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in Berlin, Berlin Food, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life

Rutz: Saving (one of) the Absolute Best for Last

January 11, 2021

Before leaving Berlin, I had a series of dining experiences that are just too good not to share. After much struggle with moving a server to a different wifi network, I finally regained access to photos from those unforgettable evenings. So here are! Yes, I am the absolute queen of awful timing with this post falling within the extended lockdown in Berlin. However, I’m hoping this will keep people inspired and look forward to the reopening of restaurants in the city once things are much better. So let’s kick things off with Rutz – Marco Müller‘s three-Michelin star restaurant.

The announcement of the restaurant’s third star came right before the first Berlin lockdown. Such a shame, one might think. And it was, mostly for us who love amazing food. For Chef Müller, however, it only made the well-deserved hype bigger. Once lockdown was lifted, the seats were once again full all the way up to the second lockdown towards the end of 2020. I was there when it was announced. Quite heartbreaking for the dining scene which was starting to pick up at that point but the people understood its necessity. Frankly, the feeling of luck that I had while being there that night doubled. Especially since I was days away from leaving Berlin.

“Isn’t it fitting that Rutz gets to be the last restaurant you’ll visit during your posting in Berlin?” my friend Ute asked over our dinner. She did, after all, had to endure my constant chatter of wanting to go to Rutz and writing about it afterward. Variations of ‘Yes, finally!’ and ‘Saving the best for last’ were exchanged with a goofy smile plastered on my face the whole evening. It was probably the wine but I digress.

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in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Tolerance and Hummus Dreams Come True at Kanaan Berlin

February 10, 2020

Better late than never, they say. After a couple of months of searching for my missing food review photos, I finally found the little bugger of a memory card that decided to play hide and seek. Now, I can tell you about a place in Berlin where all my hummus dreams have been realised. Kanaan Berlin – a vegetarian restaurant in Prenzlauer Berg serving Israeli and Palestinian food.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’re probably tired of all my hummus posts on stories by now. I’d eat it every day if I could. So, when my friend in the foodie industry, Mathaios, asked me to join him on a visit to Kanaan, he got an immediate and – admittedly overly eager – yes.

Israeli marketing expert and entrepreneur Oz Ben David and Jalil Dabit, a Palestinian-Arab of the famous “Humos Samir“ family, founded the restaurant. For most Berliners and expats who frequent P-Berg, the place is practically an institution. For people who haven’t gone, let me give you a couple of reasons why you should make your way to this side of the city.

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in Beauty, Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life, Skincare

Getting a Facial at Club Olympus, Grand Hyatt Berlin

November 29, 2019

The past couple of months have been quite hectic, to say the least. I went back to Youtube, I took on new roles, and I accepted more freelance work. It’s been rewarding but I’m not gonna lie – it really did a number on my stress levels. So, despite my skin getting better over the summer, I experienced breakouts and hives anew. At some points, I was rather dehydrated and was running on little sleep that it started showing on my skin. So an invitation to the Grand Hyatt Berlin‘s Club Olympus was much more than welcome.

It’s hardly my first time coming to the Grand Hyatt here in Berlin. Having covered the Berlinale before for Forbes and Rappler, I’ve spent some time in the hotel doing press registrations and attending press conferences. So the hotel really does have a special place in my heart.  I met Wes Anderson and Tilda Swinton in their premises for the first time and those instances definitely make it to my list of memorable times in Berlin.

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in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Berlin’s Bonvivant: Indulgence with a Little Less Guilt

October 28, 2019

“Living in Berlin has turned me into a veggie eater and that’s great,” I found myself telling a friend in Asia over Facetime. Her face had an expression of what can only be described as ‘utter disbelief’ but also, a little proud of me. I was, after all, a strictly-meat-and-all-the-other-yummy-things type of woman. Greens and anything connected to a plant hardly made the cut while I was growing up. Thankfully, almost three years of living here have now changed that. An invitation to cocktail bistro and vegetarian restaurant Bonvivant was something I said yes to right away. And I swear, it wasn’t just because of the cocktails.

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in Berlin, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

Berlin’s The First Reel Filipino Film Festival is Back for 2019

October 24, 2019

This November, Filipino films are coming back to Berlin thanks to The First Reel Filipino film festival. This year’s lineup is definitely something to look forward to as it’s a well-rounded mix of genres. Stepping away from what people usually think Filipino films are all about and have already seen before, the films showcase stories on Filipino the youth, individual talent, growing pains, and issues – both timely and timeless.

