Closure
Off for Astrein
COLOGNE: Eric Werner has closed his Michelin-starred restaurant Astrein. He had thought about it for some time, it was purely a business and personal decision, he told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. As the lease for the location is still valid, he will consider what he will do there. Eric Werner intends to continue running his second restaurant, Augustin. A large part of the Astrein team will also work there in future. A few months ago, the previous sous-chef, Mona Baumann, was officially promoted to head chef at Astrein. There will continue to be close collaboration with her.
Eric Werner does not want to associate his decision with a supposed crisis in Michelin-starred gastronomy. Although many restaurants have empty seats due to the rise in menu prices, he said in the interview, he does not believe "that we will have fewer Michelin-starred restaurants in five years' time. The ambition among young people is too great for that, and the Michelin award has a magical and special quality. If anything, there will be more Michelin-starred restaurants, as has been the case over the last ten years."