Restaurant Renger-Patzsch

For dinner, we went out to Renger-Patzsch in Schöneberg, just a few U-Bahn stations away. I really liked the décor, with the stained wood and black-and-white photographs by the artist Renger-Patzsch.

We treated ourselves to a nice, big dinner. To start, Jessica had Blutwurst (blood sausage), I had Maultaschen with a balsalmic-lentil salad, and Michael had fennel risotto with sea bass filet. For the main course, Jessica had rabbit in a red wine sauce, I had Ochsenbacken, with potato-root vegetable puree, and Michael had the duck, with red cabbage and Serviettenknödel. For dessert, we split the Spekulatius-Parfait, with grape preserves.

yet another successful day in Berlin

Originally we wanted to go to the top of the Reichstag building today...but I didn't know that you now need a reservation 2-3 days in advance. Extra security measures. You used to be able to line up outside when you wanted to go...and because it's one of the best free things to do in Berlin, there was always a long line. So, we just walked around the government district from the outside. 

Nearby the Reichstag: the Holocaust Memorial, officially called the "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe"

Trabi: East German car

Hotel Adlon

inside Hotel Adlon: giant Gingerbread Hotel Adlon

 

For dinner we ate at "G wie Gulasch" on Chamissoplatz. I love this place for its tiny coziness. It seats max about 20 people, and one guy does all the serving/food prep. Every day they have about 4 menu options on a blackboard. Different kinds of Gulasch .

Zwillingsschwestersektgeburtstagsfrühstück!

Prost! To our Berlin birthday reunion! We had a nice, relaxed first day back together. It mostly revolved around lounging and eating, which is ideal, if you ask me. :)

Frühstück at Mokkabar in Kreuzberg. Elisabeth had the vegetarisches Frühstück and practiced her German ordering... eine Tasse Tee, einen Kaffee...She's really picked up a lot of German over the years of visiting me, without ever seriously studying the language. It's really fun having her here because we see Germany through new eyes, and hear the language through fresh ears. :)

Dinner at e.t.a. hoffmann in Kreuzberg. This was my birthday wish, and I had been looking forward to it for a while. After walking in, I was a bit disappointed. The decor was a bit old-fashioned, not in a cozy way, and the walls were a strange yellow color. Atmosphere-wise, it's not Berlin's hippest joint. Anyways, when the food started arriving I put aside all judgments. It was amazing. So creative and delicious.

hair credit: Elisabeth (I don't know how to French braid)

 Elisabeth and I ordered the "vegetarian surprise 3-course Menü", and Michael ordered a 3-course Menü with meat. From top left: scallops with pumpkin chutney, a stacked red beet and blue cheese appetizer with little mushrooms and mache greens, Michael's duck with red cabbage, and the vegetarian main course: a black root (Schwarzwurzel) strudel with shaved truffle on top, atop greens, with a braised cabbage on the side...and creme brulée with blueberries and ice cream for dessert. Yum...It all sounds like a lot, but the portions were perfect, and the meal lasted about 3 hours. We had time between each course to talk, enjoy our wine, and it was really nice.  Each dish was beautifully composed and had so many different tastes. We were really impressed with everything. A very memorable meal.