Speakers

As a child, Romain wanted to be a farmer : a love for the land that today finds another way to express itself. Very early on, a second passion drove him : traveling. After his training in his native Franche-Comté, he fulfilled his dream by working for a year in Martinique, his first taste of foreign flavors. Upon his return, he joined the prestigious Potel et Chabot’s team, where he undertook numerous assignments around the world. He still finds the time to immerse himself in French “haute cuisine”, spending two years at Hélène Darroze in Paris.

In 2006, Alain Ducasse brought him to his restaurant at  Plaza Athénée, where he joined as a sous-chef. He will then become the chef of the Cour Jardin, the hotel's chic terrace. Alain Ducasse, sensing his attraction to world cuisines, appointed him as the chef of his restaurant Spoon des Îles in Mauritius. Three years later, Alain Ducasse prepares the opening of Idam, his restaurant in Doha, Qatar, located in the Museum of Islamic Art. Romain is the ideal candidate to invent the contemporary high Middle Eastern cuisine that will be served there. For several months, he explores the cuisines of Lebanon, Morocco, and the western coast of India, immersing himself in their traditions, the use of spices, and vegetables.

2014 : time for a new challenge. The Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée restaurant reopens its doors at autumn, and Alain Ducasse wants to completely redefine the cuisine. Once again, it is towards Romain that he turns to invent the “Naturalité” cuisine, which receives three Michelin stars in 2016.

Romain made a significant contribution to the books "Naturalité" (2015) and "Grand livre de la Naturalité" (2020). He authored "Naturally Free" (2019), which offers an accessible version of Naturalité cuisine. During 2022’s spring, the chef took over the kitchens of the Domaine de Primard in Eure-et-Loir, managing the Octave bistro then the gourmet restaurant Les Chemins in september. An environment that is literally and intellectually nourishing, which Romain Meder explores daily for all its treasures. A kingdom where plants reign, omnipresent, sublime, and impactful. In March 2023, the Michelin Guide awarded one star and the green star to the restaurant Les Chemins. The restaurant closed its doors in the fall of 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025, Romain Meder will open his first restaurant on Rue Saint-Dominique, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The opportunity to open a new chapter in his story in the heart of the capital and to continue the culinary adventure he started with his partner producers several years ago.