Albert Roux dies aged 85

By Joe Lutrario

- Last updated on GMT

French chef Albert Roux dies Le Gavroche

Related tags Albert roux Le gavroche Fine dining Michel roux jr London Chefs

Hugely influential chef restaurateur Albert Roux has died at the age of 85 having been unwell ‘for a while’, the Roux family has revealed.

Albert is credited, along with his late brother Michel Roux​, with starting London’s culinary revolution with the opening of Le Gavroche in 1967. 

Now on Mayfair’s Upper Brook Street, the restaurant has seen many high profile chefs pass through it including Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffmann.

His son, Michel Roux Jr, says that his father’s sheer 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.”

Born in the commune of Semur-en-Brionnais in Eastern France, Albert intended to be a priest but opted to train as a chef at the last minute.

In 1967 Albert and his younger brother Michel opened Le Gavroche. 15 years later it became the first British restaurant to win three Michelin stars. 

In 1984 Michel and Albert founded the Roux Scholarship, an annual competition to support up and coming chefs, which has counted winners including Andrew Fairlie, Sat Bains and Simon Hulstone.

The Roux family continues to run some of the country’s most famous restaurants.

Le Gavroche is now overseen by Albert’s son Michel Jr, while the Waterside Inn is led by his nephew Alain.

Albert's granddaughter Emily opened London restaurant Caractere in 2018.

In 2006 Albert and Michel were jointly given the Lifetime Achievement Award by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. 

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