The Roux Family Christmas

At this time of year, it’s all about the people that surround you. Which is why we’ve collaborated not just with Michel Roux Jr., but with his entire family. To celebrate our range of exquisite Roux Family Christmas menus, we spoke to the man himself and his chef daughter, Emily, about all things festive in the culinary Roux household.

What are the Roux family’s Christmas traditions?

Michel: Basically just sitting around the table and eating a lot.

What is the centrepiece at the Roux family Christmas?

Michel: [with a healthy dose of irony] Brussels sprouts!

Emily: Lobster linguine.

Michel: Oh yes! Lobster linguine! Are you making it?

What time does the first bottle of Champagne get popped?

Emily: Easy. 10! (AM!)

Do you celebrate on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Michel: Both.

Emily: Do we?

Michel: Well yeah, because in France we celebrate Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day, too. So, in the Roux household, we get two shots at it – Christmas Eve, because that’s how they do it in France, and Christmas Day, because that’s how you do it in the UK.

Emily: So we open half our presents in the evening, and half our presents in the morning.

Michel: Yeah! And we have Champagne in the evening and Champagne in the morning. Best of both worlds.

Who cooks at Christmas?

Michel: It’s a family affair. Everybody does a little bit, everybody joins in. And at the end of the day, I end up doing it all.

Emily: That’s not true! By any means!

Michel: Ok fine. I do the washing up.

Emily: Yes.

Brussels sprouts: yay or nay?

Michel: Yay.

Emily: Nay!

Tell us about the Roux Family Christmas menu.

Michel: For the festive menu we’ve got a little chicken liver parfait with brioche and an onion chutney. To follow that, a little soup: a saffron and Champagne soup with scallops. And then the main course: roast duck, with stuffing and some beautiful sprouts, yummy yummy [winking at Emily]. Chestnuts and carrots, dauphinoise with celeriac in it. And to finish off...

Emily: Bûche De Noël!

Michel: Chocolate caramel Bûche De Noël!

Emily: Delicious.