Berlin Reified | Food, design and life in Berlin

Considering these shadows is only possible because there's sun

Oh Comely & Weekend plans

My copy of Oh Comely was in the postbox Monday morning. It was the perfect start to the week.

I discovered the magazine at Aberdeen Airport this January. It felt so lighthearted and carefree, and I pored over each page on the flight home.

When Rosanna wrote they wanted holiday photos for Issue Five, I sent this snapshot of my mother, aged 18, on a trip to the Taj Mahal. Isn't she quite lovely?

S & I are down with a nasty cold at the moment. S is napping; I'm paging through Oh Comely's feature on porridges of the world. As Friday afternoons go, it's not bad.

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Frühlingsfest at Domäne Dahlem this Saturday & Sunday! You know the drill by now? Wholesome family fun on an organic farm with a craft market and treats. This weekend's special dish is the Schlachtplatte (or "slaughter plate") featuring pork belly and sausages. Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, Berlin-Dahlem (map). Open 10am-6pm.

The Grüne Liga's herb walks (Kräuterwanderungen) led by Elisabeth Westphal will kick off this April. I went a couple of years ago and can't remember what I enjoyed more, the cherry blossoms or the linden leaves. Elisabeth Westphal is an able and competent guide so if you've ever been curious about forraging for food (the forest as your grocery store!) you should definitely sign up.

And this just in! Pomeranza Design Ranch (of Grubentücher fame) is celebrating their birthday with free horse-drawn carriage rides through Prenzlauer Berg tomorrow from 11am-3pm. Pomeranza Design Ranch, Raumerstraße 19, Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg (map)

Perfect baklava at Yorckstraße (Pasam Baklava)

I have only one thing to say in response to Luisa's post on Pasam Baklava and that is yes. It's heart-stoppingly good.

Pasam Baklava, Goebenstr. 12a, Berlin-Schöneberg (map)
Open daily 10am-8pm

An accordion & some porcelain bowls

When we walked into her ceramics shop, Anna Sykora was playing the accordion. She put the instrument down with a laugh, and told us about her work.

She's one of the few artists to use a wheel to form her porcelain vessels.

 
There is a lightness and grace to her bowls...

and a wry charm to her atelier that left us smiling as we left.

Anna Sykora Porzellan, Fichtestraße 1a, Berlin-Kreuzberg (map)
Tel. (030) 88 72 92 69
Open Mon-Thu 2pm-6p

Where to find heritage & heirloom seeds and plants in Berlin

So much I want to say but it feels impossible to talk about cakes and cafes as nuclear disaster unfolds in Japan. Photographs from the country have left me speechless with sorrow. As I type, the headline at Spiegel Online is "Löcher in Reaktorwand, Kühlwasser soll kochen".

I began this post on finding heritage seeds and seedlings a couple of weeks ago. The irrational joy that spring days sparked seems a little distant now, but the information is still worth sharing.

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I took the photo above at Domäne Dahlem's potato festival last fall. VERN had a stand displaying tens of tubers from violet to red to yellow, each with a brief description of what makes that sort special. Their catalogue, chock-full of obscure varieties of herbs, salad greens, chilies and more, is similarly inspiring. There's even a special section ("Balkontomaten") of tomatoes best-suited for the balcony. You can buy their seeds via the website or at Domäne Dahlem. If you'd like to see the plants in the flesh, as it were, their Schaugarten in the Uckermark opens on May 2nd.

Dreschflegel sells heritage seeds via their website. I'm particularly intrigued by their pickling cucumbers, suitable for planting on the balcony. They too have a Schaugarten (or show garden) with summer events including an art workshop using plants and blossoms as raw materials.

Finally, Bingenheimer Saatgut is a reliable online source for biodynamic seeds. Their selection of herbs includes sorrel and cress.

Too much noise makes me nervous

I've been in such a funk; now life feels bright again.

b_books

When I walked into b_books, the proprietor was reading on the sofa, his toddler asleep against his chest. I browsed on tiptoe. Their art books made my brain feel awake. Before I left, I had to take a photograph of the lamps.

When the sun's out, photography is easy

An English lunch in Kreuzberg, an Alpine breakfast in Mitte, an Afghani dinner in Wilmersdorf, and a walk

1| Remember these scones? Jim and Katie have a cafe now, called Hudson's. Imagine those scones straight out of the oven, cooling on a metal rack, calling your name. Yum. Boppstraße 1, Berlin-Kreuzberg (map). Open Tue-Sun noon-6:30pm.

2| Alpenstueck's bakery/cafe is a little stuffy, and their service is a little scatty, but the sourdough bread they sell is pretty good. Next time I'm grasping for a place to suggest meeting in Mitte, I might try their lunch. Schröderstraße 1, Berlin-Mitte (map). Open Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm.

3| I'm not saying you should go out of your way to try Chraazan. Still, this Afghani restaurant on a quiet Wilmersdorf street was better than I expected. I ordered aaschak, a dish that combines leek-stuffed steamed dumplings, yellow lentils in tomato sauce, garlic quark and a generous dusting of dried mint, and I ate every last bite. Bamberger Straße 49, Berlin-Wilmersdorf (map). Open Tue-Sun noon-11pm.

There's even sun in the shade