Tag Archives: Food

White Trash Fast Food – Rock n Roll Bingo

Last week I made my third Wednesday night visit to Rock n Roll Bingo at White Trash Fast Food in Berlin.

The venue on Schönhauser Allee is dark and slightly dingy – part restaurant, part bar, part club – and has an eclectic mix of art on the walls, all of which combine to give it a ‘dive bar’ vibe.

Rock n Roll Bingo is currently held on the first and third Wednesday of the month (check the Events listing on the website) and there is a €1 entry charge per person.

The Food

As I have done all three of the times I’ve been, I ordered the Extreme chilli-cheese burger, described on the menu as:

Beef topped with melted cheddar & our famous chilli con carne sauce to help it slide on home

The burger comes loaded with a veritable mountain of chilli and salad so it always ends up messy but that’s not a bad thing. At €9.50, it’s not cheap but I think it’s a reasonable price for what is a great burger.

This time, my friend Gilly ordered the Big mucho-macho nachos plate, a combination of:

Chips + melted cheddar/mozzarella + all the fixins

and chose to add chicken. As you can see on the right of the above picture, it was a mountainous plate of food for €12. If you’d like to see a close up, click here.

The meal is described as ‘Easily enough for 2’ on the menu but Gilly had a good crack at it. His verdict was that it was OK but all the toppings made the nachos soggy so next time it’s back to the burgers.

The Rock n Roll Bingo

Shortly before the first game starts at 21:00, bingo cards and pens are brought to the tables. Instead of numbers, the bingo card is filled with the name of 10 bands, from the 60s to the present day with a leaning towards indie/rock music.

There are 3 games throughout the night with prizes of €15, €20 and €40 to spend at the bar for a completed card.

The proceedings are overseen by bingo caller and MC, James, who is assisted by DJ Suavé and DJ Chianti – the trio hail from England and are bandmates in Big Skies.

The DJs play songs and if the band is on your card you mark it off – simple as that. For those, a little worried about their music knowledge, there are often clues.

The Side Games

In addition to the bar tabs on offer in the bingo, there are spot prizes on offer for a series of side games.

I managed to bag my first swag in the first, a Name That Tune game, by standing on my chair and correctly identifying ‘Roll With It’ by Oasis. I got to choose from a selection of CDs and picked the Tribes album (which I have been meaning to buy for a while now).

There was also Air Drumming, Air Guitar and a very impressive Limbo competition.

Sparklers (Wunderkerzen) were also handed out to all entrants and when a particular song was played, the best ‘sparkler dance’ won shots of Jameson whiskey for that table.

Rock n Roll Bingo at White Trash Fast Food is a great night out with a group of friends. The burgers are tasty and the games are good fun.

I’ve been three times now and thoroughly enjoyed it every time. The prizes to be won are just a minor part of the excitement – it is the enthusiasm of the hosts and their injection of humour that makes Rock n Roll Bingo a quality night out.

When the games are over there is an ‘after party’ – on my first visit in the summer we only left when the venue closed and reached home as the morning was starting to get light.

I know I’ll be back at Rock n Roll Bingo at White Trash Fast Food on a Wednesday night soon. I’m itching to stand up and shout ‘House’.

Burger de Ville Berlin

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Burger de Ville is a pop-up burger van outside Bikini Berlin, a mixed use development, including shops, offices a cinema and hotel, currently under construction opposite the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche on Hardenbergstrasse.

The food caravan is being used to promote the Twenty Five Hours Hotel that will open at Bikini Berlin in Autumn 2013.

It was the eye-catching design of the Airstream ‘silver bullet’, aluminium and steel caravan, that has been converted to house a kitchen, that first caught my eye on a shopping trip to the nearby Ku’damm.

I’m a big burger fan so it was only a matter of time before I went back to eat there and that’s just what I did early on Friday evening.

