Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GOURMET BURGERS
Carnivores rejoice: once a humble fast-food staple, burgers have of late been elevated into
the pantheon of culinary greats. Hardly a day seems to pass without the opening of yet an-
other pattie temple, further fuelling locals' obsession with the hunt for the perfect burger.
What constitutes perfection is also the subject of much debate, although there seems to be a
general consensus that the use of premium cuts of freshly ground meat - preferably hor-
mone- and antibiotic-free, locally raised, grass-fed and organic - is a main criterion. Any
twist on the familiar is cheered, be it yak or wild-boar burgers, unusual homemade sauces
like chipotle beetroot mayo or red wine barbecue sauce, or out-there toppings like caramel-
ised kimchi, ramen noodles, foie gras or rice crackers.
VEGETARIANS & VEGANS
Slow in coming, Berlin is now embracing animal-free fare with the fervour of a religious
convert. Vegetarian and vegan cafes and restaurants have been sprouting faster than alfafa
and serve up inspired menus that leave the staple vegie or tofu burger in the dust. With
dishes like sweet potato saltimbocca, tandoori seitan, pearl barley strudel with chanterelles,
or parmesan dumplings, chefs strive to push the creative envelope. Even many nonvegetari-
an restaurants now offer more than the token vegie lasagne. Berlin also premiered Ger-
many's first all-vegan supermarket, Veganz, in 2011, which is now expanding fast
throughout Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. For a comprehensive list of vegetari-
an and vegan restaurants in Berlin, search on
www.happycow.net
.
SUPPER CLUBS
The supper-club trend seems to be fading, but for now there are still quite a few Berlin loc-
als (usually transplants from other countries) that throw open their homes to turn perfect
strangers into friends over home-cooked meals. Recommending a supper club can be tricky,
since these below-the-radar restaurants are rarely permanent. The best we can suggest is to
Google 'Berlin supper clubs' and see what pops up. The
Ghetto Gourmet
(
www.theghet.com
)
keeps a finger on the pulse of the scene. Meanwhile, the folks of Thyme
Supper Club have opened
Muse
in Prenzlauer Berg, a regular bistro during the week that
still keeps the supper-club tradition alive on Saturdays.
