Fräulein Dickes

Yesterday I had a slow pre-baby wander through my old 'hood of Prenzlauerberg. It is very charming, that I miss!
A good friend introduced me to the tiny, beautiful, delicious café Fräulein Dickes on Stargarder Strasse. It has only 4 tables inside and yesterday was icy cold so we were many gathered around them, sharing tables too. The few outside tables must be hot property when the weather is warm!

They serve delicious soups, salads and cakes to have with your coffee or tea in the dollshouse-like perfection of this pretty little space. Definitely one to check out, and during the week may be a better bet than at the weekends to score a table.

Stargarder Strasse 60, 10437 Berlin.
Open Mon-Fri 8.00-19.00
Sat & Sun 10.00-19.00

Literaturhaus Berlin

Also in one of the more elegant streets of our new area is Berlin's Literaturhaus - where you can hear writers reading their work, attend literary symposiums and exhibitions. The historically listed villa was built in 1889 for Richard Hildebrandt, and saved from demolition by citizens' action. The grounds, which are used for the attached café, are very gracious - there's a majestic tree in the garden which was beautifully lit at night, when we discovered this tranquil retreat. It's next to the Käthe Kollwitz museum, also on Fasanenstraße.

Daruma

Daruma is a cute, very authentic Japanese restaurant and small grocery store, and it's just around the corner from my new home! Here you can eat delicious traditional Japanese food, and stock up on little trinkets, food, and Sake etc. from the "laden". The special feature here is that the rice used in the restaurant is imported from Japan for the most authentic taste, despite our Berlin water.

The kitchen is open until 19.30 in the evenings so make sure you get there for lunch or an early dinner! They also do catering.

Daruma
Uhlandstrasse 61, 10719 Berlin
030 8736 131

Winterfeldt Schokoladen

You'd think with all these scrumptious cake shops and chocolate shops (such as this one near Winterfeldt Platz), that I must be turning into an elephant! I just can't resist a little treat sometimes when I pass by on my bike and this beautifully decorated Retro-style café & chocolate shop was a lovely recent discovery.

Looks like a cosy place to hang out in winter too...

Bonscheladen Hamburg

After a recent little trip to Hamburg, where I feel very nostalgic for Sydney, it being a fellow port city, we came back full of cold sea air and a few treasures too...

We stumbled on this artisanal Bonbon shop Bonscheladen, in the charming Ottensen district, and watched fresh deliciousness being made before our very eyes. To suck on a warm, freshly-made bonbon is quite a treat for the tastebuds, let me tell you.

Kandulski cakes

Ooh la la, I do have to admit to having quite a sweet tooth! Thomas and I discovered, thanks to our friend Kurt, another delicious place to satisfy one's sweet cravings, near Heiligensee, the place we will have our shamanic wedding in the woods north of Berlin.

The Polish, award-winning Café and Konditorei Kandulski serves the most divine selection of incredibly indulgent cakes and pâtisseries - Torten in the traditional sense - amongst other delights.

Open 7 days a week, they are located at:
Habichtstraße 14
13505 Berlin-Konradshöhe

Telefon: 030 - 9221 7682

1900 Café Bistro

Yesterday my dear friend Csaba was visiting Berlin for his work and we met up with him at this charming café and bistro 1900, around the corner from Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg. It is decked out with homely, country style decorations and there were generous bunches of fresh roses or tulips on the tables which instantly spoke to my heart.

They cater for parties, and also provide free W-Lan access, so you can lazily sip tea or coffee and work away as if you were visiting a friend at home.

Knesebeck Straße 76, 10623 Berlin
030 8871 5871

Tadshikische Teestube

My dear friend Lilli introduced me to this enchanting Russian teahouse, the Tadshikische Teestube . Located inside the Palais am Festungsgraben, it's a tucked away secret that I was thrilled to discover. You can sip teas from the world over, nestled cosily on cushions and there are Blinys and other snacks to keep your belly sated. But it's the room that I adore - malachite green walls and wood carved columns, with luscious textiles on the floor.

One word, it is essential to make a booking as this place is frequently PACKED!

Am Festungsgraben 1
Hinter der Neuen Wache (Unten den Linden)
10117 Berlin Mitte
030 204 1112

Open Mon-Fri 17.00 - 24.00
Sat, Sun 15.00 - 24.00

Uchi Lounge

I'm still in Sydney for one more week and the other night I took my partner and our host to Uchi Lounge, one of my favourite little tucked away treasures here - a Japanese restaurant/bar that's been hidden in a backstreet of Darlinghurst/Surry Hills for over 12 years... Their food is Japanese/Australian and delivers an exotic mix of organic, seasonal flavours, always striving for simple but delicately balanced taste combinations, in a delightfully unpretentious setting.

We actually went just for delicious desserts and some Sake - check out their selection, such as Lychee or Pink Pepper infused Sake - Impressive!

Eating in darkness

To finish the birthday last night, we ate at one of Berlin's two darkness restaurants, Nocti Vagus. The only question Thomas asked me before he booked was "are you scared of the dark?" No, never have been. So it was a surprise that I met with joy when I heard what would happen.

Yes, the whole night would take place in TOTAL darkness, guided by our blind waitress Monika. It was an extraordinary experience to hone the other senses such as smell, hearing, touch and taste, to enjoy our food and our company, and to live for a few hours as some visually impaired people do.
After dinner, there was a group who sang of Christmas stories from around the world, with beautiful haunting voices.

The first thing I noticed when my entrée arrived was its smell (scallops). I found myself with my hands in my food quite a bit and there were inevitable moments of putting an empty fork into our mouths as we attempted to capture the food on our plates. Pouring wine was another interesting challenge... But by the end of the night, I felt like I was in any normal lively restaurant on a Friday night - how quickly we adapt to new circumstances...

Dark Restaurant & Dark Stage NOCTI VAGUS
Saarbrücker Str. 36-38
10405 Berlin - Germany

Phone: (030) 74 74 91 23

Sweet treats

My goodness how could it be November already? I was very busy with making costumes for Berlin theatre company Play2C's production of Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at English Theatre Berlin recently (see my personal website for pics). That's how it came to be November, oh yes!

Yesterday my partner Thomas took me to an exquisite pâtisserie here in Berlin, of which there is a branch near both our places... this is potentially dangerous in the best possible way! It's called Albrechts run by French-trained Stephanie Albrecht. The cakes are out of this world sublime, and each time I go I will now have to try a different one. A must for any serious sweet tooth.

Cutcakes

What to do when you really need a haircut but your budget says you should decide to grow your hair??? I found this gorgeous British girl Becky here in Berlin who cuts your hair for a very reasonable 15 Euros for the first cut, and makes you cake too! She even accommodated my food sensitivities, the sweetheart. Check out her blog Cutcakes and give her a call. My cake was delicious... and the cut is great, phew I have my neck back!