berlin drinking

Yesterday it was food, today time for the liquids in Berlin. Apart from a whole lot of water consumed - days with borderline +40 degrees C tend to demand that - there were other liquids had in Berlin. Apart from a few Berliner Weisses mainly a lot of ice teas and freshly squeezed juices - oh they are good at those, the Germans... - here are a few samples of things gulped down ~

The first of a few visits to Starbuck's - ah, for the love of free wi-fi - and some ice lattes - ok, but of course nothing like the best ones to be had at Baresso in Copenhagen... - this was a snack lunch. Those first days I could only eat soft stuff because the tooth-jaw was still sore, that delicious nutty-toffee-chocolate cake seen in pic is sadly not mine.

Freshly squeezed orange juice at Reinhard's
- heavenly

Ice latte from Balzac - German coffee chain which
I quite enjoy popping by. No free wi-fi though.



More freshly squeezed orange juice,
at Café Einstein by Unter den Linden -
a place that offered a plethora of interesting
sights and people-browsing



Cappuccino and shared chocolatey cake at Berlin Story -
cappuccino nice cake not, dry, fruity, boring



Some kind of coconut-ish vegan drink at Hans Wurst -
it was creamy and de-lovely



Banana milkshake at local joint
- nice flavour but too milky
(obviously, but not chosen by me) for my taste

Mango juice at Hans Wurst -
ah, more heavenly nectar



Caffe latte and shared chocolate cake
at Café Einstein by Checkpoint Charlie -

latte was nice, cake not so much

One of more ice teas at Starbuck's -

main reason for that see above

Vegan mango shake at Yellow Sunshine -

simply wonderful

As we began our week where we started it, breakfast at Café im Literaturhaus, the last drinks I had in Berlin was the ones I began with; a perfectly nice cappuccino and the unusual and sweet perk-me-upper as in a freshly squeezed carrot-apple juice (I think a fruit-press might be high on my wish-list now).

berlin eating

After my initial shock of being served a what should have been a completely vegetarian potato-soup but very obviously containing pieces of ham - at first German hotel we stayed at on our way down to Berlin, with a certain old East-German flair to it. When I pointed that out to the waitress she said sorry and that the kitchen would make another bowl. I then promptly got the bowl back with the kitchen saying there was no ham in it. Ridiculous. I guess those old meat-eating habits and behaviours die hard for some chefs... - I was quite pleased with the vegetarian options at many places for food in Berlin. (Even if I do find Germany certainly and sadly to be a very dead-pieces-of-animals-eating country. Well, maybe most of them are...)

The first day's golden breakfast was one of two exception to the rule of quick, cheap and easy breakfasts. The above bagel with cream cheese and juice was the thing I enjoyed - very much so - most mornings. M popped out by himself, let me sleep some more, and snapped up some freshly baked and made bagels at the next doorish bakery. Bliss.

I enjoyed the VegOut app in the iPhone too. Few glitches but overall a practical thing to have when in out and about not in hometown. We went to two vegan/vegetarian only restaurants and loved them both. Affordable and good no-fuss kind of food. There are quite a few veggie places in Berlin I'd like to visit, but limited time, limited hunger and spread in a vast area put a stop to that. This time.

The vegetarian-vegan-vegetarian friendly places that can be found in VegOut are also available to browse online in the HappyCow, compassionate eating guide. Well worth a look when travelling as a vegetarian-vegan.

Here follow a selection of vegetarian food enjoyed when in Berlin. The drinks will have their very own post, because that they do deserve ~

This ricotta-spinach tortelloni with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and basil pesto at Reinhard's at Kurfürstendamm was quite probably the best dinner I had in Berlin. Perfect flavours, seasoning, textures, portion and pretty to look at too. Quite a bit on the pricey side compared to the other meals we had (and incredibly slow service). I guess the price reflected the posh location.

