and another thing about Berlin..A Round Up And Some More Suggestions Of Places To Eat

Now that I have completed my obligatory 20 posts for Vegan MoFo 2013, I'm breathing a little easier and realising that there is a world outside my kitchen and the local supermarket.  I've been getting all nostalgic for my recent trip to Berlin (see a list of all my Berlin eats at the end of this post).  These are a few places that I visited but didn't write a dedicated review for.  Really, Berlin's vegan food scene leaves you spoilt for choice!

Gluten Free Vegan Pizza in Berlin  so good!  There was hardly a crumb left!

One of the million or so photos I took of TV Tower

German Parliament. So little of it was original, inside was a totally modern building of glass & steel.

Potsdam…the area of Berlin that is awash with incredibly beautiful parks and palaces(12 of them, King Frederick II certainly had a bob or two!)…and two vegan restaurants.  I talked my way into this one even though they were closed, so I could inhale the smell of cakes cooking take photos for you.  

I also went to Markthalle Neun a few times. When I heard they had a recurring event for those with a sweet tooth I was on my bike as quick as you could say schwarzwalder kirsch torte 

I had to go back to see Sun Day Burgers to get another hit of the Dali Lama trio of homemade sauces.  I so wish they sold it in jars! Also some of that skillet fried tofu burger..look at it!    To the right of the plate you can see a crepe like thing..it was vegan and gluten free chick pea bread from a bakers across the other side of Martkhalle 9.  It was so tasty..the best socca I've ever tasted.

Amazing VEGAN, fondant filled schokolade  by Edlemond  The chocolateir was so sweet, chatting with me in English.  Her creations are delicious. 

chocolate wurst!!!  from Delicacao have you ever heard of anything more awesome than a chocolate sausage?  

Freckles.  Cute little cafe serving cakes and pastries, and a gluten free tiramisu.

Sfizy Veg. An adorable little pizza restaurant.  Totally vegan, but no gluten free pizza..yet!

For more Berlin  food porn..

Best Burger In Berlin?

Totally Vegan Collective

Visiting Berlin

Veganz Sunday Brunch

The Best Kebab In Berlin? Voner A Meatfree Institution

Cafe Mortenrot - not just a good brunch!
Ohlala V Tartes Shop

Cafe Vux

Viasko Gastro Pub Fine Dining In Berlin

Vegan Mofo Day 1

The Best Kebab in Berlin? Voner. A MeatFree Institution!

Yes.  Looks are not deceiving (not in this case anyhow) that is a kebab spit.  And yes, this is a vegan blog.  And yes, that is a vegan doner kebab.

Vöner (pronounced vooner…but then their V's sound a bit like an English language F..so it might be more like ..fooner?! yes, I'm still confused too), is another vegan joint in Friedrichshain, Berlin.  

I'd read so much about this place on Happy Cow, I had to try it out.  The staff were quite friendly and the menu is in both German and English.  

After a little ingredient checking I was to discover that, sadly, I couldn't have the doner kebab as it is not gluten free but it looked so good.  The burger, however, is gluten free, so I ordered that, along with fries and salad. They also had gluten free goulash which I sampled and was delicious, and standard fast food fair such as nuggets in addition to the doner and burgers.  For afters they had squares of fudgey brownies.

A steady stream flowed in an out as I waited. It smelled so good in there. A lot of people were getting their orders to go.  Watching all this food in front of me, I has so hungry when mine arrived.   It was a generous portion.  The burger was moist and quite 'meaty' (whatever that means..I guess I'd say it had the presence of umami). The salad was made up of crispy iceberg lettuce, toms, cucumber wedges and a little sprinkling of pumpkin seeds.  The fries were dusted with chilli and were delicious.  I also had fried onions as an extra.  They had a peanut sauce,, a vegan cheese sauce, and a tahini sauce.  All had gluten in from the soya sauce (please, start using wheat free tamari!), so I had lashings of chilli tomato sauce.  I enjoyed it for what it was. Good, fast food. Great for when a junk food craving strikes.

Good for vegans, vegetarians, AND sure to be an eye opener for meat eaters.  

I guess I liked it then!

Voner

Boxhagener Straße 56, 10245 Berlin

closest S-Bahn is Ostkreuz

closest U-Bahn is Frankfurter Allee

Best Burger In Berlin?

Totally Vegan Collective

Visiting Berlin

Veganz Sunday Brunch

Cafe Mortenrot - not just a good brunch!
Ohlala V Tartes Shop

Vegan Eats In Berlin - Emma Pea [review]

  
So, apparently there is no Emma Pea, not an Emma, not even a woman, but two guys behind the vegan food joint, Emma Pea. The chef told me it was something to do with hip hop, or beat box, or something. I feel decidedly uncool.  James, the Chef, is not from Berlin, but the West of Ireland. Does that matter?  I guess not.  Speaking to him briefly,  it was clear to see he is passionate about food.  That does matter.

The cafe is situated in-between Friedrichsain and Kreuzberg, a stones throw from the river and a long section of Berlin Wall, within the hub of Urban Spree. Emma Pea shares it's space with climbing walls, outdoor bars, music venues and an arts space.   It looks somewhat like a trailer, with steel steps up to the restaurant. It's cozy inside and feels relaxed.  Outside you can sit out on the high deck and people watch. If you are lucky, enjoy the sun too.

