The stand is easily recognizable. Right in the self of the Paul-Appell university restaurant (RU) in Strasbourg, a (green) floral wall decoration has been installed. Its goal ? Point out the vegetable center to distinguish it from the other two, “Flam and Co” and “dish of the day”.
It must be said that the place is rare. In the Alsatian capital and… on other French campuses. “He’s one of the few to do that. For the moment, we have just rewarded two high schools but it is gaining momentum, ”confirms Cyril Ernst. Its association of Vegetable Plates has just awarded a label to the UK, located a few steps from the Strasbourg law faculty. “Because it offers an offer worthy of restaurants. We want to see this initiative replicated throughout France. Plant-based food is good for the planet and good, period,” he explains.
Arguments that speak to many students on site. Today, a quarter of them who use Paul-Appell stop at the famous green stand. “Of the 2,500 daily covers, that represents more than 600 dishes”, details Julien Ledogar. A director of the premises still surprised by this success. “Originally, it was a project born thanks to a suggestion box that we had left available. It was not easy to get started, because it was another way of thinking about cooking for our kitchens. We even had to buy books to compose balanced menus. But we started in 2018 by closing the grill division, and it worked well right away. We didn’t expect it to get this big! »
Since then, the “dahl of coral lentils”, “the butternut parmentier” or the “kashari, an Egyptian dish of pasta, lentils, chickpeas with a tomato coulis” have become classics. “For dessert, we also offer sweets made with red bean flour or chocolate mousse with chickpea juice”, adds Olivier Musard, the chef of this university restaurant, delighted with this renewal. “Personally, I even choose the vegetable menu three times a week,” he laughs.
“It’s the future to change our habits”
Like the students? “Me, it’s every time I come,” replies Noélie, without claiming to be vegan or vegetarian. “It fits well in the stomach. In addition it is super good, because super spicy. I love it, it has more flavor. Antoine is more driven by his convictions. “It no longer motivates me to eat meat with all the animal abuse scandals. It’s the future to change our habits,” explains the law student. A little further, Gilles did not choose the vegetable dish. “Not today, but I go there once in a while. It’s an additional choice, it allows you to change, ”he appreciates, holding his plate of pasta.
This plant center is currently present in only one university restaurant in the city. When are the others? ” I can not answer. We do not rule out developing them, but we have not yet spoken about it, ”says the director general of the Crous de Strasbourg Sophie Roussel. “I personally support it. Some students too.