And when the gorgeous weather seems to stretch on forever, then it's time to board the S-Bahn and finally make the journey down to Mutter Fourage. David and I were sure any Slow Food affiliate would be worth the trip, but were doubly pleased to see their lunch menu was exclusively vegetarian, and packed with dishes each as tempting as the next. After very careful consideration we opted for the creamy potato and black salsify gratin paired with the best salad I've had since our friend Áine was last in town, and decided that we'd have to revisit this garden center/cafe/organic grocery shop/concert venue/art gallery later in the summer.

After your meal, be sure you visit the side garden with the chickens in their tidy coop -- and you might take a further leaf from our book and unpuzzle the bus schedules to swing by the Max Liebermann Villa before heading back to the city center.

Mutter Fourage, Chausseestraße 15a, Berlin-Wannsee (map)
Tel. (030) 805 83 2 83
Open daily from 9am - 7pm (10am - 6 pm from October-April)