Garrett takes Roux prize

Andre Garrett, head chef at Orrery restaurant in London, has become the 19th Roux Scholar after beating five other finalists in the 2002 final held at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London last week. Darin Campbell, senior sous chef at Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, was runner-up.

The finalists had two hours to prepare and present a classic Escoffier recipe of pot-roasted guinea fowl with sauerkraut with the added twist from co-founder and judge Michel Roux of incorporating a lobe of foie gras into the dish as they saw fit. Roux said it had been an outstanding final but that "Garrett really was the outright winner".

Roux was joined on the panel by nine other judges, including his brother and scholarship co-founder Albert Roux, his nephew Michel Roux junior (chef-proprietor of London's Le Gavroche), his son Alain Roux (chef-proprietor of the Waterside Inn, Bray), Rick Stein (chef-proprietor of Padstow's Seafood restaurant), Gary Rhodes (chef-proprietor of City Rhodes and Rhodes on the Square) and TV chef Brian Turner.

Asked if he had felt confident about his winning entry, Garrett, 29, replied: "Sort of. It was very close. It was a simple dish that had to be done properly." As part of his prize, Garrett can now choose a stage of up to three months at any three-star Michelin restaurant in Europe and said he would like to go to either Guy Savoy or Michel Bras in Paris.

In addition, Garrett picked up a cheque for £2,500, a chance to join the culinary team on a Celebrity Cruises luxury cruise in the Caribbean, an all-expenses-paid trip to the wine cellars of Gosset in France, a trip for two to Caffé Musetti in Milan as well as a year's free subscription to Caterer & Hotelkeeper.

The Orrery kitchen will receive prizes worth up to £5,000.

by Amanda Marcus