Meet our Chefs

Chef Raphaël Schaeffer
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The art of taste, inherited from the heart.

Behind every plate signed by Raphaël Schaeffer lies a story, that of a child fascinated by his mother’s creativity.
A banker by profession but an artist at heart, she painted, cooked, and transformed every meal into a work of art. Her sense of detail and her pursuit of balance in form and color awakened in Raphaël a passion for beauty and flavor. It was in this family kitchen, between the scent of warm butter and the precision of meticulous plating, that his vocation was born.

At the age of twelve, he discovered the professional kitchen in his uncle’s restaurant. The heat of the stove, the rhythm of service, the precision of movement, it all became clear: he would become a chef.
By thirteen, he began a series of internships in some of the finest establishments in Alsace, from high-end pastry shops to Michelin-starred restaurants, including a formative stage at the Auberge de l’Ill. This experience shaped his vision of gastronomy as a union of discipline and emotion.
His apprenticeship under a disciple of the Lameloise school instilled in him humility, rigor, and respect for the product.

Over the years, he honed his craft in exceptional kitchens alongside Michel Vignaud (1 Michelin stars), the Ducasse Group, Georges Wenger (2 Michelin stars) and the Robuchon Group.
Each chapter deepened his identity: a cuisine that is sincere, elegant, and profoundly human.

In Geneva, Raphaël served as Chef at Le Jardinier, the gastronomic restaurant of The Woodward Palace, managed by two-star Michelin Chef Olivier Jean under the Joël Robuchon International Group.
There, he mastered the art of bespoke experiences, perfectionism and refined service for an elite clientele.

With Élite Ascension, Raphaël now channels his expertise into creating exceptional culinary experiences : private dinners, yacht gastronomy, and high-end events conceived as living works of art.
Each experience is a meeting point between technique, emotion, and the personality of those who share it.

"For me, cuisine is a total art. It is a dialogue between the hand, the ingredient, and the moment.
Luxury is all about attention."

Schaeffer Raphaël

Meet our Chefs

Pastry Chef Consultant Adrien Lacombe

Passionate, creative, and driven by an unwavering pursuit of excellence, Adrien Lacombe represents a new generation of chefs redefining French pastry with both boldness and grace.
Now Head Pastry Chef for the prestigious COMO Group at Le Montrachet in Beaune, Adrien blends traditional craftsmanship with modern inspiration, turning every dessert into a true work of art.

From the very beginning, his remarkable talent set him apart. He earned second place in the national “Meilleur Apprenti Pâtissier de France” competition, a distinction that confirmed his precision, curiosity, and uncompromising dedication to his craft.

He later joined Le Montrachet, which at the time was under the Ducasse Group’s signature, where he rose through the ranks with both rigorand humility.
There, he refined his attention to detail, his understanding of ingredients, and his ability to transform an idea into an emotion on the plate.

Throughout his journey, Adrien has drawn inspiration from great masters such as Cédric Grolet and the pastry teams at the Plaza Athénée, perfecting his technique and his artistic sensibility.
From these experiences, he has embraced the values of precision, balance, and the power of a single, meaningful gesture principles that now define his signature style.

As a consultant for Élite Ascension, Adrien designs and signs the exclusive dessert creations offered to the brand’s clientele.
His contribution goes far beyond the idea of “dessert” it embodies a complete sensory experience, where sweetness becomes emotion, balance, and poetry.

Within Élite Ascension, his influence can be felt in every creation a reflection of refinement, excellence, and shared emotion.

Our Story

Élite Ascension was born from a simple, almost instinctive idea: What if true luxury was no longer a place, but an emotion?

After more than eighteen years serving in the most prestigious establishments and serving a discerning clientele in palaces and Michelin-starred restaurants, Raphaël Schaeffer came to a realization.
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No matter how magnificent a hotel may be, it can never recreate the comfort and intimacy of a home. In the most refined venues, every detail is designed to make guests feel “at home.”
But being at home is something entirely different. It is a scent, a light, an atmosphere that no palace can reproduce.
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That is where Élite Ascension was born: from the desire to fuse the mastery of fine service with the warmth of a personal space. To transform a private dinner into a complete sensory experience, where gastronomy, art, and emotion unite to create a timeless moment that reflects the person living it.
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Each Élite Ascension project is conceived as a work of art : an immersion into a world where the guest is no longer a spectator but the protagonist of their own story.
Nothing is standardized, nothing is repeated. Every table, every plate, every fragrance tells a different story, yours.

Our mission is clear: to reinvent private service, restore meaning to the word hospitality, and offer a level of excellence once reserved for the elite, now accessible within the intimacy of a home, a yacht, or amountain retreat.

Because true luxury is not measured by stars, but by the sincerity of a gesture, the emotion within a silence, and the perfection of a detail unseen yet deeply felt.
Élite Ascension is not a service. It is a signature. It is the meeting point between the precision of a palace, the freedom of bespoke creation, and the soul of an artist.

“Luxury is not about impressing. It is about moving people.”
Schaeffer Raphaêl

Exceptional Moments

Book Your Private Dining Experience

Treat yourself to an exceptional moment with Élite Ascension.

From the intimacy of a private dinner to the elegance of a prestigious reception, every experience is crafted entirely around your desires, with no limits to your imagination.
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Under the direction of Chef Raphaël Schaeffer, each moment becomes a culinary masterpiece, where refinement, emotion, and the art of detail unite to create an unforgettable experience.