The Roux Scholarship - Good Food Channel

glitch · 16 Jul 2012 at 00:19

Did anyone catch this today? I've just finished watching the re-run and found it to be a very compelling show, although not quite as interesting as it could have been - the same accusation I'd level at the recent Roux series on the same channel.

But what was really bugging me was that I recognised so many of the chefs competing for the prize - I don't know if I've been in a kitchen with them, seen them at shows or they've been on TV before. However, two of the faces really stood out for me.

First, there was a young-ish lad who didn't get time to make his tuile biscuits for the semi-final. He looks a bit like Bez from The Happy Mondays, albeit younger, but still with that slightly 'faraway' look of a recovering methadone addict - has he been on Masterchef in the past or has he tried to sell me drugs at some point?!

And then the winner, whose name I shall not reveal in case I spoil the result for anyone. Slightly podgy, looks half-asleep and is a lot younger than you'd think he is - is he another Masterchef contestant from the past?

And if you have access to Sky or Virgin and want to watch the programme, it seems to be repeated daily for the rest of this week. Well worth an hour of your time.

HamZilla · 16 Jul 2012 at 18:14

I've only seen the trailer but surely this means no more Roux in the Masterchef Professionals?

glitch · 16 Jul 2012 at 18:31

HamZilla said:
I've only seen the trailer but surely this means no more Roux in the Masterchef Professionals?

And why would you think that?

HamZilla · 16 Jul 2012 at 21:14

I think that because its a conflict of interest to be judging more than one culinary competition, and also the demands on his time.

Is it produced by the same people that make Masterchef? You can usually tell from the production values.

glitch · 16 Jul 2012 at 21:45

HamZilla said:
I think that because its a conflict of interest to be judging more than one culinary competition, and also the demands on his time.

The Roux Scholaship has been going for over 25-years and Roux Jr. has been an integral part of it for much of that time.

And apart from being on the panel of the Roux Scholarship, he also manages to run Le Gavroche, Roux at Parliament Square and Roux at the Landau, deal with his other restaurant 'interests' around the country, judge competitions like the MasterChef and be involved with various other schemes within the industry, find time to fulfil all his promotional duties, write three books, run sixteen marathons and somehow still has time for his wife and daughter.

It's certainly not a conflict of interests, as the winner of Professonals tends to end up working for him, and I doubt it's a burden on his schedule as he's a man who thrives on being busy!

HamZilla said:
Is it produced by the same people that make Masterchef? You can usually tell from the production values.

MasterChef is made by Shine, this and the other Roux shows on Good Food are made by Cactus.

HamZilla · 17 Jul 2012 at 13:24

Thanks for explaining. I thought it was just another tv cook competition cashing-in on the Roux name.

glitch · 17 Jul 2012 at 19:12

Oh no, it's right up there with the most prestigious competitions in the culinary world and has a very impressive pedigree.

It's quite true what they say about the doors that winning the competition can open for you, but at the same time you've got to be hugely driven to take full advantage of it. Even getting into the final six can take you to places that you'd never normally be able to reach.