A new French crêperie in Reykjavik

Artist Anna Margrét Ólafsdóttir says that the idea behind a creperie in Iceland started as a joke, a joke which has now turned into reality. Ólafsdóttir's business, AMO crêpes offers crêpes at parties and all kinds of events in Reykjavik. 

"I lived in France for a year and a half and in that first year I stayed with a family from Bretagne as an au pair. Bretagne is the birthplace of French pancakes - crêpes and galettes and the grandmother in the family would make pancakes all the time. "I thought they were wonderful. The family would joke and say that I would have to open up a creperie in Iceland and make a business out of it. I'm an artist so I wasn't convinced that running a business would be my cup of tea. It was a joke idea for around two years, and that's when I decided to make it into a reality. I just couldn't imagine moving back to Iceland without my crêpes."

Different from Icelandic pancakes

Ólafsdóttir moved back from France and started mapping out her idea. "I went on a crêpe making course in Bretagne in January and learned to make both crêpes and gallettes. I also bought pans and all other neccessary equipment."

Pancakes are a very traditional Icelandic food, and are served in Iceland rolled with caster sugar or with generous servings of jam and whipped cream. The French pancakes are however, a bit different. "A Galette is an unsweetened pancake, made of sarassin (buckwheat), which is gluten-free, salt, and water. A Crêpe is a sweet pancake made from flour, sugar, eggs and milk, just like the Icelandic pancake, except that the quantities differ. 

Pop-up creperie for all kinds of parties

For the moment, Ólafsdóttir is only offering the crepes as a pop-up creperie at parties and events, everything from kid's birthdays to company parties. "I'm hoping to get a licence for a food van for this summer to be able to offer crepes in the city centre, and also hoping to join the Krás food market in the late summer." Amongst the scrumptious fillings available are galettes with goats cheese, walnuts, honey and lettuce or crepes with sugar and lemon, or Nutella and bananas. 

Asked whether she serves French cider with the pancakes she says it's unforunately not available in Iceland. "Maybe I'll have to just import it myself," she says and laughs. 

Order AMO crêpes for any type of event through the Facebook page HERE. 

A crepe with bananas and Nutella. Photo: Íris Ann Björnsdóttir