Photo: Mario Bok
LIKE DINING AT A FRIEND’S HOME… BUT WITH TWO MICHELIN STARS Sometimes great success begins with a chance encounter at the stove. Elisabeth and Frédéric Morel met while working in the kitchen at Hamburg’s historic Louis C. Jacob – and two colleagues became partners, in life as well as in business. “We quickly realised that together we could achieve a lot and that we shared the same dream of running our own place,” Elisabeth says. “In Hamburg, there were already so many great restaurants, but in Münster, my hometown, there was still potential.” In 2018, they took the leap and opened Cœur d’Artichaut – entirely at their own risk, without investors or a hotel backing them. Their concept is casual fine dining: top-level cuisine without the stiff formality. At the heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen that extends into the dining room. The chefs bring the dishes to the table themselves, 28
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Issue 137
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January 2026
explain their inspiration, and create a sense of genuine connection. This also allows the service team to truly focus on hosting. “It’s like visiting friends who have an open kitchen and cook for you,” Elisabeth explains. “We try to remove as many barriers as possible for guests who might feel intimidated by fine dining. People should be able to enjoy themselves, laugh and have a memorable experience – without worrying whether they’re behaving properly.”
from La Réunion, and his adopted home in Westphalia. His dishes combine precision, depth and a passion for exceptional ingredients. Beyond its outstanding cuisine, what makes Cœur d’Artichaut truly special is its warmth, sustained by a team that works together like clockwork. www.coeur-dartichaut.de
At Cœur d’Artichaut, seasoned gourmets sit alongside curious newcomers who may be discovering Michelin-starred cuisine for the first time – a blend that perfectly captures the restaurant’s charm. Chef Frédéric draws inspiration from his Breton roots, the Creole influences of his father
Photo: Tanja Farwick
TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE
A restaurant that celebrates closeness over formality: at Cœur d’Artichaut, fine dining turns into an intimate experience as the chefs personally serve their dishes to the guests – with genuine warmth and French flair.