Restaurant: Bandol Sur Mer (Berlin)

A couple of days ago we went for dinner at Bandol on Torstraße in Berlin-Mitte. 

photo source:Tip Berlin, Essen Und Trinken

Bandol is a strange little place. It is tiny with only a few small tables and an open kitchen that is almost as big as the service area. You definitely need to make a reservation for either 6 or 9pm.

First I thought this is another 'Berlin-bullshit-we are better than you' thing. But it actually makes sense, and I was positively surprised by how nicely it effected the atmosphere in this small space. Every table was served almost at the same time.

photo source: http://www.mitteschoen.com

There are usually only two set menus each night which, when we were there, were 49€ and 59€ each. They contained four to five different French cuisine inspired courses, of which each was written down on the giant chalkboards that cover most of the restaurant's walls. For those who were not able to read the quite questionable handwriting on the boards (me), they handed out printed menu cards. 

The waiters were very friendly and helpful. Ok, one of them was a little grumpy, but you know, more in a cute way. Not arrogant or anything. He just needed a few moments to get used to us, and then in the end he was adorable!

However, the other waiter offered us a wine pairing to each course which we happily said yes to, of course.
It was amazing! The wine was so so good, and I made tons of notes. 

To start off right, I had a glass Vilmart et Cie Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut, Champagne. 

First we got a little Amuse Geule (greeting from the kitchen)
I don't fully remember it. But I think it was:
Chilled Red Pepper Soup and a Baby Scallop with some sort of sauce.

Wil's first course:
Red Mullet and Veil Head, Nettles, Capers and Lemon.
Wine:
2010 Maison Moillard Bourgogne Chardonnay Tradition, Burgundy
(which had a very nice creamy and buttery aroma and texture),

My first course: 
Foie Gras de Maison with Apricots, Cellery and Brioche.
(I actually had promised myself to never eat Foie Gras again...Oh well at least it was delicious)

Wine:
2009 Frank Brohl Marienburg Riesling Spätlese dry.
(unusual to pair Foie Gras with dry wine, but this was an excellent choice)

Second course:
Saddle of Rabbit and Green Lipped Mussels with
Passepierre Algae, Tarragon, Velouté and Violets
Wine: 
2010 Saint Bris Sauvignon Domaine Sorin, Cuvee, France

The waiter also made us try:

2006 Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss Muscat Clos Rebgarten, Alsace, France

This is a biodynamic wine, means it is produced in small quantities by only using natural sources
like the moon and sun rythm/power and homeopathic additives...something like that, and only the natural yeast of the grapes. 
The wine had almost a 'beery' taste to it, yeasty, a bit similar to lambic beer, but very elegant and subtle. 
Quite interesting. I could have drank more of that. 
Oh wait, I was already drunk...well, then maybe not...

So this must have been where the wine kicked in for the first time, 

because I obviously missed taking a photo of our third course: 

Tartare and ham from Schorfheide deer with corn and onions.

Wine: 

2005 Domaine Theulot Juillot Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise, France 

Ah, here we go again!
Fourth Course:
Braised Free Range Beef Tenderloin (served medium)
with Chanterelles, Rosemary, Kohlrabi and Red Currant
Wine:
If I only knew!
I guess I forgot to write that one down, as well...damn it!

Ok, this is embarassing. No dessert photo, either.

Dessert:
Cherry, Praline and Yoghurt
Wine:
2005 Gres Saint Paul Muscat de Lunel Rosanna, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 


To my defense I have to say, that really I was f***ing wasted by the time I walked out of Bandol.
The waiter served us way to much wine. He promised there would be small glasses.
But I guess he lied...a white lie, of course.

Well, it was a wonderful night with wonderful food and wine and really good service in a cosy and intimate atmosphere. 
And we learned so much about very interesting wines. 
 The prices for this kind of food were absolutely moderate and they gave us an incredible deal on the wine.

In my opinion one of the best restaurants I found here in Berlin.
I would definitely go again!

CHIPPS and Berlin street food

So I'm back from Provence.
One week of in my opinion the best smelling, best looking and best tasting region of the world.
I made tons of photos, bought and ate plenty of food and drank gallons of incredibly good wine.
But more about that later.

First of all I'm very proud to present you the two reviews I wrote for the Berlin special of the urbanite section of SOMA magazine (LA, USA).
















I wrote both articles in English which makes me even prouder since English is not my native language.
You probably noticed that already.
I had great help from Wil and Jesi Khadivi who edited my articles.

Here is the first article about street food in Berlin.

And This one is about Berlin's new healthy food
gourmet temple CHIPPS.

Al Contadino Sotto Le Stelle

Not only is 'Al Contadino Sotto Le Stelle' one of my favorite restaurants here in Berlin. 

Marjita(?), our waitress of the night, offered us incredibly good tasting red wine: 

Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo Salento (2008).

But let's start at the beginning.

The Italian restaurant 'Al Contadino sotto le stelle' is located on Auguststrasse 36 in 10119  Berlin Mitte.

You'll find homemade pasta, veil, rabbit, fish, tartufo, prosciutto etc on the menu; 

solid Italian cuisine that is both, rustic and fine, at the same time.

'Al Contadino' is not a cheap restaurant. It's rather a restaurant where to go on a date.

Me and my partner went there for our anniversary and had:

• Prosciutto with fruit mustard
• Entrecote with truffle
• Homemade Chestnut-flour Tagliatelle with veil liver, apple and truffle oil
• Warm chocolate-hazelnut cake with vanilla ice cream.

Sadly they had to move out of their original venue which was even more cosy and romantic.

Their new location is a little less intimate and on our last visit we discovered that the tables in the front are cramped.
But sitting in the back of the restaurant can be quite loud and busy with waiters rushing past. 

Still it is one of my favorite restaurants. 

The food is excellent and the service is very friendly and knowledgeable.

PS: The name of the restaurant means 'The Farmer Underneath The Starry Sky'.