I ordered the Jalapeño Burger (which comes with tomatoes, jalapeños, manchego cheese, lollo bianco lettuce, crispy bacon and a chilli mayonnaise), Pommes mit Meersalz (chips with sea salt) with ketchup and a Fürstenberg (beer), which came to €9.10.

For me, the chips were too salty but maybe I made the wrong choice, as there are three other chips options on the menu – I particularly like the sound of the Funky Pommes (chips with garlic and smooth parsley).

The burger on the other hand was very tasty. The meat was juicy and the jalapeños delivered a good kick. It was so good in fact that I’ve already been back for another one.

And I’ll definitely visit Burger de Ville again and see whether the salty chips issue affects the Funky Pommes

The biggest challenge facing Burger de Ville though, isn’t the saltiness of the chips, it’s the lack of an indoor eating space. With the Berlin nights already closing in and temperatures in single digits, eating outdoors isn’t appealing to most people and in the coming weeks temperatures will struggle to climb above freezing.

In those conditions even the homemade Glühwein won’t be enough to make customers want to stand around at Burger de Ville for long.

***Update***

Burger de Ville now has a tent attached to the caravan that provides shelter from the elements during the cold Winter weather.

Also, Jürgen from Burger de Ville has been in touch about my issue with the chips (Pommes) I ate:

…if something like that is brought to our attention we will correct it immediately and would replace whatever it is without hesitation. I spent 10 years in the US and have the same customer orientated approach as most companies in the service sector in the US…

It is this kind of attitude that will play a big part in the potential success of Burger de Ville.

Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap – Near Hackescher Markt

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***Update 8 March 2013 – CLOSED: I went to buy a Gemuse Kebap from Mustafa’s Gemuse Kebap near Hackescher Markt on Tuesday only to find that the Imbiss is gone. I went to the original stall on Mehringdamm during my Berlin Museum Marathon and will go back soon to take photos and post. – CLOSED***

Believe it or not, despite living in Berlin for a year, I still haven’t been to the hugely popular Mustafa’s Gemuse Kebap on Mehringdamm, where the queues rival the Berlin Currywurst institution, Curry 36, just a few steps along the street.

I did have a Döner at the newer and less well-known stall on Oranienburger Strasse near Hackescher Markt this week though.

There was also a short-lived stall operating under the U-Bahn station at Eberwalder Strasse earlier in the summer, though opinion was divided on whether this was the genuine article.

When I went to the Imbiss on Oranienburger Strasse the other day I was pleased to see that there was no queue and I ordered a Döner.

The combination of chicken with fried vegetables, fresh salad, Feta cheese, a squeeze of lemon and, for me, Scharf (spicy) sauce is a taste sensation.

As I did when I visited Curry 61, I took my food to the nearby Monbijoupark to eat.

The funky Mustafa’s website is worth checking out for the Döner Disko (click on the speakers) alone. Don’t fall for the Live Cam (click on the CCTV camera) though – people are certainly not wearing shorts in Berlin today, when it’s 3°C.

At €3, a Döner (with Chicken) at Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap is excellent value for money and great for lunch or as a snack to soak up some booze on a long Berlin night out. I will have to brave the queues and visit the original soon.

Almost 1 Year In Berlin

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Anniversaries and Birthdays have always seemed to me to be a time for reflection and as I will be celebrating 1 year in Berlin tomorrow, this seems like the perfect time to reflect on what I have seen and done here.

My original intention was that I would be able to create a Berlin Top 10 from my experiences over the last year but hey, this is Berlin, so that would mean leaving out too many great things. So here are some of my highlights.

City of Diversity

It seems appropriate that Berlin celebrated its Birthday yesterday. The City of Diversity exhibit on the Schlossplatz was my highlight of a program of events and displays.

It was great to see the city celebrate the diversity of its population and highlight the contributions made by immigrants.

Berlin Events

The city has a very full calendar of events (especially during the summer months) and if you are considering a visit keep these in mind as timing your visit to coincide with them will be a real treat.

In May, the Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is another celebration of Berlin’s diversity.

