French-born chef Michel Roux has passed away at the age of 79.
It was announced earlier today that the legendary chef had passed away today from a longstanding respiratory illness, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Born in France, Roux made a name for himself as a highly-skilled pastry chef, following his brother Albert into the field. The pair are said to have revolutionised cooking in England by bringing classic French techniques and flavours to the public there.
Roux is best known for opening the restaurant Le Gavroche with his brother, which became the first restaurant in Britain to hold three Michelin star, as well as The Waterside Inn, which was the first restaurant outside France to hold three stars for a period of 25 years. Together with Albert, Michel also set up the Roux Scholarship, which is a competition for up-and-coming chefs in the UK.
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In a statement on Instagram, the Roux Scholarship announced the death of their former patron:
"We are deeply saddened to have lost our founding father, Michel Roux OBE. “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”
