The family of legendary chef and restaurateur Albert Roux have announced that he has died aged 85.
A statement from the family said: "The Roux family has announced the sad passing of Albert Roux, OBE, KFO, who had been unwell for a while, at the age 85 on 4th January 2021."
"Albert is credited, along with his late brother Michel Roux, with starting London's culinary revolution with the opening of Le Gavroche in 1967."
This comes just 10 months after the death of his brother, Michel Roux, in March 2020, alongside whom he became the first chef to win a Michelin star in the UK, at Le Gavroche. The Mayfair restaurant eventually went on to win the prestigious award of three Michelin stars.
His son Michel Roux Jr said: "He was a mentor for so many people in the hospitality industry, and a real inspiration to budding chefs, including me.”
Many of the UK's most renowned chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, and Monica Galetti, began their careers working under Roux at Le Gavroche.
Tributes have been flooding in for the late chef from a number of people in the industry. Food critic Jay Rayner said: "Albert Roux was an extraordinary man, who left a massive mark on the food story of his adopted country."
"The roll call of chefs who went through the kitchens of Le Gavroche alone, is a significant slab of a part of modern UK restaurant culture. RIP.”
Meanwhile TV chef James Martin tweeted saying: "Such a sad start to the year...Albert Roux was a true titan of the food scene in this country and inspired and trained some of the best and biggest names in the business."
Having risen to the top of the industry, in 1984 Albert Roux and his brother decided it was time to start supporting the next generation of chefs and founded the Roux scholarship - a competition which is still running to this day.