The main event is the parade but there are food and drink stalls set up for a number of days.

The Christopher Street Day Parade is Berlin’s Gay Pride. A riot of colour on the city’s streets this is a great photo opportunity.

Find a spot along the route and get ready to watch the fun pass by (or join in and follow a float).

September’s Stroke Urban Art Fair was a real treat for me with my love of Street Art, something that abounds in the city.

In October, many of Berlin’s most famous landmarks (and less well-known buildings) were lit up for the Festival of Lights.

This was a great chance to try out some night-time photography – you won’t be the only one carting your camera gear from place to place all through the evening and into the night.

Berlin Food Favourites

I have had some great food experiences in Berlin and have found my favourites. When it comes to burgers, The Bird in Berlin, is the place to eat.

Their burgers are meat monsters and making a mess is part of the joy of eating Da Birdhouse.

The Pastrami & Turkey Sandwich at Ruben & Carla is a real lunchtime treat.

My first meal here was a real revelation and the service was so remarkably friendly I was back within days and have returned a number of times since.

I’ve also been on a quest to find the best Currywurst in Berlin but more of that later.

Soviet War Memorial

The Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park is what the word awesome was invented for.

The grand scale and beautifully maintained lawns are truly impressive. I immediately vowed that this would be added to my list of places to take visitors.

Fassbender & Rausch

For those with a sweet tooth and an appetite for chocolate that exceeds their desire to do any walking, Fassbender & Rausch is the ideal place for a spot of sightseeing.

The chocolate sculptures of the Reichstag, Fernsehturm and Brandenburger Tor are a sight to behold and I dare you to leave without buying something – my Mum loves the truffles here.

Many of my favourite places and moments in Berlin are tied to people I have met here, without whom my experience would not have been half as fulfilling or a fraction as entertaining. So I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for the part they have played in my adventure.

Thank you Bine.

It was Bine who encouraged me to visit Schloss Charlottenburg and showed me around the gardens for the first time.

I have been back since to visit the gardens again and to go inside the palace. It is one of the most opulent and beautifully decorated places I have visited and another of my must-see recommendations now. I will post about it soon (probably in 2 parts – inside and outside) but sorting through the 1500 or so photos I took there will take a little time.

Thank you for teaching me so much about the history of the city I love so much and also for helping me with my German – for pointing out my mistakes and in particular for letting me know when I have made a word up.

Thank you Gilly.

Thank you for talking to me when I was a little lost and for introducing me to your fiancée and friends.

Appropriately, as it was our shared love of the building that sparked that first conversation, thank you also for letting me be a VIP visitor to the Fernsehturm.

Watching the sunset from Berlin’s highest point is worth queuing for but not having to makes the experience all the memorable.

Thank you Steffi.

I have Steffi to thank for taking me to my favourite Currywurst Imbiss in Berlin – Zur Bratpfanne.

My quest for ‘the Best of the Wurst’ continues but so far this is the star performer.

It was also Steffi who took me to Wannsee, where we watched a magical sunset.

It’s worth venturing out to the lakes around Berlin, especially to cool off in Summer but don’t expect to be alone during the daytime.

And it’s Steffi I have to thank for suggesting a visit to Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem (Berlin’s Botanical Garden).

I visited on a gloriously sunny day and had an amazing time. I haven’t been back yet but I will be.

Thank you Luci.

During my first week in Berlin I watched all of the videos in Luci’s In A Berlin Minute series back to back. They gave me inspiration for some of my early forays in the city. I have since been lucky enough to see the shooting and editing process and now know how much work goes into creating that 1 minute each week.

Thank you Sandy.

Without Sandy I wouldn’t have met any of the previous four people. It was at Sandy’s party (a goodbye to her apartment near Monbijoupark) that I met all four.

Thank you James and Zoë.

Until I discovered their beautiful and informative blog, überlin, I hadn’t heard of Loxx Miniatur Welten but as soon as I saw Zoë’s incredible photos and James’s enthusiastic descriptions I knew I had to visit.

