Chef and restaurateur Michel Roux, 79, ‘with insatiable appetite for life’ dies at home surrounded by family after long battle against ill health
- The restaurateur was with family in Berkshire when he died after lung condition
- He is best known for opening the grand Le Gavroche in Sloane Square in 1967
- The restaurant moved to Mayfair and is now run by his nephew Michel Roux Jnr
- It was the first UK restaurant get a Michelin star in 1974, and had three by 1982
Legendary chef Michel Roux has died at home aged 79 after a long battle with ill health.
The French restaurateur was with his family in Bray, Berkshire, when he passed away following the lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
He is known for opening the Le Gavroche in Sloane Square, London, with his brother Albert in 1967, which moved to Mayfair and is run by nephew Michel Roux Jnr.
Legendary chef Michel Roux has died at home aged 79 after a long battle with ill health
The French restaurateur was with his family in Bray, Berkshire, when he passed away following the lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
It was the first British restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in 1974 and had a record three by 1982.
His family said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sadness that the Roux family announces the passing of our beloved grandfather, father, brother and uncle, Michel Roux OBE.
‘The family would like to thank everyone for their support during his illness. While many of you will share our great sense of loss, we request privacy for the family at this difficult time.
‘We are grateful to have shared our lives with this extraordinary man and we’re so proud of all he’s achieved.
‘A humble genius, legendary chef, popular author and charismatic teacher, Michel leaves the world reeling in his wake.
‘For many, he was a father figure inspiring all with his insatiable appetite for life and irresistible enthusiasm.
‘But above all, we will miss his mischievous sense of fun, his huge, bottomless heart and generosity and kindness that knew no bounds. Michel’s star will shine forever lighting the way for a generation of chefs to follow.’
Burgundy-born Roux and his brother Albert took over Bray’s Waterside Inn in Maidenhead and bagged three Michelin stars in 1985, which it has kept.
It is the only British restaurant to retain the accolade for more than thirty years and one of few across the world.
The Frenchman tutored the likes of Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White, and was a television star through his BBC show At Home with the Roux Brothers in the 1980s.
Tributes were led by the Roux Scholarship, which the chef set up in 1984 and counts Mark Birchall and Sat Bains among its alumni.
It said on Instagram: ‘We are deeply saddened to have lost our founding father, Michel Roux OBE.’
Chef and president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts Brian Turner telling the Caterer: ‘Gastronomy and cooking in the UK have lost their greatest modern champion.
‘An adopted son of Great Britain, Michel Roux was a much-loved chef with a mischievous sense of humour.
‘I was privileged to have been called a friend of Michel and attended most celebrations where he and the Waterside Inn were rightfully recognised for what they have done for the reputation of Britain in the area of fine dining and haute cuisine in the modern era.
‘By creating and developing the Roux Scholarship many young cooks in this country have profited by the passion of the Roux family and the leadership and dedication of Michel and will constantly be aware how this has changed the lives of so many of the top chefs in this country.
‘Only last week we spent a quiet 15 minutes, holding hands together, discussing how best to take the scholarship forwards whilst giggling and laughing – a wonderful memory of a wonderful friend, I will miss him so much.’
A funeral for Roux will be a private family affair later this year, with details yet to emerge.