Between the cosy cafés and the half-timbered houses of the lovely and lively district in Strasbourg (France) called Krütenau, there is an unusual place that would almost go unnoticed. But if you push the door or sit down to have a drink and enjoy a dish, you will discover its many facets.
This restaurant named “Krüt’Herbes”, in reference to the district and to the term “Kräuter” (“grass” in German), has been open since 2011. It is managed by Cécile, one of its founders, and two employees who provide information on the products of the small grocery store and cook delicious dishes for the regulars and the curious.
Cécile likes to share and transmits: if her employees are not initially trained as waitresses or cooks, they learn together. This co-construction brings to this place its authenticity and naturalness.
Beyond the convivial dimension, the project around Krüt’Herbes carries strong values by offering only products from organic and local agriculture, respectful of producers and the environment. From the beginning, this restaurant has been in partnership with the biodynamic farm of Truttenhausen, located a few kilometers away from Strasbourg, in the hilly countryside of Bas-Rhin.
This collaboration draws all its originality and strength from the exchanges between the two places. In the restaurant, people can enjoy recipes that vary with the seasons and farm products. They can also pick up their vegetable baskets on Tuesday evenings during the AMAP’ERO (named after “AMAP”, an association that promotes peasant agriculture, and “Apéro”, the well-known french friendly time). By joining this AMAP, people support local distribution networks and the farm’s activity.
The AMAP’ERO is now a real weekly event with a kind of holiday atmosphere, as Rémi told us, a regular from Krüt’Herbes’ beginnings. Students, workers, retired people, wealthy or not, everybody gathers around a glass or a dish. That’s what Krüt’Herbes is all about: providing everyone with access to these local products. In addition to environnemental and ethical convictions, the notion of social connection is therefore central.
To go further :
Find all the information about Cécile’s project on the Facebook page.