Currywurst - the hotdog of Berlin

Take a German brat, cut it in slices, pour a load of a ketchup-like sauce on top, spice it up with curry powder and you have the most popular snack of Berlin: Currywurst.
This description of the preparation of the particular German sausage is somewhat simplified and doesn't live up to its long history of 80 years (which I won't get into at this point), but it pretty much sums up what to expect when ordering a Currywurst. To make the whole issue complacated though, there are several rivaling snack stands (=Imbisse) spread throughout Berlin that all claim to have THE best Currywurst in town.
So, when my far-traveled friend Akio from Japan came to see me we decided to go on a Currywurst mission in order to find out which place really does have the best-tasting sausage.

We started our tasting test at Kudamm 195 on Kurfuerstendamm (Charlottenburg) where a vast number of autographs of famous people testify for its high popularity. The Currywurst (with gut) at a price of 2,20 Euro (plus 20 cents for the roll) had a fine texture and the sauce was medium-spiced. To make a remark on the preparation, the curry spice was powdered over the sausage before the sauce was poured over the sausage.



At Curry 36 on Mehringdamm (Kreuzberg) we found a much more elaborate sausage menu, and to our surprise the Currywurst was 60 cents cheaper. This sausage convinced with a crispier and more flavored sausage, and the sauce was better spiced, though the roll (also 20 cents) tasted better at Kudamm 195.

Last but not least we paid a visit to Konnopke on Schönhauser Allee (Prenzlauer Berg), maybe the most traditional store with its 80 years of existence. At Konnopkes we found the longest line, but as the service was just as quick as at the other places, so we soon held our third Currywurst of the day at 1,70 Euros (but 30 cents for the roll) in our hands. Unfortunately, Konnopkes only had Currywurst without gut, so it might not be completely comparable with the previous two sausages. However, we found the sausage itself rather bland while the sauce was spicier than at the other two places and the curry powder was put on last.


Overall, we didn't like the third Currywurst as much as the others but it may have been due to the fact that we got more critical as we tasted along. In conclusion, we have NOT become Currywurst experts throughout our Currywurst report, and I think it requires a lot more tasting to get there. But for now we need a serious portion of vitamins and fibers....

Sightseeing for athletes

Birthdays are especially great when they continue on with pleasant moments even after the actual day of celebration. After the "Turkish day coupon" from Simone, my friend Anne gave me another gift certificate that we put into action only one week later: a night's stay at the Steigenberger Hotel in Potsdam including an opulent breakfast buffet. So, here we were on our way to the redemption of this gift certificate...

Potsdam is situated about 25km southwest of Berlin's city center and so well connected through public transportation that one may think it is part of the city. Apart from the fact that it is the capital of the federal state of Brandenburg most people know the town for the famous Potsdam conference of the allies in 1945 and its beautiful Sanssouci Palace - the German counterpart to the French Versailles.

The Steigenberger hotel is located at Luisenplatz right next to the entrance of the huge Sanssouci park and also only a stone throw from the old town of Potsdam where one can stroll through many nice little streets and get lost in numerous shops, cafes and restaurants.

Upon our arrival we found a delicious amenity in the room that we devoured immediately, and off we were to the Biosphere Potsdam, a zoological little park that at this time of the year exhibits a bunch of orchids, butterflies, fish and rain forest (sort of random, I found). The exhibition is a nice try to make use of the area of a former garden exhibition (BUGA), but apart from the entrance fee (9,50 Euro p.p.) it wasn't much impressive. Or maybe it was the beautiful sunshine that didn't keep us inside for long.

Instead we decided to conduct sightseeing of a different kind by exploring the Sanssouci park by jogging. This showed to be an excellent idea for the park is huge and it is almost impossible to see the rococo Sanssouci Palace, Romans Baths, Church of Peace, the Orangery Palace, Belvedere and various other sights spread throughout the park.

A nice dinner and drinks in Potsdam's old city center (all walking distance) and the opulent breakfast buffet (actually, the main reason for our hotel stay) topped our little Potsdam excursion well off and made us want to come back soon for more jogging sightseeing in the many other parks...

Prinz pi sings about Berlin

In an effort to give you all-around view of the city I am also going to compile some songs for you.

This guy here doesn't make quite my style of music, but the text is cool and it describes the city as it currently is (for those of you who understand German). If not, then maybe you do enjoy the music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmmlPs_ClKo

Picture taken by Papafranzi (thunderstorm over metro rail tracks, 2009)

X-Bar Berlin

Originally I found this from the outside inconspicuous place in Raumerstrasse 17 (Prenzlauer Berg) through my Get2card (two for the price of one in various places). Unfortunately, also from the inside the bar is nothing special, but oh my... the drinks really are! At X-Bar the educated cocktail sipper can chose from about 300 fancy longdrinks and cocktails. From the classics like Campari Orange, Caiprinha, Pina Colada, and Co. to the more creative versions of Strawberry Mojito or Mango Colada and special drinks created by the bar keepers that one can get only there and no where else - this place never disappoints. My two favorites are Big Apple and Apple Dream - both with apple sauce inside! Delicious. Even during happy hour from 6-8:30pm the drinks always taste good (unlike in many other Berlin cocktail bars) which speaks for the quality of the ingredients and the professionalism of the bar keepers. Now, I come here almost once a week... :-) For the hungry cocktail sipper there is also the possibility of ordering decent Asian food from the neighbor restaurant that then is being brought over through the front door. The only huge drawback: smoking is allowed inside. But summer will be here soon and then the outdoor cocktail season will begin... in front of X-Bar. http://www.cocktailxbar.de/

