Have you heard about LIVE HAPPilly yet?

Berlin/Germany campaign for Italian premium coffee brand illy and current project of uduak // urban explorer (handling collabs and communication) where we basically turned Berlin into “the woooorrrlds” largest espresso bar.

Get your “sip of happiness” at 20 selected Locations (“HAPPilly Places”) around town with a first class Espresso/coffee and participate in competitions and special events. All you have to do is register on the website to become part of the LIVE HAPPilly Community.

Read more on www.happilly.de or check out the coffeelicious HAPPilly Blog.

HAPPilly Places
Dudes Factory • Shusta • Baerck • Blush • Stilrad • Cara Tonga • F. Rau • Reading Room • Wood Wood • Boros Bunker • Andreas Murkudis • JACKS Beauty Department • Ofelia • Akeef • Dialogue Books • Amorph • Soto • C’est tout • Nickels Berlin • Purple Phoenix

Les Valseuses. One of my favorite new places in Berlin. Julien and Olivier from Themroc in Torstraße recently ventured into opening their own place.

Happy they did! Big fan of their French/Belgian creations and even better: it’s located 500 m from my place.

Join them on Facebook.

Pictures by me and Ami.

As mentioned in my “Bike ride der Kulturen” post I made a spontaneous stop at Korea Haus last Sunday.

My friend Ami already went (she ditched our date) but her feedback (that I respect since she’s been travelling in Korea and is as passionate an eater as I am) came out less positive. Not “bad” it just wasn’t the best Korean she’s had had in Berlin – she mentioned another place but of course I forgot the name: Ami what was it?

- cause I’m pretty curios cause I thought the food was YUMMY! I had the tofu teriyaki if anyone is interested. And some sort of cinnamon/ginger/kaki drink from a can. Sure it’s full of e-numbers but it tasted devine!

Finally made it to Da Baffi on Saturday. Accompanied by the foxy Miss Sonnichsen (and later on die Hübsche too).

Very recommendable indeed! The atmosphere was even more charming than the photos I’ve seen. Lots of unique details that made it all come together beautifully.

And the food! Unfortunately my stomach is not so keen on pasta anymore but it got overruled when I read the magic words “ravioli…ricotta…tartufo…burro e salvia”. Sage butter heaven!

Of course my phone died 5 min after I arrived so no pictures but I did capture my next target to explore on my way to Da Baffi: Korea Haus.

Was intrigued by the impression I got when walking by and as I googled it yesterday I realized it has been on my to-do list since I read about it on Kiezlage (an excellent Wedding blog).

Culinary world trip in Wedding Part I, check! – let’s see when Part II will be ready.

Being from Denmark I believe I can engage in a beer-related discussion at a fairly high level. Though I wouldn’t call myself an expert.

But I can definetely share some of my favourites and tips on beer pleasures.

Went to a tasting with Braufactum and Brooklyn Beer recently. Top-notch! Don’t know all the fancy wording but my favorites were: Sorachi Ale and Local 1.

And at the beer tasting I met Mr. Solkowski who is the Master Brewer at “Meierei im Neuen Garten” which is now on my must-experience-list for this Summer. What a view!

Regarding old news I’m a big fan of Tsingtao which you’ll find in any respectable Asia supermarket.

Then there is the micro brewery Hops & Barley in Friedrichshain which besides an in-house brewery offers a holiday-apartment for up to six people on the 1st floor – which I guess can come in handy now and then. (Pictures on website.)

And if you’re in Copenhagen make sure to visit Mikkeller Bar which is very “Vesterbro’sk” in its decór and has a fine selection of first class beers (including the house brew).

And yes, I’m filing this under the category “Food”.

“P.S. “off the record” – Da Baffi is without a doubt the best Italian food I have had in Berlin (and I am always searching).”

This was a byline in a mail from Molly the other day. I don’t remember when I discovered the little Italian eatery but sometime last year – and I still haven’t made it there.

But with Molly’s statement to proof that it’s worth a visit, I think it’s time to go.

Fotos by Berlin Reified – a fine blog about life in Berlin.

Waiting for a place like Fiskebaren in Berlin.

Good product, sense of aesthetics and loving what you do = success.

Photos via the amazing Selby. More here.

I recently wrote about a new restaurant in Copenhagen I wanted to try at my next visit. These are also featured on my list:

Oysters & Grill

Recently, an Oysters & Grill place opened in Berlin too. Bebe Rebozo. Haven’t had the chance to test. Judging from photos I like the CPH version better though. Interior-vise.
- and before eating fish, check this visual by the Guardian displaying which fish are “right” to eat.

Geist

The brainchild of Michelin Star chef Bo Bech.

Radio

Another “regional/seasonal” concept. By Danish food guru Claus Meyer (originally part of Noma).

Rawfornia

Raw cupcakes (gluten-free), parsnip rice, raw bread, superfoods and more.

I’ve written about The Bird earlier. My favorite burger place in Berlin. I haven’t found its match yet but I believe BerlinBurger International is a worthy contestant.

The only downside: it’s located in Neukölln which is too far from my place to go sate a sudden burger craving.

I read this article in Intelligent Life back in August. In the plane headed to Ibiza (aaaah). And just this weekend, I heard about Nose 2 Tail a newly opened restaurant in Copenhagen.

The concept leans on the statement, I used as a headline plus “vicinity” – the use of regional (and I’m sure seasonal) ingredients.
It’s located in an old liver pate factory in the Meatpacking district.

For food freaks out there: Don’t overlook Danish food culture. They’re superquick at reacting on international trends, mixing them with traditional elements and presenting original concepts (+ they understand the role of marketing).

Nose 2 Tail Madbodega

From The Economist/Intelligent Life

But, I am one of those people who prefer to eat meat less often and then go for high quality. That means, I often choose vegetarian (or vegan) alternatives and luckily there are plenty of options in Berlin.
(Actually, I prefer high quality no matter what food so guess I’m a “qualitarian”?)

Anywho, a couple of places to check out, sorted by budget.

Broke Berlin creative-budget
Vöner
The veggie interpretaton of the döner.

Once a broke Berlin creative” but I sold my integrity to capitalism-Budget
Kopps
The newly opened vegan restaurant run by Björn Moschinski who is ex-headchef of La Mano Verde.

I used to “have projects”, now I make big money-Budget
La Mano Verde
Not only vegan but they also offer quite a few raw and gluten free dishes for the paleo dieters among us.

Photos from Veggie Love (check it out for general updates on vegan offers/experiences in Berlin) + restaurant websites.

*UPDATE: Had lunch at Kopps the other day and wasn’t too impressed. Go make your own oppinion but I’d choose the steak…

Das Geld hängt an den Bäumen is a great initiative that reduces food loss, supports local “farmers” and employs disabled people.

Basically, if you have apple trees in your garden, that provide more fruit that you can eat yourself, you can let them know and they’ll pick it up. The employees are disabled people or people from the “disadvantaged groups” of our society.

Also if your garden needs a loving hand, they offer to tend the garden as well.

More information on their website! Unfortunately only in German.