Set within an elegant and majestic heritage building in the city of Luxembourg, complete with an impressive terrace on the edge of a cliff, the restaurant, La Villa de Camille et Julien, feels warm and welcoming in combining luxury with authenticity. Chef Julien Lucas celebrates the encounter of Luxembourg’s terroir and French culinary know-how. His wife, Camille, elevates hospitality to an art form. Thanks to their shared passion, every effort is made to ensure that guests feel at home.
A talk with Julien Lucas
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party and why?
My wife and children. I enjoy sitting down with them at the table, listening to them and enjoying some fine wine. As work takes up so much of my time, any free time I get is spent with them – it's vital.
Tell us about the most memorable meal you have ever cooked or eaten.
It was for French President Emmanuel Macron, who I had the honour of cooking for at his nephews’ baptism in the gardens of Château de Chantilly. Cooking for a head of state is always a proud moment.
How important is music in your life?
I listen to music every day; I even sing in my car, as well as in the kitchen. I think all music represents a moment in time, pleasant or otherwise. The same goes for cooking. If a particular dish was good, or even excellent, and you shared it on a special occasion, smelling it again can bring those memories back. It’s known as olfactory memory.
