Every summer I head down to my house in the South of France with my wife and daughter. It’s on the southern tip of the Ardèche and is our little bolt hole. The nearby village has an excellent butcher and baker, so I don’t have to stray too far for good food. It’s easy for me to go into hiding for two weeks. Having said that, the five-star luxury holiday is nice once in a while — great restaurants, top-notch hotels — I love all that. But I don’t go out of my way to eat out at the latest in-place, it’s too much like work and I find myself casting a critical eye over things.
I pack my trainers when I go away because I run three to four times a week. It’s my way of winding down and getting my thoughts together. Exercise helps get me through the long days. I spend 90 per cent of my time at Le Gavroche. It is important for the customer to know that I am in the kitchen.
I always have a book on hand. I have just started reading Lance Armstrong’s My Comeback: Up Close and Personal. His story is unbelievable and very inspirational.
We don’t get enough vitamin C in our diet, so I will pack some tablets. People think that as a chef all you do is eat huge meals, but I rarely sit down to eat in a working day — I am continually tasting dishes throughout service and then I just grab some bread and cheese.
Football is a real passion of mine and I like to take my Manchester United shirt away with me.
Michel Roux Jr is Chef Patron of Le Gavroche (le-gavroche.co.uk) and will be opening his new venture Roux at Parliament Square later this year.
