Romain Fornell, born in Toulouse in 1978 to Parisian parents and a Catalan grandfather, received his first Michelin star in 2001 as the youngest chef in France to do so that year. He cooks at Caelis in Barcelona.
My name is Romain Fornell, and I am the chef of Caelis at the Hotel El Palace in Barcelona. I was born in 1978 in Toulouse, in the south of France. My parents are native Parisians, but my grandfather comes from Catalonia, in Spain.
Since childhood I absorbed the culinary arts from my mother and grandmother. They cooked beautifully and passed on to me a huge amount of experience, both in cooking and in choosing quality products. My father was a real foodie, and with him I visited the best restaurants in France.
After finishing culinary school in Toulouse, I started my career with Alain Ducasse and Michel Sarran and at Le Taillevent. It was invaluable practice. I learned traditional French haute cuisine, and that gave me a strong foundation for my career.
In 2001 I received my first Michelin star, and at that time it made me the youngest chef in France to get a star that year.
Today my favorite cuisine is Thai. I like cooking seafood and experimenting with different kinds of fish, and I prefer everything to be of high quality. My favorite dish is king crab.
I travel a lot, learning about new cultures and new products. I also love sport, and my favorite is running: so far I have run the New York Marathon four times.
My wish to everyone: enjoy life! Enjoy food! I am always glad to meet and cook for all true gourmets.
