Romain Lascarides
French chef from Grenoble who trained under three-star chefs Arnaud Donckele and Yannick Alléno before opening his own sauce-driven kitchen in Madrid.
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Romain Lascarides is a French chef from Grenoble who leads Restaurante Allégorie in Madrid's Ríos Rosas. He trained at the Lesdiguières hospitality school before spending eight years working under three-star chefs Arnaud Donckele at La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez and Yannick Alléno at 1947 in Courchevel, then cooked in Sydney before settling in Madrid. Allégorie opened in November 2023 at Bretón de los Herreros 39, built around a sauce-centred, vegetable-forward style of French cooking.
Biography
Early years
Romain Lascarides is from Grenoble, in the French Alps, and trained at the Lesdiguières hospitality school there.
Career
He spent eight years working under two of France's three-Michelin-star chefs: as senior sous chef at Arnaud Donckele's La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez, and at Yannick Alléno's 1947 in Courchevel. He then spent two years cooking in Sydney before deciding to open his own restaurant in Madrid, wanting to give French cuisine abroad a different image. Allégorie opened in November 2023 at Bretón de los Herreros 39 in Ríos Rosas, after an earlier, smaller project near Calle Fuencarral, with Pierre Couturier as his business partner. The restaurant spans two floors: a ground-floor bar with cocktails and tapas, and an upper dining room with a private salon. His team includes dining room director Marie de Badereau de Saint-Martin and pastry chef Nataly Hernández Medina.
Philosophy
Lascarides builds each dish around a main ingredient, vegetable accompaniments, and a sauce he calls the signature of his cooking. The kitchen works from classic French technique without stopping there, a small, frequently changing menu built around vegetables and reduction sauces rather than a long à la carte. There's a caviar service too, Royal Baïkal from near Bordeaux.
Restaurants
Frequently asked
Who is the chef at Allégorie in Madrid?
Romain Lascarides, a French chef from Grenoble who trained under Arnaud Donckele and Yannick Alléno before opening Allégorie.
Where did Romain Lascarides train?
At the Lesdiguières hospitality school in Grenoble, then eight years under Arnaud Donckele at La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez and Yannick Alléno at 1947 in Courchevel.
When did Allégorie open?
In November 2023, at Bretón de los Herreros 39 in Madrid's Ríos Rosas, after an earlier, smaller project near Calle Fuencarral.
What cuisine does Allégorie serve?
French haute cuisine built around a main ingredient, vegetables, and reduction sauces, with a caviar service from Royal Baïkal.
Does Allégorie have a Michelin star?
No, Allégorie doesn't currently hold a Michelin star, though it's listed in the Michelin Guide and carries a Repsol recommendation.
Where is Allégorie located?
Calle Bretón de los Herreros, 39, in Madrid's Ríos Rosas neighbourhood.
Where did Romain Lascarides cook before opening his own restaurant?
He worked in Grenoble, Saint-Tropez and Courchevel, then spent two years cooking in Sydney before settling in Madrid to open Allégorie.