Manu Franco
Manu is the soul and heart of his restaurant, a dream brought to life alongside his wife, Carolina.
Born and raised in Valdemorillo, he grew up surrounded by cooking and hospitality from an early age, in the kitchen of the bar and restaurant founded by his parents.
He opened the doors of La Casa de Manolo Franco in June 2019. In 2023, the restaurant was awarded a Repsol Guide Sun, followed in 2024 by a Michelin Star from the Michelin Guide.
His path to the kitchen, however, was far from straightforward. For more than twenty years, he worked as a sports journalist, travelling the world and covering major events, including numerous Formula 1 Grand Prix races, for media outlets such as the newspaper AS, Cadena SER and various television networks.
Deep within him, he always carried his father's words: “You will always have a home here.” After years spent travelling the world, he decided to change course and return to Valdemorillo.
He trained at Le Cordon Bleu Madrid and began shaping a new chapter in his life, one in which his experience, curiosity and everything he had learned along the way would find a new language: cooking. With the support of a team of experts from some of Spain's finest restaurants, he opened the doors of La Casa de Manolo Franco in June 2019.
It was not only a tribute to his father, but also a promise to himself: to offer a cuisine that nourishes not only the body, but also the soul.
Today, Manu is the chef and owner of La Casa de Manolo Franco, a project born from a deeply personal understanding of cooking: as a way to preserve, reinterpret and share memories.
His dream lives on: to make Valdemorillo a destination known for its gastronomy, and to ensure that everyone who crosses the threshold of his restaurant feels at home, experiencing moments of joy and warmth.
Our cuisine beyond our home...
Gala dinners at luxury hotels
We bring our cuisine to new destinations, creating gastronomic experiences that connect our identity with the culture, produce and flavours of each place. An opportunity to share our approach to gastronomy beyond Valdemorillo, while remaining true to our roots.
Training and professional development
Sharing knowledge and experience is an integral part of our commitment to gastronomy. We take part in educational initiatives and professional gatherings that allow us to share our approach to cooking, introduce new audiences to our gastronomic culture and learn from different ways of doing things.
