Thanksgiving in Tasmania

Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) at Moorilla

A cool and wet Thanksgiving in Tasmania, Australia. This year our traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and pumpkin pie was replaced with fish and chips at the Manning Reef Cafe in Sandy Bay, just outside Hobart. I don’t remember a better fish and chips than this. Being in a place where no one pays any attention to Thanksgiving seems almost surreal, but I’m enjoying the break from the intensity associated with this holiday in the USA. For dinner, we had an excellent take-out meal at the Cripps DT & JL Bakehouse in the small village of Bellerive. The food was quite good and the prices were remarkably affordable for Australia.

Thanksgiving in Tasmania

Museum of New and Old Art (MONA) at Moorilla

A cool and wet Thanksgiving in Tasmania, Australia. This year our traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and pumpkin pie was replaced with fish and chips at the Manning Reef Cafe in Sandy Bay, just outside Hobart. I don’t remember a better fish and chips than this. Being in a place where no one pays any attention to Thanksgiving seems almost surreal, but I’m enjoying the break from the intensity associated with this holiday in the USA. For dinner, we had an excellent take-out meal at the Cripps DT & JL Bakehouse in the small village of Bellerive. The food was quite good and the prices were remarkably affordable for Australia.

Stock Recommendation: Chipolte Mexican Grill

Here’s a beautiful and very original video from the folks at Chipolte. The video makes its point very effectively, and may suggest the future of what restaurants offer. The video definitely oversells the vision of what Chipolte is, but even so, Chipolte’s aspirations of what they would like to be suggests a trend toward more vegan and vegetarian options on restaurant menus. As more people become aware of the cruelty and abuses involved in factory farming, restaurants like Chipolte will have the edge in meeting customer demand. BTW: Chipolte (CMG) is traded on the NYSE and looks like a good buy.

Super Scrumptious Soup in Berlin

Even in the Rain, Outside Dining is Possible at Eintopf

Located on eclectic Gotzkowskystraße in the Moabit section of Berlin, Eintopf is a small neighborhood restaurant specializing in soups. Their homemade soups are made from scratch everyday, which include a vegan and/or vegetarian option. Friendly service, reasonable prices (3,90€ per bowl with unlimited bread), and a pleasant atmosphere make Eintopf a great place to visit for a healthy lunch.

A View From Eintopf

BTW: Moabit is one of those Berlin neighborhoods that’s relatively tourist free. There’s a lively vibe to this multicultural area that’s full of restaurants, cafes, and music venues. If anything, Moabit reminds me of SoHo during the late 1980s.

Super Scrumptious Soup in Berlin

Even in the Rain, Outside Dining is Possible at Eintopf

Located on eclectic Gotzkowskystraße in the Moabit section of Berlin, Eintopf is a small neighborhood restaurant specializing in soups. Their homemade soups are made from scratch everyday, which include a vegan and/or vegetarian option. Friendly service, reasonable prices (3,90€ per bowl with unlimited bread), and a pleasant atmosphere make Eintopf a great place to visit for a healthy lunch.

A View From Eintopf

BTW: Moabit is one of those Berlin neighborhoods that’s relatively tourist free. There’s a lively vibe to this multicultural area that’s full of restaurants, cafes, and music venues. If anything, Moabit reminds me of SoHo during the late 1980s.

In Search of the Perfect Croissant in Berlin

Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich Berlin

Last weekend while in France, I was able to indulged my appetite for croissants, but here in Berlin, trying to find a good croissant is difficult, if not impossible. So today, I tried my luck on the Internet. I typed, “Best Croissants in Berlin,” and discovered, to my surprise, that number 2 on Yelp’s best croissants list was Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich, just around the corner from where I live. 

Café Des Négociants Clemont L’Herault France

I had high expectations. The reviews seemed promising, the photos enticing, and the price reasonable. Unfortunately, Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich was a big disappointment. A good croissant should be light, almost feather-like. The crust should have a pale golden color that is crisp and flaky; and, above all, the ideal croissant should have a buttery and slightly sweet taste. The croissants at VH were dark brown, heavy, and bland! It just proves that if you want a good croissant, you need to go to France. 

In Search of the Perfect Croissant in Berlin

Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich Berlin

Last weekend while in France, I was able to indulged my appetite for croissants, but here in Berlin, trying to find a good croissant is difficult, if not impossible. So today, I tried my luck on the Internet. I typed, “Best Croissants in Berlin,” and discovered, to my surprise, that number 2 on Yelp’s best croissants list was Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich, just around the corner from where I live. 

Café Des Négociants Clemont L’Herault France

I had high expectations. The reviews seemed promising, the photos enticing, and the price reasonable. Unfortunately, Vollkornbäckerei Hartwich was a big disappointment. A good croissant should be light, almost feather-like. The crust should have a pale golden color that is crisp and flaky; and, above all, the ideal croissant should have a buttery and slightly sweet taste. The croissants at VH were dark brown, heavy, and bland! It just proves that if you want a good croissant, you need to go to France. 

Cafe Colectivo: A Spanish Gem in the Heart of Friedrichshain

Cafe Colectivo is an absolute gem. Located just off Boxhanger Platz in the heart of Friedrichshain, Cafe Colectivo is like going to someone’s house for coffee. Its cozy atmosphere and soothing music is a pleasant escape from all the high energy of Friedrichshain.

Cafe Colectivo has top notch coffee, desserts, and wonderful Spanish dishes (on Sundays they have Paella). There’s free Wi-Fi, interesting art work, outdoor seating, and plenty of reading material. I live just a few blocks away, and unlike many of the tourist filled cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood, you will find real locals at Cafe Colectivo. It’s one of my favorite places to read and enjoy the company of fellow Berliners. 

Cafe Colectivo: A Spanish Gem in the Heart of Friedrichshain

Cafe Colectivo is an absolute gem. Located just off Boxhanger Platz in the heart of Friedrichshain, Cafe Colectivo is like going to someone’s house for coffee. Its cozy atmosphere and soothing music is a pleasant escape from all the high energy of Friedrichshain.

Cafe Colectivo has top notch coffee, desserts, and wonderful Spanish dishes (on Sundays they have Paella). There’s free Wi-Fi, interesting art work, outdoor seating, and plenty of reading material. I live just a few blocks away, and unlike many of the tourist filled cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood, you will find real locals at Cafe Colectivo. It’s one of my favorite places to read and enjoy the company of fellow Berliners. 

Best Falafel and Schawarma in Friedrichshain Berlin

You could easily miss Oase, a small nondescript restaurant located on Warschauerstraße in the heart of Friedrichshain. On the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but don’t judge a book by its cover.

Oase in the Heart of Friedrichshain

On the inside, you’ll find some of the best falafel and schawarma in town. A falafel is an Arab dish usually served in a pita, which acts as pocket. Falafel is a deep fried patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans or both. It’s topped with vegetables, hot sauce, and tahini. On the other hand, a schawarma is a wrap filled with chicken or lamb, and served with tabbouleh, fattoush, tomato, and cucumber. Toppings include tahini, hummus, pickled turnips and amba.

Oase gets a well-deserved five star rating. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is friendly. On the negative side, there’s limited seating, and there’s usually a long line of people waiting to be served.