Closing date approaches for 2009 Roux Scholarship

Chefs looking to take part in the 2009 Roux Scholarship are being urged to submit their recipes now, as the closing date of 23 January moves in.

To enter, entrants must submit a recipe, to serve four people, using two best ends of lamb (leaving bone in) accompanied by two garnishes, one of which must be potato, and the other using one green vegetable. The dish should also be accompanied by a light jus or a salsa. They are also required to submit costings for the dish.

As well as the £5,000 cash prize (which is given by the Savoy Educational Trust and is to be used to further their culinary studies), the 2009 Roux Scholar will enjoy a three month stage at a three Michelin starred establishment, trips to Italy to visit Caffe Musetti, courtesy of L'Unico and Champagne courtesy of Champagne Gosset, as well as a week in New York with Restaurant Associates, in addition to other prizes.

The other five national finalists will each win £1000 to be used to further their culinary skills, again courtesy of the Savoy Educational Trust, as well as other prizes from the supporting companies.

The judging panel comprises the Roux brothers and their respective sons, as well as Heston Blumenthal; Andrew Fairlie (the original Roux Scholar); David Nicholls; Gary Rhodes and Brian Turner. They are joined by 2009 guest judge Richard Vines from Bloomberg.

Michel Roux senior said: "There is continuity as most of the panel have been involved with the competition for decades – the addition of a guest judge each year brings a fresh dimension to our judging and we have been honoured over the years by the calibre of all our judges."

"It is worth pointing out however, that for the first stage of the judging, the judges have no idea whose entry they are marking. Entries are numbered and it is only once the regional finalists have been selected, that their names are given to the judges." added Roux. "Entrants who fail to reach the regional heat retain their anonymity and are only known to the competition organisers."

Last year's winner was Daniel Cox, who works for the fine dining division of Compass Group.

Entry forms can be downloaded by visiting www.rouxscholarship.co.uk.

Words: Maria Bracken

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