A miniature railway and so much more (a miniature Berlin in fact) Loxx on the top floor of the Alexa shopping mall is a real Berlin gem – an indoor attraction that should be on everyone’s itinerary.

You can read my post about Loxx here and see the überlin post that inspired me to go here.

Also a massive thank you for being the first people to retweet me and champion my content.

Thank you Georg.

Thanks for getting in touch and suggesting that we explore some of Berlin’s (and the surrounding area’s) abandoned buildings together.

The thrill and adrenalin rush of exploring Kaserne Krampitz and the elation at (eventually) finding the ‘Nazi Eagle’ is hard to beat.

Thanks also for challenging me to improve my photography – seeing your shots of the places we’ve been together always makes me think ‘I must do better’.

Thank you Oliver.

Vielen Dank for encouraging me to speak more German and for making me feel OK about making mistakes. I now know the secret – ‘üben, üben, üben’.

And last but not least, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my posts and especially to those who have taken the time to ‘like’ them or comment on them.

This post has gone a little more down the sentimental route of an Oscar acceptance speech than I intended but I have a lot to be thankful for.

If anyone is left in any doubt having read any of my posts I can’t recommend visiting Berlin highly enough. It is the most wonderful city – a place where history seems alive on every street, on every corner and in every building. A place where there is also a feeling that the future is still undecided and you can play a part in shaping it. A city that is constantly evolving, always changing – not always for the better unfortunately but that’s life. Berlin, ich liebe dich.

Bixels – Finest Baked Potatoes

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For one week only, Bixels is serving Baked Potatoes in Berlin Mitte again.

Daniel Bixel has elevated the humble Baked (or Jacket) Potato to an artform and the small eatery, Bixels, on Mulackstrasse always seemed busy whenever I walked past.

That’s why I was so surprised when the restaurant closed a few months into my time in Berlin.

It would seem that a lack of customers wasn’t the issue though. I read at the time (but now can’t find the source) that they had a problem with their lease because of complaints from neighbours.

Part of Bixels’ charm (but also the reason I didn’t go more often as a lone diner) was it’s communal dining table, with jus a few other seats around the walls and in the window. It always made it seem friendly and welcoming to me.

Enough reminiscing.

This week, Bixels is open again in the Club der polnischen Versager on Ackerstrasse.

I found out about the temporary opening via a retweet from @ntljk of a message from @ejcoombe, so thank you both. And through them I realised that I needed to ‘Like’ the Bixels Facebook Page – if you’re a fan of Bixels you should too.

So on Monday my lunch venue choice was already made for me – a relief, as I’m a ditherer.

As with the previous premises, there is just a small dining space and it is mainly communal seating, with two tables for eight people each, and just a few window stools. With Berlin enjoying some unseasonable sunshine there were a few people sat on benches eating outside as well.

There are just three potato options on the menu and as a committed carnivore I chose the beef with tomatoes, olives, carrot apple salad, red onions and horseradish sauce.

I have to say at this point that I’m not a baked potato enthusiast – I like them but they’re not the first thing I think of when I’m hungry. The reason that I was so eager to eat at Bixels again is that the potato is so soft, almost creamy in texture, and flavourful.

The meal is delicious and filling but I have to say, I’m hoping that one day I might have a potato as full with toppings as their promotional shot.

I hope, like many others it would seem from Twitter and Facebook, that there will soon be a new permanent home for Bixels but for now get your Baked Potato fix while you can – you have until Saturday 6 October.

Bergmann Curry

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I went to Bergmann Curry a few weeks back on the recommendation of @jeroenvanmarle. Jeroen had read my post singing the praises of Zur Bratpfanne and knew about my quest for the ‘Best of the Wurst’ in Berlin.

There are hundreds of Imbisse selling Currywurst in Berlin and quality and flavour seem to vary quite a bit amongst the various stalls and restaurants so I’ve been trying to suss out the star players.

