Les Petites Cantines : a laboratory for social bonding at the table

In a society where people sometimes find it hard to get together, how can we reinvent the table as an engine of social cohesion? That’s the challenge taken up by Les Petites Cantines, a concept designed to reconnect people, nourish souls and reinforce trust. The idea germinated in the mind of Diane Dupré la Tour, its co-­ founder, after a life crisis. “I had lost my bearings and needed to recreate a sense of connection around me,” she confides. This project, which started out as a personal endeavour, turned into a real collective adventure. Behind every meal served, there’s much more than just a dish: Les Petites Cantines encourages respectful, local and conscious eating. “Nourishing isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s also about the relationships we build,” insists the co-founder. Here, food is a tool for social resilience. By using local ingredients, often identified by the residents themselves, Les Petites Cantines creates a genuine local network and reminds us of the importance of our “food capital”, which is essential if we are to cope with the crises of today and tomorrow.

In each canteen, guests are invited to get behind the stove, peel, simmer and share the meal together. It’s this participatory aspect that makes the experience unique. Before we eat, we cook together; that’s when the magic happens, when the barriers come down and self-confidence is built up, without us even realising it. “Self-confidence is essential, but so is confidence in others. The table is a way of rediscovering ourselves, of looking beyond social roles,” explains an emotional Diane, who co-founded the initiative with Etienne Thouvenot. Here, everyone contributes, whether by slicing bread or sharing a smile, and some have even found new jobs. Les Petites Cantines is an incubator of social ties, a place where you “make friends for life, sometimes crying with joy, simply because you’ve been applauded for the first time.”

The most audacious aspect of this model? The price is right. Each guest gives according to their means, an invitation to solidarity, underpinned by a golden rule: respect for everyone. “Transparency about costs and the rules of the game ensures that everyone participates fairly,” explains Diane Dupré la Tour. This pricing structure allows everyone to push open the door to Les Petites Cantines without financial barriers.

Helping each other is at the heart of the network
Since the opening of the first canteen in Lyon in 2016, the network has grown with a unique social franchise model: each new canteen is an independent association, but all share the same DNA and values. Mutual support is at the heart of the network: when one canteen goes through a difficult period, the others mobilise. This solidarity sustains and grows this ambitious project, which aims to do much more than fill bellies, aspiring to strengthen social cohesion in every neighbourhood.

The winner of the Futur(e)s Food award in the “Solidarity” category, Les Petites Cantines is continuing to expand its mission of weaving socialties. The award is an opportunity to attract new partners and strengthen the network. “This support is vital if we are to continue to develop new canteens and explore new avenues of social innovation,” stresses the founder. Ultimately, the aim is simple but ambitious: to make everyone want to push open the door of a Petite Cantine, sit down, share and leave feeling more confident.

By  Alice Polack et Jean-Pierre Montanay