On Monday 3 April, April Lily Partridge of The Ledbury beat five other finalists in a cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College in London to become this year's recipient of the Roux Scholarship, a major career-boosting and life-changing achievement.
One of three London-based competitors, April Lily Partridge is currently the sous-chef at The Ledbury, a refined Notting Hill establishment that recently received two Michelin stars. She has previously worked at The Clove Club and Blue Hill Farm, and 2023 was the last year she was still eligible to compete for the Roux Scholarship due to her age.
In the final cook-off, the six finalists had to prepare their own dish along the theme of hot monkfish pie, using monkfish, whole black truffle, and any other ingredients from the dozens that were displayed. A Michelin-star-studded panel of judges deemed Partridge's dish the best of the bunch, awarding her the coveted grand prize in one of the most renowned chef competitions in the world.
IN addition to up to £12,000 to further her career, Partridge will also receive an invitation to cook and train at one of the world's three-Michelin-starred restaurants for up to two months, as well as various luxury prizes from the competition's sponsors.