Matthieu KOENIG

Chef : 1 restaurant Thirty years after taking over the family business, founded in 1912, Matthieu Koenig's cuisine remains as generous as ever.

Presentation

L'Arbre Vert, a historic stopover nestled a few kilometers from Mulhouse, has been passed down in the family since 1912. Representing the fifth generation, Matthieu Koenig is nevertheless the first male member of the family to hold the position of chef in the family home. "Originally, l'Arbre Vert was a village bistro, where miners would go for a drink or a snack. At the time, we didn't offer elaborate dishes, and that remained the case until I returned to the fold in 1992.

The house was passed down from mother to daughter in each generation, until Matthieu Koenig's eldest sister broke the chain: " Nathalie, my eldest sister, never thought of taking over. She loves coming to the restaurant, but as a customer! She went to university and now works in the chemical industry in Switzerland. I was delighted, because I'd always wanted to take over the business. "

After his BTS, Matthieu Koenig perfected his skills with his mentor, Émile Jung .

With his BTS in hand, the young chef moved on to a series of fine establishments, including Armes de France in Ammerschwihr (with Pierre Gaertner and then his son Paul), Crocodile in Strasbourg, Monte Rosa in Zermatt, Switzerland, before returning to the family home alongside his aunt, who was in charge of the stoves at the time. "At the time, we still only offered simple daily menus, and at weekends we catered for weddings and family celebrations. I've gradually changed all that, to offer a cuisine that's certainly more ambitious, but still authentic and sincere. Today, we work longer hours and earn less, but at least I'm doing what I love most: cooking. "