Three generations of Roux dynasty to open two new Scottish restaurants
The family will launch the first of the ‘Albert and Michel Roux Jr’ restaurants at Inverlochy Castle near Fort William later this month, followed by a second at Crossbasket Castle on the outskirts of Glasgow on 1 May.
Emily will support menu development at both sites, serving the Roux’s signature French cooking with a ‘Scottish twist’.
The restaurants - seating up to 50-covers at Inverlochy and 25 at Crossbasket - will be staffed by Roux-trained chefs.
Albert Roux currently runs five Chez Roux restaurants across Scotland, but the new openings mark the first time the father and son duo have collaborated North of the border.
Albert Roux OBE, KFO, said: “Michel Jr and I are hugely excited about working together at these two fantastic locations. The ‘Albert and Michel Roux Jr’ restaurants will offer menus in the style of Le Gavroche but with a contemporary and distinctly Scottish twist, focusing on ingredients that are, as far as possible, hyper-local to each location.
“There is no doubt Scotland is coming of her culinary age. We have a population that loves food and is becoming increasingly aware of the fantastic produce in the seas, fields and forests.”
‘Very exciting time’
Michel Roux Jr said: “There is so much fantastic produce and talent to be found in the area. I’m particularly thrilled about Emily coming on board – my father and I are classically French in style whereas Emily is slightly more contemporary in her cooking. It makes for a great dynamic, and a very exciting time for the Rouxs.”
The Roux family's portfolio of restaurants includes the two Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, Roux Parliament Square and the three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn run by Michel Jr's cousin Alain Roux.
Both Inverlochy Castle and Crossbasket are managed by Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI).