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World-renowned chef Albert Roux who had close links with the Highlands dies aged 85


By Val Sweeney

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Albert Roux at Charleston Academy.
Albert Roux at Charleston Academy.

Internationally-renowned chef and restaurateur Albert Roux who had close links with Inverness has died at the age of 85.

Mr Roux and his brother, Michel, were credited with bringing great French cooking to the UK and the pair made gastronomic history in 1982 when their London restaurant, Le Gavroche, became the first in Britain to earn three Michelin stars.

The celebrity chef also had links with Inverness where he had the Chef Roux restaurant at the five star Rocpool Reserve boutique in Culduthel Road.

Albert Roux being presented with a plaque by Charleston Academy pupils Amy Anderson and Rachael Armitage at a gala dinner in 2012.
Albert Roux being presented with a plaque by Charleston Academy pupils Amy Anderson and Rachael Armitage at a gala dinner in 2012.

Mr Roux was also closely linked with the city's Charleston Academy where he opened the Albert Roux Kitchen, a training facility for the next generation of top chefs, in 2015.

Set up as a top-class professional kitchen, it was installed in a refurbished part of the school’s home economics department for use by students from all Inverness schools and the community.

The project was born out of the Chef’s Adopt a School programme which started in 2011 and involved Mr Roux mentoring pupils at Charleston as they got the chance to unleash their culinary talents.

Albert Roux leading a tasting session with Charleston Academy pupils in 2013.
Albert Roux leading a tasting session with Charleston Academy pupils in 2013.

In 2016, Mr Roux was involved in a three-generation family venture involving Michel Roux Jnr and supported by Michel’s daughter, Emily, to open the first of their co-branded fine dining restaurants at the world-famous Inverlochy Castle near Fort William.

It was the first time all three had worked together.

During his career, Mr Roux inspired and trained some of the best and biggest names in the food scene including Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White, Marcus Wareing, Pierre Koffman and Monica Galetti

In a tribute, chef James Martin described him as "a true titan of the food scene in this country".

Albert's death comes almost a year after his brother, Michel, died at the age of 78.


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