In 1875 in Gadenstedt , Germany , Wilhelm von Cramm , opened a small village butcher shop . It was here in this unassuming town about 150 miles from Berlin , that Wilhelm ’ s love of cooking would unknowingly impact the next four generations of his family : from a POW son during WWII , to an immigrant entrepreneur great-granddaughter in Morgan Hill , California , 140 years later .
It all began behind the walls of a local butcher shop where Wilhelm von Cramm served a variety of meats to nearby German villagers . Here he crafted an array of unique spice blends incorporated into savory sausages , pates , and ham recipes . When the First World War broke out , duty called and his wife continued to run the shop .
When Wilhelm returned home , he brought with him a suitcase filled with fresh dried herbs and spices from far off lands . He began to experiment and to integrate the new found blends into his meats much to the delight of his customers . His fame began to spread around the village as his customers grew to enjoy the unfamiliar flavors . Wilhelm diligently recorded each creation in a small red notebook .
Wilhelm ’ s only son , Hermann worked alongside his father as soon as his hand could reach the counter . He too gained a love of cooking . Unfortunately , just like his father , as a young man he was also called to serve in a war .
During World War II , he was captured by the French army and became a POW . It ’ s been said that he was assigned to the kitchens as a cook where he used his father ’ s unique spice blends to make the severely limited war rations taste good ; so much so , that he caught the attention of the Commandant . He soon gained his favor and was made the head chef of the kitchens . Five years later Hermann was released and finally returned home . When Wilhelm died in 1952 Hermann took over the business . He also inherited the little red notebook of spice recipes and blends that the customers had come to love .
Hermann eventually married and had a son , Helmut . He also became a master butcher and over time grew the business into a modern day shop thriving well passed Hermann ’ s death in 1978 .
In 2006 Helmut was ready to retire . His only heir and daughter , Astrid Senior a marketing executive , had married and later immigrated to the Untied States . She had no interest in the butcher business .
Then something happened in 2012 . Six years after closing the 130 year-old family business , he rediscovered the little red notebook that chronicled his grandfather ’ s seasoning blends . He had recently had a brush with a serious illness and felt that it was only right to pass the book on to Astrid who at the time just happened to be making transitions in her marketing career .
When Astrid read the writings of her great grandfather , she began mixing and concocting his recipes . She gave the blends away as gifts . “ My first spice making experience was pleasing friends and family for Christmas with those homemade goodies . My friends wanted more and they wanted to pay for it ! So my husband Bob said ‘ Why don ’ t you make a business out of it ? You can do it !”
With her business and marketing
knowledge and Bob ’ s encouragement , Astrid decided to consider the idea .
“ I love to cook and to help people learn how to cook and how to make healthy eating decisions ,” said Astrid . With her family history and love of cooking it was a natural fit . As she opened that little red notebook and saw her great-grandfather ’ s writing something came alive in her ; something she shared with generations past .
That little red notebook helped Astrid find her passion in life and connected her to all those who came before her .
In 2012 , after Helmut handed Astrid the red notebook , she started Opa Helmut ’ s Pure Organic Seasonings . Opa Helmut ( German for Grandfather Helmut ) is named after him — to carry the tradition of the family business as Helmut is grandfather to Astrid ’ s son Simon . She hopes someday he will treasure the little red notebook as well .
Today Astrid , with Bob ’ s help , spends days meeting with buyers , distributors , holds cooking demonstrations , and samplings , and creates new products to add to her line . It ’ s similar to what her great grandfather did all those years ago . In fact , this year she is adding an entire selection of sausages . It seems that the von Cramm tradition has now come full circle and the little red notebook ’ s secrets continue to live on .
You can enjoy 140 years of unique blended tastes of countries such as Germany , Poland , France , and Russia by going to opahelmuts . com .
G M H T O D A Y M A G A Z I N E MARCH / APRIL 2015 gmhtoday . com
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