Berlin - Wynajmij Chefa
Few world capitals have undergone so much change over the last 300 years as Germany’s capital city of Berlin. There were 5 different forms of governments and states. From the Margraviate of Brandenburg to the Federal Republic of Germany today. With that came a lot of uncertainty and fear that some people thrived on. But it also was a symbol of rebirth. And what a rebirth that was.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, in 1989, the city was really a mess. The economy crashed, factories closed and a lot of people ended up unemployed. On the other hand, that’s when a lot of artists and immigrants came to Berlin. The city would take them in with open hands, and it was easy for them to find a cheap place to live. 20 years later and the same artists and immigrants created a unique character of the city.
In the last 15 years, Berlin has gone through an economic boom, but it’s still hard to get through the post-DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) setback. That’s why Berlin is actually one of the poorest cities in Germany. In fact, some calculations suggest that Germany would have a slightly higher GDP if we excluded Berlin from the equation. No other capital city in Europe is in such a situation. With all that, city authorities still try to do the best they can. Berlin has become a hub for startups and new technologies. Companies like Zalando, Liferando, Tier Mobility - all were created there in the last several years.
Multiculturalism is a big thing in Berlin. Even before the fall of the Wall, a lot of immigrants came to the city. Mostly from Turkey and Arabic countries. Now it’s a popular destination for people from all over the world. And with people obviously comes their culture. City administration created a special event called Karneval der Kulturen (carnival of cultures) which is meant to represent the variety of cultures and nationalities in Berlin. The carnival consists of different music, dances, traditional outfits, food and a lot of fun. During the festival, there is one thing you need to try, apart from the beer, and that is The Berliner (also referred to as Pfannkuchen by the locals). It’s a doughnut made from sweet yeast dough fried in fat or oil. It comes with marmalade or jam filling and is usually topped with icing or powdered sugar.
Culinary tradition obviously changes as more and more people come to Berlin from various places, but one of the people who had the greatest impact on the city’s cuisine was a politician, Frederick the Great, the king of Prussia. He ordered his subjects to eat mainly cucumbers and potatoes, which were brought to Europe from America. These crops were cheap and fit the frugal lifestyle at the time. They remain present in a culinary tradition of Berlin to this day.
One of the most recognizable dishes in the capital city of Berlin is of course the Currywurst. It was reportedly created by Herta Heuwer in 1949. She got some ketchup from British soldiers and created a dish using that. It’s composed of sausage or wurst dosed in ketchup and sprinkled with curry powder. For such a simple dish, it became a huge success. Mainly because it’s really cheap and easy to make. You can find currywurst stands all over Berlin, and even the best chef wouldn’t be ashamed of this simple but effective dish.
Street food became really popular thanks to Turkish immigrants. People from Turkey are the biggest minority in Berlin, so their culture is really present on the streets. Thanks to them, we have kebabs served in small stands and in bigger restaurants. Many immigrants from the Middle East brought mezze and hummus. Asian culture is also very prominent, with popular Pho restaurants and a place like Saigon Com Nieu or Nihombashi.
A really popular and great trend that gained popularity over the years is bistronomy. That term is a blend of bistro + gastronomy. It’s a term for casual fine dining, which might sound counterintuitive but is actually fascinating. One could call it an honest food movement. It comes from a young, talented chef - Yves Camdeborde - learning in the kitchen at a luxurious Hotel de Crillon. He didn’t like the fancy atmosphere at the restaurant, so he decided to quit and start his own place. Bistronomy basically means superb food in a comfy and friendly atmosphere and at a low price. Place where you would rather come in wearing sweatpants than a suit. A lot of great chefs right now are starting their own bistronomy restaurants. One of the most popular places are Torbar and Otto, one in Mitte near Torstrasse and the other at Oderberger Strasse, Prenzlauerberg.
Fine dining also got a lot of attention in Berlin in recent years. Popular German chef Tim Raue with his 2 Michelin stars restaurant invites you to try his excellent Asian cuisine. Berlin is known for its top restaurants all over the city, but you could also try fine dining at home.
Ulala Chef is now available in Germany. Hire a private chef in Berlin and taste the food on the highest level without ever leaving your comfort zone. Chef at home can create the best dinner, and you don’t have to worry about not liking it. Why? Because every menu is tailored to you. Is there an ingredient you don’t like, or maybe the entire dish? Our private chefs are really flexible, so they can make basically whatever you want. Hire and trust me, you’re not going to regret it :)