April Fool’s Day is perhaps not the most auspicious date on which to launch a new restaurant but super chef Albert Roux is nobody’s fool and Chez Roux, his new venture at the Rocpool Reserve Hotel in Inverness, is certain to make a splash when it opens for lunch service today.
<
p class="MsoNormal">
With Albert and his brother Michel at the helm, Le Gavroche in London was the first restaurant in Britain to gain three Michelin stars and without the influence of the Roux family Britain’s culinary landscape would look very different today.
<
p class="MsoNormal">
Chez Roux at the Rocpool has been positioned very cannily for these cash-strapped times. The four course express menu is £12.95 while even most of the main courses from the a la carte come in at under £15.
<p class="MsoNormal">
<p class="MsoNormal">
While this is the first restaurant to be opened under the Roux umbrella in Scotland, plenty of the nation’s most high profile chefs have been trained by the Roux brothers at some point in their careers. Andrew Fairlie and Martin Wishart have both done stages at Roux restaurants while one of his most famous Scottish protégés, Gordon Ramsay, has already had an effect on Inverness’ dining scene when he featured 5pm member Abstract in one of his TV shows.
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">
<p class="MsoNormal">
In Glasgow, 5pm members <a href="https://www.5pm.co.uk/Browse/Restaurant/Brian_Maule_at_Chardon_DOr" target="_blank">Chardon D’Or</a> and <a href="https://www.5pm.co.uk/Browse/Restaurant/Michael_Caines_Fine_Dining_Restaurant" target="_blank">Abode</a> are run by Brian Maule and Michael Caine who have also spent time in Roux kitchens. In fact, Maule was head chef at Le Gavroche for eight years before returning to his native Scotland to set up his own place.
</p>
<p>
<!--EndFragment-->
</p>