Final award ceremony and dinner to be held at Coworth Park

The Roux Family is delighted to be hosting The Roux Scholarship 2024 award ceremony and dinner at Coworth Park in Berkshire.

Following the final cook-off, which will take place at the Alain Roux Culinary School at The Waterside Inn, the six finalists and judges will join sponsors and other honoured guests for the award ceremony, which will be livestreamed through The Roux Scholarship YouTube channel.

The ceremony will recap the competition and announce the winner of The Roux Scholarship 2024, our 40th Scholar.

Following the ceremony, the guests will be treated to a celebratory three-course meal that will be prepared by Coworth Park’s Executive Chef Adam Smith, who won The Roux Scholarship in 2012, and two of his fellow Scholars Steve Drake, who cook the starter, and Kenneth Culhane, who will create the dessert.

Set in beautiful Berkshire countryside, Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection’s luxury country house hotel and spa, is nestled amidst 240 acres of picturesque parkland and combines the intimacy of a private country estate with sophisticated modern appeal.

Roux Scholar Adam Smith has been executive Chef at Coworth Park since 2016.

Locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and exceptional service feature across its three restaurants; in addition to The Barn and the Drawing Room, Woven by Adam Smith is a tribute to exceptional British produce and the stories behind each ingredient.

Weaving together natural inspirations and Adam's own personal history, it's a warm welcoming space that sets the scene for memorable dining.

The restaurant holds one Michelin star and the team recently won the Hotel Catey’s award for Restaurant Team of the Year.

Alain Roux said: “In our 40th anniversary year, we’re thrilled to be hosting our Final Award Ceremony at Coworth Park. Not only is it a stunning hotel in a beautiful setting, it is home to Woven by Adam Smith, our 2012 scholar’s one Michelin-starred restaurant. We’re looking forward to an unforgettable event in this spectacular new venue, with Chef Adam leading a team of scholars to prepare a memorable dinner. We couldn’t wish for a better tribute and showcase for The Roux Scholarship.”

Michel Roux Jr said: “I’m thrilled that we can have our award ceremony and dinner at one of our scholars place of work. Coworth park is an exceptional venue, combining luxury with elegance and panache. Our 40th anniversary is going to be very special and a treat for all.”

Executive Chef Adam Smith said: “It will be a real honour for us to welcome The Roux Scholarship to Coworth Park for what will be its 40th year. To be able to cook for so many of my culinary idols and peers will be a real privilege. Being a Roux Scholar is something I hold very close to my heart so this will be very, very special.”

General Manager Zoe Jenkins said: “We are delighted to welcome many of our industry colleagues and The Roux Scholarship to Coworth Park in this truly milestone year. Adam, his fellow scholars, together with our team will work together to create an exceptional and memorable evening to mark The Roux Scholarship award ceremony here in the countryside.”

Entries are Open

The Roux Scholarship 2024 competition invites chefs to create a recipe for four people using the following ingredients and criteria:

• One short loin of free-range gilt pork from the shoulder end, weighing anywhere between 1.6kg and 1.8kg maximum, untrimmed with four bones in.

• In addition, use two fresh pork kidneys, together plated with crackling and two simple or composed garnishes/accompaniments. One of them must include sweet potatoes and the other can be a garnish/accompaniment of the contestant’s choice. One of these can be served separately, if preferred.

• A sauce must accompany the dish. Entrants have until midnight on Monday 22nd January 2024 to submit their recipes via the online application system.

For additional rules and stipulations, see rouxscholarship.co.uk/how-to-enter/rules/

The Judges

Emily Roux will join the judging panel for the first time, while the other judges will remain the same for the 2024 competition and is as follows: Alain Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Brian Turner CBE, Sat Bains (Scholar 1999), André Garrett MCA (Scholar 2002), Simon Hulstone (Scholar 2003), James Martin, Clare Smyth MBE, Rachel Humphrey and Angela Hartnett OBE. The Honorary President of Judges will be announced in due course.

Important Dates

22nd January 2024: Deadline for applications.

7th March 2024: Regional finalists compete, each cooking their written recipe plus a mystery basket dessert recipe challenge. Regional finals take place at University College Birmingham and University of West London. Six national finalists shortlisted.

8th April 2023: National Final at The Waterside Inn’s Alain Roux Culinary School. Award ceremony at Coworth Park.

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