A day in Kreuzberg and Neukölln is like a day in Istanbul

Just recently after my Istanbul trip, my friend Simone and I discovered our mutual interest in Turkey, its culture and lifestyle. So, for my birthday she gave me a coupon for one "Turkish day" in Berlin. It may sound awkward to someone who hasn't visited the city yet, but Kreuzberg and Neukölln are for Berlin what Little Italy and Chinatown are for New York.

We started the day with an authentic Turkish breakfast at "La Femme" near the underground station Schönleinstrasse. A typical Turkish breakfast consists of cheese, slices of spicy Turkish sausage called sucuk, butter, olives, boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam (which is more syrupy and much sweeter than the jam we are used to), and honey. In addition to a breakfast platter which included all of the above we also ordered "menemen", which is prepared with roasted tomatoes, peppers, olive oil and eggs. Very yummy! But the best part of the breakfast were the simit (sesame "bagels") which are baked right there in the restaurant and spread an irresistible flavour all over the place. You can get them either plain and put the cheese and jam on it, or toasted with melted cheese on top. The waiter was in a super good mood and served us our black tea and Turkish coffee "with pleasure" and a big smile. By the way, the Turkish word for breakfast, kahvaltı, means "before coffee" (kahve, 'coffee'; altı, 'under').

From the filling morning meal we moved on to the shopping part. The streets are lined with all sorts of stores with cheap products from all over the world but Germany. If you are into filling your wardrobe with cheap and short-lived stuff this is the place for you! But there are also small Turkish stores and bigger supermarkets where you can get spices, nuts, dried fruits, Haloumi, Turkish coffee, sweets like Turkish Honey and Delight and even salep (my latest discovery of a sweet, hot winter drink).

After walking the entire Karl-Marx-Strasse up and down we filled out bags with fresh produce, bread and home-made cream cheeses (for example with dried tomatoes, eggplant, walnut, or saffron) at the Turkish market by the shores of Maybachufer. This market takes place every Tuesday and Friday from noon to 6pm and one can get produce for extremely little money while having the fun of joking and bargaining with the vendors just like in real Turkey.

I was surprised by how much Turkish lifestyle one can experience in Berlin without having to get on an airplane. Totally exhausted from the many international impressions we finished the day by relaxing with a coffee at the shores of Paul-Lincke-Ufer right opposite of the market where several restaurants line the canal.

Here are some pictures of the breakfast, a simit and the market.

My favorite breakfast places

Café Anne Blume (Kollwitzstr. 38 – Penzlauer Berg)
Even though this place is listed in every tourist guide one can still find a lot of locals there. On a Saturday or Sunday one should get up quite early to get one of the much wanted tables (in the summer time it is fabulous to sit outside). A definite must: breakfast Etagere (a variety of breakfast items on 3 "stories") as well as Danish apple pie.
http://www.cafe-anna-blume.de/



Café Datscha (Gabriel-Max-Str.1 – Friedrichshain)
I recommend the "Breakfast of the Laborers" (Arbeiterfrühstueck) because it offers a sample of various genuine breakfast items that are not available everywhere (plus, everything is organic):

Arbeiterinnen und Bauern (für zwei Personen)
hausgebeizter Lachs, Kartoffelpuffer, Gemüseaufstrich,
Quarkpfannkuchen, Bliniröllchen mit Spinat- und Frischkäsefüllung, Lachskaviar, Bio-Rührei mit Kräutern, Obst, Butter, hausgemachte Konfitüre, Honig und Brotkorb
http://cafe-datscha.de

Green Oasis in the Capital

I have lived here for over a year, so I decided its time do discover more of this town than just the area where I live and work! Therefore last weekend, my friend Anne and I jumped on bicycles and rode all the way to Charlottenburg to see the beautiful park and the baroque palace (at least from the outside for the weather was too nice to visit the museum). It is almost incredible to find such a treasure in the middle of town. The park is quite big and especially beautiful with all the bushes and trees starting to bloom. Hundreds of people had the same idea as us and were strolling by the shores of the canal or on one of the many paths through the park. Charlottenburg park offers the opportunity to slow down and relax - an oasis in the middle of town.

No need to travel far

Since today is a typical April day (sun, storm, showers, sun, storm, showers...) and I am in no mood to get in the middle of it I decided to finally start this blog I have long thought about.
As you all know I love traveling and discovering new places. But why always traveling far when I have one of the most exciting places right in front of me or even better: I live there?! Berlin has to offer so many diverse attractions that one can almost never get bored here. Hence the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uga_sPZRF70