Alumni visit to Michelin starred restaurant
A group of Johnian alumni enjoyed a cooking demonstration at Caractère, Emily Roux’s Michelin starred restaurant in Notting Hill this month.
Emily’s restaurant, created with her husband Diego Ferrari and proud owner of a Michelin Star since November 2024, is a haven of Anglo-Franco-Italian elegance.
Guests were offered champagne while listening to Emily’s story, her roots within the Roux dynasty, her journey and what the future might hold, including the challenges that face fine dining today. They also heard about the Roux Scholarship and the importance of supporting and promoting women in hospitality.
Jess Gorman (1985), who organised the visit, said: “We were given a tasting of an exquisitely decorated Balfegò tuna tartare with daikon, topped with black radish flowers, yuzu and chilli, with a unique mandarin ponzu. Alongside this, there was a mini tart containing the tasty and fatty belly of the fish, the whole composition yielding a powerful sweet, sharp and clean punch of flavour.
“The visit was completed with a a tour of the tiny and intricately designed kitchen, and a further tasting of what seemed to be a mini ice cream cone, but in fact was a delicate, crisp pastry filled with a smooth, velvety smoked cod roe mousse, topped with puffed potato and Piment d’Espelette.
“We concluded with a further conversation and a strong intent from all visitors to return very soon.”