Happening from 6-10 November at Berlin’s oldest cinema – the Kino Moviemento in Kottbusser Damm, here’s the rundown of the films you can catch as published by the festival’s team:

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in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Ella: Steigenberger’s New Homage to Berlin

October 14, 2019

There truly is a movement to go back to the basics and the nostalgic here in Berlin. Ella, the Steigenberger’s new restaurant, is putting sustainability and tradition at the heart of a modern menu. Manuel Eich is at the helm of the hotel’s new gastronomical venture. At the recent press dinner to celebrate the opening, it was made evident that the right man was chosen for the job.

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Almost Diplomatic - KPM - Porcelain - Berlin - Germany - Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur - Diplomat's Wife - Diplowife
in Berlin, Berlin Shopping, Berlin What to Do, Expat Life

VIDEO: The Making of KPM Berlin Porcelain

August 2, 2019

Germany is known for many things. It is, after all, the home of high-quality products and big industries. People visiting the country or even living here as expats/diplomats often find themselves shopping and bringing home locally-made items that could last them for generations. Functional souvenirs, if you will. I was never one for keychains or magnets as they usually become clutter and accumulate dust. Beautiful, functional, and timeless pieces are a much better choice for some serious return of investment (ROI). For this, I often recommend pieces from Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM Berlin).

It’s true that porcelain costs way more than your average ‘I Love Berlin’ shirt. However, it’s a true work of art that you can actually use and can last lifetimes.

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in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Two, New Berlin Restaurants I Love: Joseph & Pincho Nation

July 24, 2019

The past month and a couple of weeks were crazy when it came to my schedule. June is national day month and for diplomats and their wives, that’s the busiest month of the year. I’ve been a lot slower in writing about some of the interesting things happening in Berlin but I’m happy you’re still here. Thanks for sticking around. The next few months are bound to be a lot better in this space. Fingers crossed nothing comes up in between. 🙂 With the apologies out of the way, let me go ahead and tell you about two Berlin restaurants that recently opened. Restaurants that I ended up loving and coming back to for personal visits after I was invited to attend their openings – Joseph and Pincho Nation.

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Almost Diplomatic - Selig - Berlin - Restaurant - Food - Diplomat's Wife - Review - Selig Façade
in Berlin, Berlin Food, Expat Life

Selig: More than Just Brunch! Say Hello to Their Lunch & Dinner Menu

June 24, 2019

If – at any point – you’ve Googled the best brunch places in Berlin, chances are, you’ve read about Selig. After all, it’s on every single ‘best brunch’ listicle about the German capital. I’ve tried my luck with this restaurant and not gonna lie – I’ve failed.

One summer weekend, my husband and I decided to brave the brunch competition and found ourselves staring at Selig, filled to the brim. It also had a waitlist that ran beyond our patience. Alvin is a very patient man and I’m quite understanding about waiting when it comes to food. That day, however, we knew it was too popular for us to be able to get a seat within an hour.

About a year later, I found myself in the same restaurant being introduced to a menu they are not so known for – their lunch and dinner offerings.

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Almost Diplomatic - Layla - Berlin - Meir Adoni - Restaurants - Israeli Food - Mediterranean - Germany - Diplomat's Wife
in Berlin, Berlin Food, Berlin Where to Go, Expat Life

Layla: Meir Adoni’s Irresistible Lady in Berlin

May 31, 2019

Meir Adoni is a name almost any foodie will recognise – especially those who have a penchant for Middle Eastern food. The Israeli chef has quite the curriculum vitae, with successful restaurants in Israel and New York. His latest venture landed him in Berlin in late 2018. Barely half a year after its opening, Layla has taken up sizable and permanent-looking space in the city’s ever-fickle food scene. Another Berlin institution for the bon vivant that we could all be thankful for, if you ask me.

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It was a Friday night and Layla was packed. Berliners of every shape, size, and race gathered to enjoy the food. The crowd was also peppered with tourists looking for a meal that can be one of the highlights of their trip. My friend Lesley and I ended up sitting beside a man from Israel who went to Layla for dinner after his hotel’s receptionist raved about it.

He was in Berlin to visit his son who decided to live here and pursue his DJing career. (Of course, he’s a DJ. This is Berlin.) He abandoned his father for the night as he was playing a show. But the father got the better part of the bargain. He found Meir Adoni himself was in town and was making his meal that night. This city never fails to surprise its guests.

Adoni is not in town all the time. He has several restaurants to tend to, after all. But when he’s around, he’s in the kitchen to bond and make food with his team who all trained under him. This doesn’t stop him from connecting with the people who come to try the food. He would smile and chat with practically everyone who would pass by the open kitchen.

Almost Diplomatic - Layla - Berlin - Meir Adoni - Restaurants - Israeli Food - Mediterranean - Germany - Diplomat's Wife

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