ERIC WERNER

Creativity and precision craftsmanship at the astrein restaurant in Cologne

ONE MICHELIN STAR AND 17 GAULT MILLAU POINTS

Eric Werner is the chef de cuisine at the astrein restaurant in Cologne. Its opening in 2019 was the fulfilment of a long-held dream of Eric Werner, originally from Halle in Germany, to have his own restaurant in his adopted hometown of Cologne. After only eight months, the Michelin Guide awarded astrein its first Michelin star. In 2020, astrein received 17 Gault Millau points.

After training as a chef, Eric Werner was drawn to travel in order to learn more at the São Gabriel restaurant in Portugal. On his return to Germany in 2008, Eric Werner refined his cooking skills under Berthold Bühler at the Résidence in Essen, and then went on to prove his skills as a sous-chef, first with Heiko Antoniewicz and later at Clara von Krüger at the Spatzenhof in Wermelskirchen. In 2012 his path took him back to the Résidence in Essen, and in 2017 to Cologne. He cooked his way into the hearts of the people of Cologne with his award-winning cuisine at the Himmel un Äd, and his fame soon spread beyond the cathedral city.

Photo: Sonja Ahmed/Eric Werner Köln

CREATIVITY AND PRECISION

Eric Werner and the FÜRSTENBERG porcelain manufactory share the same desire for creativity and the highest precision. The menu at astrein contains classic dishes with international accents. The cuisine is fresh, creative and produced with an abundance of skilled precision.

The creativity continues in the modern mix & match of the porcelain series on the table setting. Dishes are served on the matching FÜRSTENBERG porcelain at astrein – such as CARLO ESTE, AURÉOLE COLORÉE or the gourmet line BLANC – and on SIEGER by FÜRSTENBERG porcelain such as MY CHINA! CA’ D’ORO. Eric Werner’s creed is to perfectly arrange a much-reduced dish. “Perfection lies in simplicity,” says Eric Werner, who has now made his home in Cologne.

Photo: Sonja Ahmed/Eric Werner Köln

ASTREIN – ESSEN & TRINKEN

astrein (e.g. “flawless” in English) is both the name and the brand of his restaurant. When asked, Eric Werner replies, “astrein is German, easy to understand, means something to everyone, and positive. The meaning of astrein can be equally well understood by a seven-year-old boy or an 80-year-old grandpa. The secret is that the name also expresses quality. Originally, the word was used to describe wood that was perfect, flawless, without knots. And our cuisine also stands for this quality.

Decorated in warm colours and a little (big city) jungle inspiration, Eric Werner has created a feel-good ambience in his restaurant that encourages guests to relax and enjoy themselves, and also makes them want to return again.

Photo: Sonja Ahmed/Eric Werner Köln

MORE ABOUT RESTAURANT ASTREIN

ASTREIN | ERIC WERNER