Lucio needs no presentation. The moment you hear his name, it surely reminds you the city of Madrid. This is due to the fact that his restaurant “Casa Lucio” is one of the most recommended restaurant, visited everyday by a lot of celebrities and people.

Week after week, we have seen how his “huevos estrellados” (smashed fried eggs) appears always as a suggestion of our interviewees, so now it’s time to know about Lucio and his story.

“When I was 15 years old, my name was already in the papers.”

Turismo Madrid: from Serranillos del Valle to Madrid, from a farmer’s family to become the king of Madrid’s gastronomy. How did you make it?

Lucio: It’s a long but beautiful story. I was born in Serranillos del Valle (Ávila). When I was eight or nine I worked with the cattle as if I were 17 or 18. I was very clever to stay in this little town, that’s what my father and my teacher used to say. So my father, who had to drive a truck with hay to Madrid very often, brought me to the city to work with his old friend Antonio Andueca.

I started working in El Mesón del Segoviano, a restaurant located in the same place where my restaurant is nowadays. I worked really hard, 17 hours a day, cleaning windows and floors with no time to rest. I started to be known as a good waiter though at the age of 15; people talked about me in the newspapers.

Turismo Madrid: Then, how did you become the owner of the restaurant?

Lucio: I had started a new business when my ex-boss, the owner of El Mesón del Segoviano, called me and said she wanted to quit and leave her restaurant in good hands. She wanted nobody but me; I was the only one she trusted because of my good work. That is how 38 years ago Casa Lucio was born. And it was a success from the beginning.

Turismo Madrid: Many times, when we ask our interviewees what is their favourite restaurant in Madrid, the answer is “Casa Lucio”.

Lucio: Yes, you’ll get that answer around the world!! We have a wonderful and friendly atmosphere; I am very funny (from www.turismomadrid.es we can tell he really is!!)

Turismo Madrid: What’s the secret of Casa Lucio?

Lucio: Good ingredients, good employees and a boss like me. I have been serving the same type of food all my life, traditional but with the best quality.

“Arzak always order “Callos a la madrileña” (stewed tripes)”

Turismo Madrid: Everybody like your famous smashed fried eggs, but what is your favourite dish?

Lucio: I would say Callos a la Madrileña. Everything here is delicious, I can’t choose only one. But we have great chefs as clients, like Arzak, and he always order Callos a la Madrileña.

Turismo Madrid: So you have a good relationship with other chefs.

Lucio: Oh yes, very good. I couldn’t say which one I prefer.

Turismo Madrid: What other Madrilenian restaurants (apart from yours) are your favourite?

Lucio: Saturdays, I like to go to Currito in Casa de Campo, but there are some other examples of wonderful restaurants, like Jose Luis, O´Pazo from Pescaderías Coruñesas… We are all friends.

Turismo Madrid: It’s true, Madrid is full of great chefs. What do you think about the gastronomy in Madrid?

Lucio: Madrid has the best gastronomy of Spain, which is the country with the best gastronomy of the world!! You can choose between 40.000 options!

“I feel appreciated in Madrid”

Turismo Madrid: Now that you have been living in Madrid for a long time, do you like it? Do you feel comfortable here?

Lucio: Yes, I am very happy here. Everybody loves me. I really feel appreciated here.

Turismo Madrid: What is your favourite place in Madrid?

Lucio: Everywhere, actually. I like flamenco at El Corral de la Morería and go there very often.

Turismo Madrid: And what about the Region of Madrid?

Lucio: I like Guadarrama Mountains and the small towns there. It’s wonderful. I used to go to El Álamo to visit a friend of mine, Santiago Verde (Atlético de Madrid football player).

Turismo Madrid: After all this success and awards… any unfulfilled dream?

Lucio: I wish that we, Spanish people, love each other and fight together to get out soon of this economic crisis, with love and strength and no envy or hatred.

Turismo Madrid: We couldn’t agree more!