I’m working on making this one a tradition: going out of Berlin on an Ausflug to Brandenburg, hiking through the forests and meadows to return and have a Chinese dinner with friends. All happening preferable on a Sunday late afternoon, so there’s enough time in the day to still do loads of nothing when I come home, which is very important for my weekend routine. Lucky me, many places in Berlin cater to those in need of a spicy feast, and this is one of my favs, especially because they serve a delicious gluten cake with mushrooms and peanuts, and a great plate of fried aubergine.
Plenty of words have been written about Thai Park (also on this blog). That otherwise unremarkable park south west of Berlin’s center turns into a busy Thai market every weekend with a plethora of Thai families cooking and selling specialities on the spot. It’s been around for more than a decade, growing in size and popularity every summer, reaching an extent that some might already call problematic, with hundreds of eaters crowding the lawn, and many more vendors joining the pathways. However, it’s still delicious and one of the prime spots in Berlin to enjoy Thai food, when done right.
Entering Silla I immediately thought of the Simpson’s foodie episode (brilliantly called “The Food Wife”) where Marge, Lisa and Bart start a food blog to discover Springfield’s most hidden yet incredibly original food spots. Silla definitely fulfills all criteria of authenticity that so many foodies are longing to find – it’s not a restaurant, but more a food shop with some tables and a big open kitchen, all seats were taken by Korean people (one of them being a huge group of Korean women in very similar colorful yet functional attire, happily munching neon-green popsicles), the waitress’ and chef’s German was basic but friendly, and the menu was short and focussed on pork belly. My choice, however, was quickly made: Bibimbap. (Another advantage of being vegetarian is too never have too much choice.)
Oh Wilmersdorf, you beautiful district beyond the park, brimmed with undiscovered West-Berlin delights and blessed with the city’s maximum density of very fine Chinese restaurants. Like this place just off the hectic Bundesallee, called Shaniu’s House of Noodles and specializing in hand pulled noodles served in different varieties (still a rarity in this city, surprisingly).
Still one of my favourite places in Berlin for ever and ever, I was so very happy we re-started Thai Park season this past weekend. In case you’re asking yourself what that is, despite our restless promotion of this magical place in a park in Wilmersdorf, let me tell you: it’s the best of all. It’s an outdoor-market for Thai delicacies, fried ones as well as super fresh ones, and it’s happening every day (so weather allows) and it’s just plain gorgeous.
