai from Lucknam Park, have all won £1,000, a host of other prizes and the chance to become a lifetime Roux Scholar.

At the final on April 6, the finalists will cook for a panel of judges chaired by brothers Michel and Albert Roux and including Heston Blumenthal, Andrew Fairlie, Gary Rhodes and Alain and Michel Roux Jnr.

The 2009 Roux Scholar will win a three month expenses paid stage at a European three star Michelin establishment, a week’s paid work-experience in New York, courtesy of Restaurant Associates; an expenses paid trip including travel and overnight accommodation to visit the wine cellars of Champagne Gosset at Ay for a guided tour of the production process, a trip to visit the Caffe Musetti roasting factory in Milan and a set of Global Knives to the value of £1,000.

From the regional final in London Michel Roux Jnr said this year`s standard was `exceptionally high`.

His cousin, Alain Roux, who was at the Birmingham final, added: "Every year the standard just gets better and better. It was obvious that these talented young chefs are cooking with their head and being adventurous. We saw some excellent examples of simplicity, which it takes confidence to do, and it was also interesting to see a couple of contestants using the water bath method when cooking the lamb."

Winning a Roux Scholarship gives a person membership of the Roux Scholars` Club for the rest of their career and entitles them to educational trips abroad, mentorship by the Roux family and networking opportunities.

Michel Roux welcomes 2009 Scholarship entries