I was in Kreuzberg searching out some more modified street signs by CLET, so it seemed logical to have lunch at Bergmann Curry. The Imbiss is on Bergmann Strasse not far from the Marheineke Markthalle.

If my experience there is anything to go by I have to say that this has to be one of the friendliest Currywurst vendors in the city. If only my German was better I might have understood what the man behind the counter was saying to the customers to make them laugh so much.

I ordered my usual, Currywurst and Chips, (Currywurst mit Pommes) and washed it down with a beer (of course).

The sauce here is ladled out of a large pot and so I asked for a little extra for my chips (I still haven’t got used to the idea of adding mayonnaise).

The sausage was good quality, the sauce was tasty (but not in the same league as Zur Bratpfanne) and the chips were spot on.

To sum it up, Bergmann Curry serves up a very pleasant snack and the service is first-class but for me it’s not ‘the one’.

Bodean’s BBQ Restaurant in London’s Soho

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When I was back in London recently, as well as scoping out great Street Art, I took the opportunity to visit some old haunts. I couldn’t resist the chance to go to Bodean’s BBQ Restaurant in Soho, a place that has provided me with wonderfully tasty food and some special memories.

The restaurant on Poland Street is only a couple of minutes walk from Oxford Street and Carnaby Street and therefore perfectly placed for refuelling on a London shopping trip.

I have to apologise for the grainy photos, which were all taken with my phone. I have to remember to document everything more carefully in case I want to blog about it.

My lunch of choice here is the Chilli Cheese Dog – a 1/4 Pound All-Beef Hot Dog served with a choice of Jalapenos, Grated Cheese or Grilled Onions and of course a generous helping of Chilli.

There are plenty of great choices on the menu though and I would also recommend the Soho Special Sandwich.

There is an informal atmosphere at Bodean’s in both the upstairs snack area, where televisions show mostly American sports, and the downstairs restaurant.

Orders upstairs are placed and paid for at the counter and brought to customers when ready.

When I had the honour of being Best Man for my friend Gareth this was where we had our evening meal on our first night of the Stag Do. The meal was declared a success and I was particularly pleased to see a couple of ‘big eaters’ soundly beaten by the Whole Slab of Spare Ribs.

For me the sign behind the counter at Bodean’s BBQ in Soho sums the place up ‘The Flavour is the Thing’.

Zur Bratpfanne

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I’m beginning to wonder if my love of Currywurst is turning into a ‘Currywurst problem’.

Friends have started recommending Imbisse (snack restaurants) to me to help me in my hunt for ‘The Best of the Wurst‘.

Not that I’m complaining though because it was through a recommendation that I discovered Zur Bratpfanne in Berlin’s Steglitz.

I enjoyed my first meal there so much that I had to go back a few days later with my camera.

Zur Bratpfanne is on the corner of Schloßstraße and Kieler Strasse, a short walk from the S-Bahn at Rathaus Steglitz and between the U-Bahn stations there and at Schloßstraße. This means it’s very convenient for the newly opened Primark at the Schloss-Straßen-Center, which judging by the number of bags I’ve seen on the S and U-Bahn lately is already establishing itself as a go to for Berliners.

Zur Bratpfanne offers Bratwurst mit or ohne Darm (with or without skin) for €1.65 and pommes (chips) in small, medium and large for €1.35, €1.80 and €2.40 respectively.

I was immediately impressed by the quality of the sausage, the crispy/fluffiness of the chips and the flavour and texture of the sauce.

And that sauce is the star of the show.

More of a tomatoey curry sauce than a ketchup, it doesn’t suffer from the sweetness issues of Curry 61 and Konnopke’s.

And it just has something (that I can’t put my finger on) that elevates it above Curry 36 and Curry 66.

In summary, for me, this is the best Currywurst in Berlin (so far). It’s just a pity that you have to go so far from the centre of the city to get it. But the best things in life are worth putting a little extra effort in to get.

