At the Place d’Armes kitchens, Dominik Ambros has made pleasure his credo. Photo: Eva Krins/Maison Moderne

At the Place d’Armes kitchens, Dominik Ambros has made pleasure his credo. Photo: Eva Krins/Maison Moderne

“If you want to eat well, learn to cook!” his mother and grandmother joked. Dominik Ambros was still a kid, but that phrase would seal his fate. He would become a chef. As head of the kitchens at Place d’Armes, he has set himself a mission: to ensure that everyone finds something to please their palate. “I want everyone who comes here to be able to find something they love, without compromise.”

Dominik Ambros is a bon vivant, passionate about gastronomy, and always has been. He remembers family meals, the conviviality around the table that is so dear to him. His love of travel and discovery has taken him to the four corners of the world, from the great Michelin-starred establishments to the most unexpected cuisines. “Cooking is a passport,” he says. And Ambros’ bears the stamps of the most prestigious establishments: Thomas Keller in the United States, La Mamounia in Marrakech, Relais & Châteaux in Germany, Asia, Europe... These are some of the many experiences that have forged him, but that have never diminished his passion or his humility.

Ambros still remembers his time on a cruise ship, the only Westerner in a brigade of Filipinos and Chinese. “I didn’t understand their language, they didn’t understand mine. So I learned in a different way: by observing, listening and adapting.” It was a lesson in humility that taught him the value of respect and teamwork, and one that he now applies in his own cosmopolitan, close-knit brigade at Place d’Armes.

As for his cuisine, it aims to be accessible, inspired and without barriers. “Why not use a ceviche sauce with a Japanese fish, while applying a French technique? These days, we’re lucky enough to be able to explore everything, so we have to seize this opportunity!” Luxembourg wagyu beef in tataki, knidels revisited without excess cream, inspirations from around the world applied to local produce... At Place d’Armes, in the kitchens of the establishment's three restaurants--La Cristallerie, Le Plëss and Café de Paris--Ambros makes the pleasure of eating the credo of his inspiration. It’s an obvious choice.

Hôtel Le Place d’Armes, 18 Pl. d’Armes, 1136 Ville-Haute Luxembourg

This article was written in for the  magazine, published on 26 February. The content of the magazine is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the website as a contribution to the complete Paperjam archive. .

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