James, teased me about my lengthy deliberations on choosing the menu.  "you're a blogger?  Jesus, how long does it take you to write?!'   Writing is easy I say, picking the food I want is a bit more complicated.  I explain I may only get to eat there once. My time in Berlin being limited and with so many vegan places to eat. 'It's got to be right'. I say.  He then asks me how I'm feeling, and it's like food therapy.  I see how ridiculous I'm being and choose the stuffed paprika. I pay, and go and sit outside in the sun.  Lucky (?!) for me I'm gluten free, or I'd have been there forever deciding. Alas, not everything on the menu is suitable for the gluten intolerant among us.

The food takes just a few minutes to arrive, giving me time to relax.  It looks fresh.  Obvious care is taken over presentation.  The paprika (red pepper) is roasted and stuffed with lentils and soft, fluffy buckwheat.  Blanched green beans are pepper flecked, and sprinkled with rough chopped hazelnuts, a hint of olive oil adds richness.  An abstract flash of cherry pink vinaigrette, (perhaps a little too acidic for my palate) cuts through the dish and adds a modern twist to a vegetarian favourite.  I was happy with my selection.

Nice atmosphere, relaxed 'urban' dining. Inexpensive.

Other things on the menu - chilli with mole (27 ingredients..this guy knows his stuff).  Burrito's.  Green coconut curry. Spinach & chickpea soup, to name but a few. Some gluten free options.  Sadly, no gluten free cakes or treats, at this time.

I popped over the road to veganz for a slice of mud cake.  The perfect end.

For other food reviews in Berlin.

Best Burger In Berlin?
Totally Vegan Collective
Visiting Berlin
Veganz Sunday Brunch

Lots more to follow!

Emma Pea Vegan & Vegetarian Cafe

Revaler Straße 99, 10245 Berlin

nearest S-Bahn Warchauser Strasse

Sun Day Burger - Markthalle 9 - Vegan Fast Food

do i need to say anything or are these pictures enough?!  

I'm here in Berlin to discover why vegans are sprouting up all over the city.  Let the reviews and eating commence!
I grabbed my trusty bike, plotted a route and rode over the Spree river to taste a vegan burger from Sun Day Burgers.  Everywhere seems to be hip in Berlin.  I'm actually spoilt for choice.  In truth a little overwhelmed.  How am I going to experience it all.  True Gemini style, I want to sit in every uber cool cafe, nibble every vegan cake.  Argh, too much!! You really can't go wrong in Berlin. It was certainly true of Martkhalle Neun where I found Sun Day Burgers. I felt the usual heart flutters of anticipation of trying something new. Ready to be disappointed, hoping to be met with ..

One generous bite into the crusty bun the flavours began to pop. I actually let out a satisfied moan as the trio of homemade sauces connected with my tastebuds.  

Lilith Rudhart - Sun Day Burgers

Sun Day Burgers is owned by Lilith Rudhart, a vegan convert of only three years (2010).  She gave up her acting career to run a food truck and weekly spot in the Market Hall.  It makes her happy to be selling fresh, healthy, organic (and local) where possible, vegan, mostly gluten free and (breathe!) delicious vegan delights.  Her (huge)burger rolls are from a local bakery (Bäckerei) Vollkern Backerei and are gluten free.  She has a trio of homemade sauces. I couldn't decide on one so I asked for all three. Chilli chipotle; mango chutney; and peanut-coconut.  Holy Lord, of The Hand-held Dinner. It was worth the half hour ride and umpteen consulting of my already worn map, to get to Markthalle Neun!
The tofu is thinly sliced with a golden crust.  It is nestled among a host of fresh, crisp salad, slices of beet, iceberg, alfa alfa sprouts, toms and thin cool cucumber.    Is this possibly the best gluten free vegan burger ever?! That I can't say but it's certainly strutting it's stuff on my 'vegan besties' list.

I was so full.  So FULL!  You may wonder how I had room for dessert. I wonder too. I caught the eye of one of the girls and pointed to the dessert cabinet at a slice of the Avocado Limentten Torte (Lemon).  It was raw, made with, yep, you guessed it, avocado and fermented cashews.  They'd prettied it with a dusting of pink, coconut sprinkles.  The naughty raw almond cacao slice fluttered it's eyelashes at me from the glass cabinet, too.  I almost asked them to wrap it up 'to go' but I admonished it for flirting with me and went on my way.  I've a LOT of vegan food to try in the next few weeks.  I've got to keep my head (just)!

The girls at Sun Day Burgers were lovely too.  Despite a hungry crowd and a long list of orders, they prepped with the zen calm of a orange-robed buddhist monk.

Hats off to all.

The place was packed.  If I'd had a Euro for every bike locked up 4 deep in places, around the perimeter of the market..well, I would be very rich!  It has a great atmosphere.  Definitely a good place to hang out.

You can find Sun Day Burgers on Thursdays @ Markthalle9 Eisenbahnstrasse 42, in Kreuzberg, 
& on Sunday in the Flohmarkt (flea market) am Mauerpark, 10997 Berlin

Makthalle 9 - Street Food Thursday 17:00-22:00pm

Visiting Berlin + Photos