This weekend’s itinerary: Foodie edition

Even though we tend to go on and on about how great it is to never ever have to leave your couch to enjoy your favourite food (and of course we encourage you to keep doing that!), there is something to be said for getting out there and tasting all that Berlin has to offer. This city has become a foodie’s paradise, with top notch restaurants, food markets and great events going on all year long. Here’s a little list of places you should definitely try to visit this weekend:

1. On Saturday (for a late lunch): Shiso burger

If you’re into burgers with a twist, definitely visit this excellent Korean style burger place at Augustraße 29c. Our all-time favourite is the Bulgogi Burger with marinated beef, lettuce, red onion, chili-mayo, korean chili base and teriyaki sauce. The beef is tender and juicy, the flavours are overwhelming. Wanna have it all and save a buck? Get the lunch menu!

2. On Saturday evening, before 22.00:  Berlinale Street Food

Held at Joseph-Eichendorff Gasse, close to S+U Potsdamer platz is brought to you by Markthalle and the Berlinale filmfestival. The delicious slow-food is made of the best quality, fairly-produced ingredients and sold for very fair prices from stands and food-trucks. Definitely try a sandwich from Big Stuff Smoked BBQ, a hot plate of Spätzle from Heißer Hobel or the best Milan has to offer from Alfredo Sironi. Doesn’t that just make your mouth water?

3. On Sunday (around brunch time): The breakfast Market at Markthalle 9

This weekly recurring food market is the mother of all food markets. Come and enjoy the creations of a great selection of culinary talent at Eisenbahnstraße 42/43, close to U-bahn Görlitzer Bahnhof. You can be sure to find fantastic foods from all around the world, tasty cakes & coffees and wholesome ingredients to try and do it yourself at home (of give to a friend for a present…)

4. On Sunday (whenever you start to feel peckish again): Forum

Since you’re most likely still recovering from your brunch-binge, why not have a nice soup for dinner at Forum, on the corner of Fehrbelliner and Veteranenstraße? Forum also offers a great selection of wines (being part of the Weinerei family) to aid digestion. All Weinerei stores allow you to pay what you believe you should (so don’t be stingy!). 

Have a lovely weekend!

Eat like there’s no one watching

Another huge advantage to ordering your meal and tucking into it within the boundaries of your own home: You can be as messy if you like! You can enjoy the ultimate luxury of eating in your bed, without ever touching a pan. In this case we recommend scooping your dish onto a plate, unless if you don’t mind sleeping under bedcovers full of red curry stains. In case you do want to keep it clean – perhaps you’re dining in with a love interest and would prefer not to come across like a 5-year old -, here are the dishes to definitely avoid:

1. Spaghetti

 

There’s no shame in not knowing how to transport a fork full of spaghetti into your mouth without spilling sauce all over yourself: It is so much of an art that youtube is plastered with spaghetti eating tutorials. Whether you go the traditional way of rolling the pasta onto your fork with a spoon to assist, or impatiently cut it into little bits, unless you have undergone years of extensive training you will fail to look charming whilst gorging down your Arabiata. And you probably won’t look as cute as this one here:

2. Sushi

Firstly there is the skill of using chopsticks to tackle. For some of you this may have been an easy nut to crack, for the motorically-challenged however this is not to be underestimated. Generally a simple maki can easily fit in the mouth, but the larger Inside Outs or Futo Tempura’s (you know, those superyummy deepfried ones!) are very hard to  chew and swallow. Famous sushi chef Jiro (recommended movie: Jiro dreams of sushi!) has realised and has reduced the size of his sushi for the ladies. Since he has not opened his take away service in Berlin yet, we will have to keep chewing with our mouths open.

Some good news, it seems that in the western world we have been a bit too hard on ourselves when it comes with sushi-etiquette. For instance, when eating the larger Nigiri, it is totally okay to use your hands!

3. Pizza

Drippy cheese, tomato sauce and loose toppings: Pizza carries all the hallmarks of a messy meal. Of course, you could cut each slice in tiny bite-sized bits, but who really does that when no one is watching…?