We Meet Chef, Entrepreneur & Foodie Royalty, Emily Roux

The Roux family is something of a dynasty in the British food scene, and one of its youngest members, Emily Roux, is certainly one to watch. Growing up in the kitchen of Le Gavroche, Emily went on to study and train at some of Europe’s finest establishments. Now, she’s living in London and running the much-loved Notting Hill restaurant, Caractère, alongside her husband, Diego Ferrari. Here, we caught up with the Lexus ambassador to chat about her career, the life lessons she’s learnt over the years, plus her top London recommendations.

What’s your earliest memory of food?

I have so many food memories! I am incredibly lucky that my parents took me to all their favourite restaurants, so I discovered fine dining from a very young age. I remember having a scrumptious roast pigeon (probably age 6 or 7) in Spain, and then falling asleep under the table!

Tell us about Caractère, for those who haven’t been before.

My husband and I opened Caractère in 2018 in Notting Hill. We wanted to create a restaurant that we would like to eat at: unpretentious, yet delicious food that you couldn’t recreate at home, with a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to someone considering starting a business with their partner?

I am very fortunate to work with my husband! It’s not easy every day, but I honestly don’t know how I could have done it without him. We complement each other very well. My advice is that communication is key and that you don’t take “business” home.

Which London restaurants, other than your own, are you loving right now?

It really depends on my mood. I love all different kinds of food, so it could be ramen at Kanadaya, a simple bistrot dish at Josephine, sushi at Sumi… the list could go on forever.

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?

Probably in Monaco at the Louis XV (where Diego and I met). We both love Alain Ducasse’s cooking, but this summer evening was special. We were on the beautiful terrace opposite the casino, my parents had joined us… It was simply a memorable evening.

It was simply a memorable evening. Food, wine and company were perfect !

What was the last thing you cooked?

I have just made my boys a veggie omelette with avocado on the side.
They are four years old and 10 months old and love food, so they are pretty easy to cater for. (Long may it last)

How would you describe your approach to cooking?

I definitely have a classical French background/training. That being said, I think certain dishes we currently have on the menu are quite modern and use ingredients from all over the world.

The most important thing is staying seasonal and simple, letting the ingredients shine.

Who is an up-and-coming chef that you think more people should know about?

Chef April Lily Partridge. She won the Roux Scholarship last year and is doing amazing things at The Ledbury. I’m keeping my eyes peeled.

You’ve said that your father has taught you a lot about cooking and work ethic generally – what’s the biggest lesson that’s stayed with you?

Never give up. Some days will be harder than others, stay focused and stay hungry. I also tend to rush into things, being impatient. He is far more laid-back (perhaps that comes with age ).

What’s your go-to dish when you need to make something but you’re short on time?

PASTA! I absolutely love pasta. It can be enjoyed in so many forms with so many sauce combinations; definitely my go-to for a quick and easy meal for the whole family.

We live in Putney and absolutely love it. We are close to the river and Richmond Park, which has lots of fun activities for kids. It’s generally quite quiet, and there are some great places to brunch as well! Home SW15 is our go-to.

How do you get around London?

The whole family gets in the car. We drop off the boys at school/ nursery and continue the journey to work. We have a Lexus NX hybrid that we love. Not only is it big enough for all the restaurant boxes/supply we travel around with, but also the two car seats and buggy. We also absolutely adore the fact it is a plug-in. We can easily do a couple of journeys to and from work in full electric and then recharge overnight. We haven’t needed petrol in over six months.

Never give up. Some days will be harder than others, stay focused and stay hungry

What’s a foodie shop you love?

Vallebona in Wimbledon Village. Naoko and Stefano (the owners) are amazing and their charcuterie, cheeses and extensive Japanese products are outstanding, so much so, that we also use some of their products at the restaurant.

Where’s next on your travel list?

We always do an annual summer trip to the south of France (11 hours’ drive) with two kids in the back. Thankfully our car is seriously comfortable. They sleep through and we drive serenely. We get to enjoy local markets, BBQs and colourful salads for two blissful weeks.

Where do you rate in the UK for staycation?

We recently had a long weekend in the New Forest – such beautiful countryside. We did amazing long walks discovering all the animals, and it was only one hour and 30 minutes away from home. It’s definitely somewhere we would like to enjoy as a family.