Foodie Berlin: Pan Asian Kitchen

I am craving very often for Asian food, but still haven't found what I am looking for, especially when it comes to some specific dishes I am so much in love with - like pad thai, for instance. One of the last weeks, I was wandering around Zoo, hoping to discover a place to recommend for the exquisite cuisine. As any menu seemed to be very far from my requirements, the journalistic side won and decided to explore a new place full stop. Rolled the dices and entered the Pan Asian Kitchen a relatively new place on Ansbacher Strasse. It looks very youngish, with colourful decorations matching the bowls with fruits. 

It does not look as a big investment in design, but looks friendly, a good choice for Sunday brunch of families with children or for tourists tired and hungry after long walking around the Zoo. The service is friendly and very fast and we were able to order, enjoy the food and leave in less than 50 minutes.

 We started with a green tea, a healthy addiction I acquired during my Japanese time.

We started the meal with a delicious salad, with an unexpected and unique for me combination of veggies: edamame and waterchestnuts, plus tomatoes, soya sprouts and different types of cabages. Light, an impressive portion for one person and brings back the good energy.

Unaware of the size of the dishes, we ordered a (huge) portion of veggy noodles too.Compared to the usual wok experiences, it did not have too much oil, but for a second meal, it was obviously too much. At the end of the feast, we are treated with a small bowl of fresh fruits just not too feel too guilty after so much eating. The prices are moderate, and this first experience was friendly enough to give a chance to a second meal here. 

Turkish sweet treasures at Confiserie Orientale

One Sunday afternoon, I was in Mitte looking for a place to drink a good coffee while waiting for a delayed appointment and discovered Confiserie orientale. Unfortunately, it was shortly before the closing time and couldn't have my treat. Left the place jealous of the guy who was waiting for his carefully packed boxes of lokoum (Turkish delight) and promised to come back as soon as possible.

Three days after, I'd found an opportunity to return and offered myself, not only a delicious yet very strong cardamom coffee, but also a pear tart with almonds and pistachio on the top - very fruity, with a fine dough that you hardly notice - and a tahini little cookie - that tastes like halva and may go well with a cup of tea. Except the lokoum that is brought directly from Turkey, all the other delicious treats are freshly prepared on the spot. 

Confiserie Orientale, or Cemilzade in Turkish, was opened in Mitte in 2005, as the one and only Europe-wide representative of the century old confiserie from Istanbul, where is currently running. Its creator was the multi-talented Udi Cemil Bey, singer and poet and talented cake lover and maker, which opened its sweet shop first in Cairo, at the end of the 19th century. After his death, the sons moved the business in Istanbul, where is currently run by representatives of the same family. 

The decorations, designed by the Berlin-based Claudia Medrow, are integrating the old history - through old pictures hanging on the walls - into the eclectic pace of the city, especially the dynamic and non-conformist ambiance from Mitte. 

At the counter, a lot of sweet temptations, and while having a look at the fresh cakes, I wonder how many centuries I will need to prepare such perfect pieces of confect. While chatting at the counter, I find out why I enjoyed the tarte and the cookie without feeling overloaded by sugar: all the ingredients are natural. 

The prices are acceptable, and the service is more than friendly.  

Besides the coffee and the equally traditional tea, the customer can also discover the less known Turkish wine, made in Cappadocia, with colourful labels inviting you to jump in the first plane to see the famous balloons. 

The space is relatively small - around 10 places -, with outside places during the summer time, but quiet enough to host a variety of guest: from students on a reading break, to mothers with small children and some curious bloggers. 

As long as I will continue living here, I know that in the center of Berlin, there is always a corner of the European Istanbul that will always call me back.