At darling Café im Literaturhaus we so enjoyed a warm evening dinner - I really could go on and on and on how much I adore that place, so I feel a post of the milieu and surroundings coming up... - summer vegetables risotto with shaved mushrooms (with a presentation that left a lot to be desired). Not spectacular, but creamy, nice and a perfect portion.

The dessert was quite quite lovely though, a warm pancake stuffed with cherries served with cardamom parfait.

The tofu steaks in peanut sauce served with beetroots, rice and cucumber at vegan restaurant Hans Wurst (that was on my must-visit-list) were nice, but I found all that peanut sauce too rich and the dish could certainly have been more pleasingly presented. And I would have liked a fresh side salad.

Non-vegetarian M did enjoy his tofu burger with deliciously prepared potato wedges and greens. (I sampled a dollop of the ketchup, it tasted homemade and lovely.)

We shared an apple-and-something cake for dessert. It was quite lovely, moist and perfectly delish (with no strange tang like my first attempt on a vegan cake).

We did return for lunch another day. Then we had vegan pizzas, M chose the one with spicy fake chicken (tofu) - one thing I really can't understand is the way some like to imitate the flavours and textures of meat, because isn't that one very essential thing one like to get away from when one turns vegetarian or vegan? - which he enjoyed and...

I had one with portobello mushrooms. Which was nice but a bit on the greasy side for my taste. And again, a fresh side salad would have made a huge difference.

That said, the online menu and the photos of dishes look quite different from reality. I had somehow hoped for something more refined and in the style of David Bann in Edinburgh...

And yup, for once this holiday I chose another shoe per diem, that day I walked the streets of Berlin in my sunny shoes (it was a cloudy dash rainy day).

Another day we just popped in at a neighbourhood bakery when out sightseeing by car. It didn't look much in ways of offering something fantastic to eat, but this sunny looking plate that ended up in front of me (scrambled eggs with paprika, red onion, carrots, tomato) was actually surprisingly delicious and well-seasoned. But quite too much to finish.

At Yellow Sunshine fast food-take out vegetarian/vegan place M opted for a veggie burger plate. Which he hugely enjoyed, he still raves about the fries which he claims to be the best he's ever had.

I chose a soy schnitzel, which came with fries and I'm happy to say a really nice, large side salad. The schnitzel was tad disappointing though, as it was exactly the same kind I have in my freezer and regularly prepare at home. But overall a really nice no-fuss meal of the fast food kind that one might enjoy now and then.

So there, some nutrition that kept us alive for walking the streets of Berlin, up and down, here and there, near and far. Next post - all about drinking of liquids.

berliner weisse

When in Berlin a Berliner Weisse is a must. Even I, who can't stand the foul beverage of beer (pee coloured water with the taste of dirty old wet socks as far as I'm concerned), am smittened by this drink's delicate balance of sour-sweet-fruity-tartness.

The drink (typical of Berlin but existing here and there in somewhat similar versions), which apparently dates back to the 16th century, is a blend of wheat beer and either raspberry syrup or woodruff syrup. "Mit Schuss" = "with a shot" colours the beverage either pink or bright green.

I do prefer the green cloudy stuff, it not only looks absolutely mesmerizing in all its toxic (only in looks) greeness, I find it to taste less beer-ish, tad sweeter and absolutely delicious. The drink is not for instantly gulping down, more for gently sipping and thoroughly enjoying on a warm summer day or night.

Prost!

walking the selected streets of berlin

Oh I had high hopes of a blog post of Berlin snaps every Berlin day. But the heat - bordering on 40 degrees C most days -

and walking, walking, walking (the very selected streets since such a vast, ginormous city would take years and years and then some to really explore, grasp and know) - walking which might or might not have includes shoe-shopping (oh for the love of German shoe sales, one does get a whole lot of El Naturalistas for the money...) -

the good food and drinks, the multitude of impressions, meets and thoughts they inspired left me quite exhausted every evening. To then do some active blogging was quite not on the agenda (but often on my mind).

