This year, 14 of the 18 finalists are new to the high-profile competition and come from some of the UK’s best known places to eat including Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
Four finalists have competed in the finals before: Charlie D’Lima (2024), Rebecca Tough (2024), Darryl Shotlander (2024) and Liam Pride (2022).
The 18 chefs (see below), and two reserves, were selected from their written recipes that had to use two gurnard fish, mussels, dulse seaweed and parsnips.
They were submitted anonymously to the judges, who took part in a recipe judging day at The Waterside Inn earlier this month.
The 18 finalists will compete in two regional finals which will be held concurrently on 6 March at the University of West London and University College Birmingham.
The judges will include Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr Brian Turner, Emily Roux, André Garrett, Adam Smith, Angela Hartnett, Sat Bains, Simon Hulstone and Rachel Humphrey.
“It is great to see so many different establishments represented across the country and to see chefs who have been supported to enter the competition by past winners, our Roux Scholars, and past finalists,” says chairman Michel Roux Jr.
“There were some very inspiring recipes using affordable ingredients and lots of skilful, innovative techniques as well.”
Emily Roux added: “The regional finalists came up with a very eclectic mix of recipes; All sorts of different ingredients were used, spices, lots of Japanese flavours as well, which I thought was interesting. Gurnard is a fish that I love, we currently have it on the menu, so I was happy to see it in all its glory in different forms.”
The Roux Scholarship is one of the most high profile cooking competitions in the UK with past winners including Gordon Ramsay, Mark Birchall, Sat Bains and Andrew Fairlie.
Last year’s competition was won by Kerridge’s Bar & Grill sous chef Karol Ploch.
Chefs competing in London
Katherine Altham, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, London
Liam Anderson, Midsummer House, Cambridge
Swann Auffray, The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
Craig Johnstone, Angler Restaurant, London
Lachlan Maddigan, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
Liam Pride Fancetts, Cambridge
Darryl Shotlander, The Dysart, Petersham, Surrey
Monty Stonehewer, Whatley Manor, Wiltshire
Nikoletta Theofylakidou, Restaurant Associates, London
Marnix Taghon, Hide, London
Rebecca Tough, Vacherin, London
Erin Yates, Bar Valette, London
Chefs competing in Birmingham
Fraser Cameron, The Globe Inn, Dumfries & Galloway
Charlie d’Lima, Crocadon Farm, Cornwall
Alan Hughes, Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire
Harrison Miller, Blundells School, Devon
Oliver Robinson, Coworth Park, Berkshire
Tommy Thorn, Puro, Bristol
