A Taste of Berlin: Part 2

From my limited experience I have surmised that food cost and portion sizes are entirely different from Paris to Berlin.  The cafes and bakeries of Berlin somehow manage to keep food costs down and portions large.

For breakfast on a foggy, cold morning, we found a corner cafe for a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, salad, bread, hot chocolate, milk, and rhubarb pie. 

The "Holland Style" hot chocolate was enormous and fairly delicious.  

The bread was quite German the eggs good and the bacon perhaps a touch too salty.  But, take note of the rhubarb pie, which was a perfect piece of sweetness.  The crust had buttery flavor, the filling was soft without being soggy and the rhubarb's tartness came through.

If you have a hankering for Portuguese treats, Berlin is the place to be.  We passed several shops specializing in Portuguese eats and stopped in for Pastel de Nata, Bolinos de Bacalhau, and a Galão.

The Portuguese woman in the shop was especially friendly and excited about her products.  For a gray Sunday afternoon, her little cafe was rather busy.  The pastel de nata measured up to the ones I've tried in Paris, the Bolos de Bacalhau were a nice mix of salty cod and potato pancake, and the galão was a decadent and beautiful coffee.    

Pastel de Nata

Galão 

Bolos de Bacalhau

Does anyone have any suggestions for the next trip to Berlin?  Best markets, authentic German food or other great finds?

Je Suis Ici Pour Manger

The beginning of January has been eventful on the eating front.  I've had several friends here who have been enablers when it comes to my food habits, and it has been dreamy.

Pastries at Angelina

My recent food adventures range from experiences like trying to find my favorite American foods, to partaking in extravagant tea-time rituals.  

The first thing I thought about when I landed in Paris was where I would find peanut butter.  Okay, maybe the first thing I thought about was seeing my boyfriend.  But, I would safely say it was at least the fifth or sixth thing I thought about.  Peanut butter is to the American body as gasoline is to une voiture.  It is fuel and we guzzle it.  My local Intermarché does not sell the stuff.  The first place I found it was at Le Bon Marché in Paris.  Which, for those of you who don't know, is a foodie destination.  As such, it is absurdly expensive.  They stock Mississippi Belle in 18oz jars for more than 10€!  This brand is not even made exclusively of peanuts.  Later, I found some awesome organic peanut butter at Biocoop for a more reasonable 4€.  It may very well be the most delicious peanut butter I've tasted.  

The proof

My new favorite peanut butter

Obviously, I did not spend money on peanut butter at Le Bon Marché, but I did indulge in a few other little pleasures.  A portion of Pont-l'Évêque and a few squares of Valrhona.  On my way home, I stopped at my local Festival des Pains for a baguette traditional to eat alongside my cheese.  No words can describe how supremely French I feel with a baguette sticking out of my bag as I stroll along.  

Pont-l'Évêque

Alpaco, Abinao, and Caraibe remain my favorites

Have baguette; will travel

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so at Angelina for a famous chocolat chaud with the lovely French-speaking Sarah.  Sarah lived in Paris to study and speaks French very well.  I even heard our server saying so.  The original Angelina is on Rue de Rivoli and contains a clean boutique and an upscale dining area.  Sarah told me that Coco Chanel, who lived at The Ritz nearby, took her morning nourishment in this beautiful dining room.  

Chocolat Chaud

photo by Sarah

The place was full and busy with tourists.  The chocolat chaud was 9€.  I'm no Coco Chanel; I can't afford a 9€ beverage each day, but the stuff was worth it.  I will be hard-pressed to find a better cup of chocolate.  Just to make sure that my body was completely full of sugar, I ordered a Mont-Blanc Chocolat as well.  If you're into chestnut and chocolate, follow my lead.

Mont-Blanc Chocolat

I've had a few other lovely food and coffee adventures and I'm sure that before another day goes by, I'll have even more.  

Boulangerie on Île Saint-Louis

Recent Good Eats

While I'm on a roll with posting about food other people made, I figured I may as well write up a recent food adventures post.  Another post about something I actually made with my own two hands is forthcoming.

Here goes nothing, I've eaten at...

Boiler Room

Vivian Howard could very well be the best chef Eastern North Carolina has ever seen.  If you haven't seen her show on PBS, you really ought to check it out.  Boiler Room is Chef Vivian's heavenly oyster bar, serving up exquisite local fare for a great price.  The staff was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly.  They really make you feel like you were in North Carolina...which you are.  Nothing beats that kind of hospitality.   

If you watch A Chef's Life, you'll know all about the Butterbean Burger and fresh oysters from Cedar Point, both of which I eagerly consumed.

10 minutes until opening for lunch and there is already a line.