Here follow now a couple of daily snap moments from the days that passed. When I get home and download the proper camera photos there will possibly be more Berlin in pictures. And when I've sorted out the swirling thoughts there will also be a post of random thoughts on Berlin natürlich.

berlin breakfast

The day will begin with another breakfast at the most charming place I've been longing to return to for many years now, Café im Literaturhaus.

I'm even more pleased that the "literary house" happened to be situated quite close to hotel, oh it will be delightful to start the days with thoroughly enjoying breakfasts in the peaceful garden, veranda or conservatory. Just a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of Kurfürstedamm this is such a haven of tranquility for thoughts and palate.

Yesterday I had a lovely mushroom omelette, a wee bread (shared the rest with the birdies of garden), freshly squeezed carrot-apple juice (which was not only very oh-la-la orange, but tasted heavenly), cappuccino and a scrumptious, moist, still warm from the oven blueberry muffin.

Simply perfect.

first snaps of berlin

A few quick snaps, in every sense of the word, from the first day in Berlin. Today it was car and a bit of foot-work, rest of the week will be by feet and u-bahn (underground) only. Perhaps not as much snaps then as today, but little nifty thing dressed in pink ain't to shabby at doing her job me thinks.

Ah Berlin, a place that can truly make one weep tears of awe, joy and sorrow. Such an endlessly fascinating city of deep, ungraspable contrasts.

Thank you, Starbuck's,
I may not be impressed by your coffee
but you do have free Internet access
and that is appreciated lots.

vacation 2010

I could, as I'm obviously fond of playing little guessing games, give hints on as where we are going for this year's summer trip, but then I find that this going-on-holiday-kit is the perfect symbol for a - if jaw pain can be willed away - fun-filled holiday. (Yes, now and then, despite proof of contrary, the M does give quite the perfect gift.)

Teddy suitcase obviously shows where we are going, with some stops here and there along the way. Returning to two of my favourite cities, one which I've had the opportunity to pop over to regularly, the other not seen for many years now. And to be able to finally return makes me so, so happy indeed.

And just because we happen to be on the road to somewhere exciting, burglars beware, no need to bother with this house because neighbours and in-house-sitters are fierce, loaf dog barks loudly and have awesome, strong jaws and a good bite, cats have the scariest of sharp claws and clever-teeth.

I plan to be online now and then when free Internet access allows, oh yes even blogging on-holiday, because it's neat to be able to share stuff in-the-moment, a snap here and there, some thoughts, some impressions, since shared fun is double fun, right?

~ Happy, happy holidays!

a going-on-holiday wee grump

As it seemed to work to whine a bit in blog about tonsillitis/bronchitis/sinusitis a while back and reasonably presto I felt better, I think I'll go whine a tad again.

Just when we're about to dash off on holidays my tooth or rather right jaw problem has become worse. I do believe it's a tension related thing - being one of this and that stress-related issues I've had for years, but have learnt to deal with through relaxation and good thoughts. It has become worse again this year though. So I think I'm entitled to a bit of whining. Really -

thus I'm so not fancying seeing an emergency dentist (my usual dentist is on holiday and I do have the annual check-up appointment in late August anyway) or doctor for it, so I'm hoping some jaw exercises and trying not to bite on crunchy chewy stuff will make it manageable.

Eating liquids would probably be the best, but really, I can't see myself doing that for a longer period of time. On holidays. Such a sigh worthy annoyance that it had to peek just when we're off. So now I simply hope it will get better or at least not put a too major damp on the vacation. And that whine in blog will make the jaw, the tooth, the pain see sense and realize how silly it is to try and ruin a much deserved break.

