Rankin leads the tributes to his mentor Albert Roux
TOP local chefs have paid tribute to leading restaurateur Albert Roux after his death at the age of 85.
A member of a French culinary dynasty, he passed away on Monday after a lengthy illness.
With hi s younger brot her Michel he founded Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London in 1967 and The Waterside Inn in Bray in 1972.
In 1988 Albert’s son Michel Roux Jr joined Le Gavroche and over a period of years took on the day-to-day management of the restaurant.
He is now the chef/patron. Albert’s death comes nine months after that of his brother at 78 following a battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Celebrity chef Paul Rankin, who spent three years training under Albert, and gained the first Michelin star here in 1992, was among those who paid tribute.
He tweeted: “Dear Albert, my culinary father, these tears are for you.
“Thank you for everything. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.”
Neven Maguire, who runs the popular Macnean House and Restaurant in Blacklion on the
Cavan/fermanagh border, added: “A true legend and such an inspirational chef and a gentleman. RIP Albert Roux.”
Great British Menu chef Richard Corrigan tweeted: “Sleep well you legend, a legacy of brilliance”.
Go r d o n R a ms a y, Marc o Pierre White, Pierre Koffmann and Marcus Wareing all passed through the Le Gavroche kitchen during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Sharing a photo of them together on Instagram, Ramsay wrote: “So, so sad to hear about the passing of this legend, the man who installed Gastronomy in Britain, we’ve shared the same office for the last decade and walking up those stairs today is going to be really difficult.
“Thank you Albert for everything you gave me, God Bless you Chef.”
Chef James Martin described Roux as “a true titan of the food scene” who “inspired and trained some of the best and biggest names in the business”.
He added: “RIP, and today I will open a bottle of the finest red and raise a glass... in fact the bottle to you and your brother and say thank you for everything. My thoughts to all the Roux family and friends.”