Marienburger

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When Ian & Ebe from Back to Berlin and Beyond suggested meeting for lunch a couple of weeks ago and asked me to choose the restaurant I had to search the memory banks for somewhere new to try.

Luckily, I remembered reading a positive review of Marienburger on Mogli Oak – Berlin.

So on a sunny day we sat outside Marienburger on Marienburger Strasse in Prenzlauer Berg.

I ordered a Chilli Cheeseburger, Fries and a bottle of Berliner Pilsner, Ebe opted for a Sophia Loren Burger and Ian chose a Snake Burger. We were all amazed at how quickly our food was ready.

The burgers are cooked to order on a grill plate in full view of anyone in the small restaurant (there are just 9 stools at a counter running around the wall). When the food is ready the orders are announced through a megaphone.

When my burger arrived as well as being impressed by the speed at which it was prepared I was delighted to see that it was a meaty patty that was juicy and beautifully cooked and the bun was generously filled. My Chilli Cheeseburger had a great chilli sauce and lots of jalapenos to add extra bite and spice to some mouthfuls.

Just to make sure that the quality of the food is consistent I went back the following Sunday after my visit to the Museum für Naturkunde and had an equally good meal, again prepared in double quick time.

At €7 in total (€4 for the Chilli Cheeseburger, €1.40 for the fries, €1.60 for 0.5l Berliner Pilsner) Marienburger is excellent value for money and this small burger joint is big on flavour.

Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry

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When I heard that a new Currywurst Imbiss, Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry, had opened on Schönhauser Allee in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg I had to go along and try it out.

As a currywurst fan I would have gone anyway but the sensationalist headlines in the papers about the ‘family feud’ that led to its opening certainly added to the intrigue.

Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry is owned and operated by Mario Ziervogel and his wife, Viola. The name Ziervogel may not mean much to you but his grandfather’s name, Max Konnopke, may ring some bells. Chances are, if you’ve read a Berlin guidebook, you’ve heard of Konnopke’s Imbiss.

Any comment on the dispute between Waltraud Ziervogel, the current owner of Konnopke’s Imbiss and her son, Mario, would be pure conjecture on my part (for all I know it could be a brilliant marketing ploy), as everything I know I’ve found out second hand.

If you’d like to know more you can check out this video – Der skurrile Currywurst-streit von Berlin – on Stern.de or this article – Vorsicht, heiß und fetzig – on Suddeutsche.de (both in German).

So, onto the currywurst.

I had my first taste of the food at Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry on the second day of trading when the cards, flowers, balloons and other gifts from well-wishers were laid out on a table in the Imbiss.

In a similar vein to Curry 66, Mario Ziervogel has decided to give customers a choice of sauces of varying spiciness. The sauces available are:

On my first visit I chose the ‘Scharf’ sauce and my first impressions were that the taste and quality of the meal were very similar to Konnopke’s – the sausage was tasty, the sauce lightly spiced but slightly sweet and the chips delicious. Which is what you’d expect when the owner spent so long preparing and serving the currywurst there.

As Konnopke’s has established such a reputation for serving good currywurst, that’s certainly no bad thing.

On my second visit I went one hotter and had the ‘Sehr Scharf’ and this is where the two Imbiss differ. There was a marked increase in the spiciness of the sauce and for those who like a little kick to their food that’s a definite bonus.

I also like that this new Imbiss has an indoor counter and dining space and the service is very warm (as you would expect from a newly opened business but, hopefully, long may it continue).

Time will tell if this will be enough to gain Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry the cult following Konnopke’s Imbiss has and its owner plainly seeks.

andBerlin

a new city. a new language. a new life

Tag Archives: Food

White Trash Fast Food – Rock n Roll Bingo

Burger de Ville Berlin

Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap – Near Hackescher Markt

Almost 1 Year In Berlin

Bixels – Finest Baked Potatoes

Bergmann Curry

Bodean’s BBQ Restaurant in London’s Soho

Zur Bratpfanne

Marienburger

Ziervogel’s Kult-Curry

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