Slow sweet food at Markthalle Neun Kreuzberg

Recently inaugurated in a green and fancy formula, Markthalle Neun Kreuzberg aims to be a place for slow and healthy food, in a city highly preoccupied with the quality of life and food. The healthy, vegans or bio restaurants are extremely appreciated and the offer of shops and restaurants is easily satisfying the most exquisite tastes in terms of food. Periodically food fairs are organized all over the city, but mostly in the Eastern side - as Kreuzberg or Prenzlauer Berg - when producers are selling directly - and at a cheap price their natural products.

 This Sunday, for six hours, Markthalle Neun hosted a Slow Food fair of sweets.

The event followed the official re-inauguration of the Markthalle, on October 1, whose history dates back at the end of the 19th century. I am wondering how green and healthy were people back then.

An exhibition outlining the past and present of the Markthalle can be admired on the hall leading to the restrooms. Because of the smell (I was there for a food fair, isn't it?) I didn't see all the exhibits.

The fair took place between 12 and 18. I arrived there around 14 and was crowded some of the food was almost done. The sweets were home made and sold at moderate prices 1.50-3.50 for cakes or chocolate.

 Chocolate was the special guest. Almost logical as long as it was an exhibition/fair about sweets.

 Different marzipan combinations - including small cheesburgers.

Finding a table to eat slowly your food wasn't easy and many found isolated corners outside the area designated for the fair, part of the newly renowated Markthalle.

 Many waited in line for a chair or to take the food between 5 and 10 minutes. A reason to ask for more energy/chocolate.

There were offered various kinds of local wines and experts were wine tasting. I am not a big fan of German wines so I skipped this experiment.

 A new word for today: Federweisser.

The branded bags were prepared on-the-spot, ready to carry the precious sweets. 8 Euro, unique price.

 This muffin was looking as a failed exercise from kindergarten' kids...2.10 the (unique) piece.

 A tasty cocoa delight...

 ...and the precious cocoa maker

 Various combinations of honey were ready to be tasted and enter the culinary world of the visitors.

 Personalized pieces of chocolate, in autumn covers.

 So many nice jams, hard to make a choice, make I should make a new tour.

Unfortunately, Edith's products can only be ordered online, or found every Saturday on a Friedrichshain flea market.

 Too late for tasting some products....

but in time to find some cakes-in-the jar (I've been reminded that I saw something similar in Italy). Anyway, Olivia's products are available in shop.

I am a dedicated and loyal lover of Marshmallows, wherever they are....

 The tasty samples made my visit.

 I wish that I have somebody home all over the day to prepare some special cakes as often as possible...

The newly entered products in the life of Berliners is the frozen yogourt. Here, it was sold from an old VW van.

 Back to the cocoa counter...The small little pieces are simply charming

 One day promise to find out more about lavender, a new trend in food for me...

 Hudson's cakes - on my to-eat-list for Berlin...

 Pumpkin soup with vanilla and brown bread...3.50 Euro

 The small frozen yogourt portion, with caramel sauce, 2.50 Euro. The biggest portion was 3.50

Most part of the visitors were young, English speaking and Asians, many joined in their sweet exploration by their very young children.

 Back to Edit's...

 and another jealous look at the world of jams...

 A section from the old Markthalle, forgotten beyond the chocolate mirage...

 The front of the van selling the frozen yogourt.

 Nice choco-ideas for presents,

 with interesting decorations,

 and different sizes.

 Made in Berlin, of course.

The curious readers were offered - for free or paid - books explaining the sweet connections between Berlin and chocolate, the history of the slow food, suggestions about how to eat healthier and various recipes suggestions. I was expecting more interaction with the sellers and more stories about the food, but probably it was to crowded to silence the interest for selling more and more pieces.

The products weren't cheap, but you should always think about the efforts and energy behind every single piece.

 Back to Olivia, whose logo design I love a lot.

One of the things I loved here was the general mood. Maybe it was the healthy effect of chocolate, maybe the pride of doing unique and special things, but most part of the people I've seen were happy and smiling.

The final tasting: Kalterhund (cold dog) - too sweet for my taste, a lot of chocolate, biscuits and plums. 1.50 Euro.
After one hour and a half, I finished my sweet culinary experience and went outside enjoying the cold beams of the sunny afternoon.