For the upcoming travel - that will be mostly by car and a bit by boat - I got this essential (according to M) going-on-holiday-kit. For all non-Swedish versed it contains as follow - elderflower juice, crossword mag, cow pic to look at when unhappy or bored, soft toy duck, chocolate and most important of all; ta-da, anti-whining pills. Needless to say I do beg to differ on at least one of those items. But admittedly, despite jaw-ache, getting the kit made me giggle a bit. Just a tad though.

Now off to pack a scantly larger suitcase me thinks.

gadget dressed in pink

If and when one gets a gadget (necessary or not) it is quite important that it gets spruced and personalized in style. So even if I most seriously doubt I will ever be an iphoneic fanatic, the gadget is kind of neat.

And you can dress it in how much pink you'd ever want. And it does obviously need protection. And if it needs protection it might as well be cute, handmade and if possible affordable is a nice feature too. For such things I always look to Etsy.

So first the iPhone (which should get a name, I know) got a pink tartan - because things just don't get better than pink + tartan - hard cover. And then the hunt for a befitting sleeve begun. And boy, do they sell iPhone sleeves galore on Etsy... I ended up charmed by a vintage pink and white striped cotton and linen slip, padded with eco-friendly wadding.

It arrived sweet looking and with a faint scent of dried flowers. Unfortunately the inner sleeve itself is too small for holding the iPhone with its hard cover, so it has to rest in one of the outer pockets instead. Which leaves room, when necessary, for the charger in inner sleeve, so it works well anyway. It is a charming summer sleeve indeed. Found at polkadots & blooms, who has lotsa cute stuff in shop.

Then I could not resist - because who could really?! - this adorable squidgy squirrel felt iPhone cozy. It arrived looking cute beyond my expectations and phone with hard cover fitted most perfectly and snug inside. It will be a perfect winter sleeve companion.

Only one teeny problem though, it is so precious it could do with a protective sleeve on its very own. Found at Xinwen, who has more felt cuties up her sleeve (oh a bit of pun intended).

mid-july day stockholm

I had an awesome day today. Nothing world-turning happened, it was still darn, exhaustingly hot, phew, but still I had some lovely encounters, met some good peeps, some sweet beings, had some good food, managed to snatch up some finds at the summer sales and just generally enjoying the prettiness of the city I call my home and yes life in general.

I do heart those days, because to be honest most days are far from that. Unfortunately. Or perhaps not so unfortunate since when they do happen I do appreciate and treasure them so very much. They are special, for no specific reason, and they are good to be remembered when things, life, days are not so sunny, funny, rosy, posy.

So from the morning's hairdresser's appointment (to cover up all those gray hairs that are the result of those not-so-rosy days), relaxing chit-chats and the pretty simplicity of a water glass with a bobbling strawberry...

...to a lovely lunch at Kafe Kajak - wheatberry salad with grilled vegetables, it was a rather measly portion from a vegetarian point of view and slightly over-priced but for the unnecessary and over-generously sprinkled sea salt on top it was delicious and a perfect plate of summer - the cooling breezes, the sun seeping through the foliage,

the glorious views over our Scandinavian capital and the cute little dog that was a part of the establishment by the water made the time spent there most pleasant indeed.

The dessert that followed later was simple bliss, as in organic ice-cream - at a place that clearly needs a post of its own! - chocolate and rhubarb for me, thank you very much.

Followed by a shoe per diem moment with a smooth and delicious caffe latte - which I haven't treated myself to for about a month or so, and now I do fear I'm having a caffeine rush and won't be able to sleep until the wee hours of the morning. Ah well, with the smeltery indoors I would most probably not be able to anyway -

Not even the massive commuter train delays - too too tiresome, too too common - that followed could really dampen my most agreeable equanimity mood and when I came home I was not only met by a very happy loaf and his fellow felines,

finally there was also this season's hedgehog - not the greenie kind - waiting to be caught on pic. S/he then got a generous serving of cat food de luxe. Because this hedgehog drop-inn is a top notch establishment.

I wish for more such days of sweet perfect details in the world of undersigned. Now that would be treasured bliss.