Biographies of professional and amateur chefs:

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In 1967, Michel, with his brother Albert opened Le Gavroche in Lower Sloane Street, London. Neither had ever worked in a restaurant before. They had both worked in private houses since starting their cooking careers each at the age of 14. Michel had worked for the British Embassy in Paris and was the head chef for Cécile de Rothschild when the time came to move across the channel.

The two brothers offered a menu never before seen in London and Le Gavroche was packed from the first day it opened. Five more restaurants followed as well as The Waterside Inn in Bray. Over the decades they started other businesses including outside catering, a patisserie, a boucherie and helped several young chefs to start their own business, including Pierre Koffman at la Tante Clair and Christian Germain at Château de Montreuil at Montreuil sur Mer in France.

As time passed, the empire changed, grew and re-grouped. However there are still two Rouxs at The Waterside Inn. The young generation has grown and Michel's son Alain now works alongside his father.

Michel's second hat is one of author and has written seven cookery books that have been translated and sold around the globe. His autobiography Life is a Menu was published In October. His long career and the indelible contribution he has made to the food industry have resulted in various awards from the Trade and also the French Government. At the end of 1999, the British Catering Trade voted Michel "The man of the Millenium".

If you would like to find out more about Michel Roux the Chef and Michel Roux the person then you need to read his new book, "Life is a Menu". To read our review of the book click here.

If you would like to visit the Waterside Inn website then click here.