Stellar Cedar Point Oysters

Hail to the  Butterbean Burger with tobacco onions, smoked gouda and housemade pickles

Not pictured, but enthusiastically consumed: Oysters Boilerfeller, Fried Chicken with Honey 

Mussel Bar and Grille

Are you sensing the seafood theme?  Mussel Bar and Grille is Chef Robert Wiedmier's casual restaurant with yummy eats and great patio happy hour deals.

$5 cocktails are always a good idea.  

L: "Ziggy Stardust" R: "Purple Haze"

The Heirloom Tomato and Stone Fruit salad had the whole delicious and beautiful thing covered.

Not pictured, but definitely enjoyed:  White Wine Mussels, Mediterranean Mussels, Classic Frites, Brussels Sprouts

Yona

This little space is DC restaurant titan, Chef Mike Isabella's, Japanese branch.  Yona is a little on the pricey side, but many of the offerings are worth a splurge.

Foreground: Stanley Background: Lucky

My old man drinks suit me just fine.

The Kimchi-Brined short rib buns were flavorful, even if the filling:bun ratio was off.

Crispy Gyoza Dumplings are always a joy when done right, and in this case they were a joy.  Also, in the corner of this photo sneak a peak at the delicious pickled summer vegetables. 

Not pictured and consumed with mixed feelings: crispy ginger beef buns (worth a try) and mountain yam ongiri rice ball (not worth a try)

It's always fun to take a look at what I've eaten over the last few months...even if it does make me hungry.

Any recommendations on where I should eat next?  

Iced Green Tea with Lavender Syrup

Remember this lavender syrup?  Didn't I tell you there would be many uses?  All you need is water, sugar and lavender buds and you're in business.  

This go 'round, I've put it in some iced green tea with a sprig of mint for a refreshing, end-of-summer sip.  

-1 cup sugar

-1 cup water

-1 T. lavender buds

Boil all ingredients together and cool.

DMV Food Adventures

Exploring the world through food and drink never gets old.  There is so much one can learn through a community's food.

I support the Virginia and Washington, D.C. food scene whenever I get the chance.  It is growing and improving every day.  Love your local kitchens; patronize them and help them stay in business!

1. Bakeshop, VA

A great place for sweets, coffee and catching up with a friend.

The house-made Vietnamese Iced Coffee is a MUST.

Bakeshop, VA

2. South Block, VA

Healthy breakfast, lunch and snack.  South Block is juicing company gone cafe.

Try their wraps or on-tap kombucha.

South Block, VA

 3. Souk, DC

The cutest spice shop and bakery Barrack's Row ever did see.

Probably the only place I have encountered canneles in recent history.

Souk, DC

 4. Gypsy Soul, VA

Great small plates of local, fresh food,

The Tuna tartare is clean and simple, not to mention lovely to look at.

Gypsy Soul, VA

 5. Bearnaise, DC

French cuisine in a cute building.  Eat upstairs if you can for a quieter dining experience.

Don't miss the well-priced Steak Frites.  I can still taste this perfectly seasoned steak...

Bearnaise, DC

 6. Dolcezza, DC

Gelato made in the nation's capital?  Perfection.

Try all of the flavors.

Dolcezza, VA and DC

 7.  District Doughnut, DC

If you know me, you know I love this place.  I dream about these doughnuts and all my friends ever hear about is my lastest trip to District Doughnut.

I'm partial to yeast doughnuts, but you can't go wrong here.

District Doughnut, DC

 8. Rocklands, VA

The best BBQ house in Northern Virginia.

Don't forget the barbecue sauce, piping hot out of a kettle.

Rocklands, VA

Simple Fruit Smoothie

So today we have the lovely, simple, delicious, very healthy fruit smoothie.

I am adding some nutrition information to this post and if I have times in the future, I will add it to most recipes.  Hope it is helpful!

Nutrition Information: 

(approximate)

Calories: 142

Protein: 19.6667% of your daily value

Fiber: 6.6667% of your daily value

Vitamin C: 47% of your daily value

Vitamin K: 21% of your daily value

Potassium: 4% of your daily value

You'll Need:

- 1/3 cup of Blueberries (preferably frozen)

- 10 grapes (give or take)

- 1/4 cup of 100% juice of any kind

- 1/2 container of fat free Greek yogurt (about 1/3 cup)

- 1-2 ice cubes if desired

- Oh, and of course you'll need to bust out your blender.

First.

Measure out your blueberries and grapes.  Throw 'em in the blender.

Second.

Scoop out the yogurt and park it in the blender...my ancient blender...

Third.

Do the same with the juice.  And the ice.

Fourth.

Give it a good whirl.

Fifth.

Drink it up.

Fact of the matter: I'm addicted to the song "Tonight Tonight."