French chef Julien Lucas in Kampala

Chef Julien Lucas prepares beef jelly with cauliflower at the Pearl of Africa restaurant at the Kampala Serena hotel. PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI | NMG

Born into a French family of chefs, Julien Lucas says that he had no option but to become one.

He grew up near Sarreguemines in northeastern France, where he spent his weekends and holidays learning how to cook by his father’s side at their family-owned restaurant.