his 23-year-old boss receives praise

He is only 23 years old and has all the makings of a future big name in gastronomy. Trained in a prestigious Parisian school, and after having visited numerous starred establishments, Charles Lagrange has just opened its very first restaurant: the Lazare, in the city center of Perpignan. This young perfectionist chef wants above all to please his customers. And he is already reaping the fruits of his precise and generous cuisine.

Trained in the Michelin stars of Paris

Originally from Picardy, Charles Lagrange is a great traveler. But it was in Paris that he inevitably developed his talent as a cook. After graduating from Ferrandi, a major hotel school recognized for training the gastronomic elite, he then multiplied his experiences in the capital’s starred restaurants, including L’Orangerie, within the famous George V palace.

He owes his arrival in the Pyrénées-Orientales to his parents, owners of a restaurant and a campsite in Arles-sur-Tech. In Vallespir, the young man comes to support his family during the seasons, where he provided more than a hundred covers per day, until last summer. The opportunity to perfect your experience, before taking off.

Because despite his 23 years, Charles Lagrange assures us: “I wasn’t afraid to open my restaurant. I have always been immersed in it thanks to my loved ones.” And if he initially aimed to settle in Provence, it was ultimately in Perpignan that the young man seized a great opportunity, by buying the walls of the former Limoni, at 5 Rue Lazare Escarguel, behind the prefecture .

A great start for the restaurant

The name of his first establishment was obvious: Lazare. And it is in this intimate setting, where the charm of the city heart operates, that Charles Lagrange served his first tables, at the beginning of December, supported by his partner Élise, who manages the room and the restaurant’s communications.

After two rather timid weeks, word of mouth spread very quickly. The establishment, which can accommodate up to 36 place settingsis regularly full, for lunch and dinner (it is open from Tuesday to Saturday, editor’s note). “It’s crazy, we’ve had to refuse dozens of people on certain services,” rejoices the young couple.

In the kitchen, Charles Lagrange makes it a point of honor to satisfy his customers. “I like to please, I am generous. We try to do the maximum for the customer,” summarizes the man who is inspired in particular by Yannick Alléno, by sublimating traditional dishes and classics of French cuisine.

Excellent value for money

« Mackerel, rainbow cabbage, tarragon vinaigrette and Tautavel honey”, “wild pollack fillet with savagnin, salsify, trumpets” or even the “rack of pork from Xadi farm (Palau-del-Vidre, editor’s note) in two cookings, plural of cabbage and strong juice… At Lazare, the 23-year-old chef praises good eating, fresh produce and small local producers.

And his philosophy, Charles Lagrange wishes to share it with as many people as possible, with bistro menu at 20 and 25 euros at lunchtime and 25 and 30 euros in the evening. “I’m trying to fight junk food. I want to make my customers eat well at low prices,” says the chef.

On evening services, Charles Lagrange “lets loose a little more” and offers a gourmet menu at 59 or 69 euros. As for the portions, customers will be satisfied. “My loved ones even tell me that I am sometimes too generous, but it’s in my DNA,” smiles the young chef.

Rave reviews on Google

And it is with this excellent value for money proposition that this new restaurant in the city center already seems to have conquered the taste buds and stomachs of the people of Perpignan. As proof, several dozen rave reviews arrived on the page Google of the establishment in recent days.

With a rating of 4.9/5Lazare confirms its start with fanfare. “On the plate, the quality is there. The dishes are made with fresh and well-crafted products, offering authentic and controlled flavors. The well-thought-out menu highlights the chef’s expertise. It’s an address that’s worth the detour,” we can read in particular.

“The dishes were not only delicious, but also very well presented. A beautiful address that I recommend for its quality and warm atmosphere! There is something for everyone with affordable prices for everyone. A very well decorated restaurant, with warm service,” adds another comment, when another review confirms a “unbeatable price” for “this quality of cooking”.

Legitimate ambitions

Certainly, the heart of Perpignan has here one of its new addresses to tick off. Charles Lagrange remains cautious and wishes to settle down for the long term. He is also looking for a kitchen assistant to support him. With this reinforcement, the chef aims to “do even better” in the months to come.

And if he considers himself still too young to aim for the Grail, namely the famous Michelin star, in the immediate future, Charles Lagrange first wishes to enter the Bib Gourmand of the famous “Red Guide”, a reward awarded to restaurants which offer the best value for money.

Gault and Millau, another famous gastronomic guide has already spotted this new restaurant. A review tour is expected very soon. A good omen…

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