Culinary delights

When you stay a longer period in one place, you have the luxury of discovery. We’ve seen, admired, eaten and imbibed during our time here in a way that you can only achieve when you’ve plenty of time to spend. Berlin is a rich treasure trove of specialty shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and interesting nooks and crannies. Along the way we’ve met a wonderful array of people- proprietors, artists, artisans-the cast that make all these places hum along. Meeting and talking to new people enriches your experience in travel, and it’s certainly been the case for us.

The culinary opportunities in Berlin are broad. We’ve eaten Thai, Asian fusion, quite a lot of Italian and Mexican, and have been to several local places serving delicious contemporary fare with German touches. There have been schnitzels and apple strudels, the best doner kabob we’ve encountered anywhere, hand made chocolates and great cocktails, ice-cold German beers, lovely Spanish olives, French wine, champagne and oysters, dense hearty breads and soups and creamy cheeses from all around Europe. Let’s just say, it’s a good thing we’ve got the bikes, and have walked kilometers and kilometers, or else I suspect we’d be 2 sizes bigger by the time we’ve leave here.

We’ve mentioned our favourite coffee shop, Double Eye in Shoneberg in previous posts, but it deserves another mention. It’s become part of our every-day experience in Berlin and we’ve got to know the wonderfully warm and friendly young men and women who produce what we think must be the most excellent coffee in Berlin. We’ve spoken to the owner who generously gave us a look out back at his roaster, and have become quite friendly with one of the baristas, who has recently won a barista competition, and is off to Italy for the finals (good luck!!).

We’ve eaten some great meals in Berlin. Also, we’ve had the pleasure of being able to dine with friends here, which always adds to the experience for us. There’s nothing better than sharing a great meal with good friends. Last night’s dinner was no exception. We went to a lovely local place here in Shoneberg called Renger-Patzsch. The food was really delicious, the ambience and the staff a treat. The night before we had the best Mexican food I’ve encountered outside of Mexico (big call!) at Maria Peligro. Between the six of us, we shared authentic and succulent bits and pieces with 2-for-one Margaritas -a drink I haven’t had since my 20ies- and afterwards went for drinks at a very cool bar nearby. We enjoyed a particularly good meal at +39, an Italian place in Kreuzberg, one of us ordering an impossibly huge calazone. The pizza and pasta were all fresh and delicious, served up by our delightful and funny Florentine waiter.