Dave Kearns

Just back from a week in Berlin (for TEC 2009) – our first visit to Germany’s newest, and oldest, capital. What can you say about a place whose culinary claim to fame is “Currywurst” (there’s even a museum!) and Berliner potato soup (BERLINER KARTOFFELSUPPE) made with potatoes and pickles! It’s said to have been Kaiser Wilhelm’s favorite food!

The city itself has been rebuilt remarkably with few remnants of the World War II bombings. In fact, rebuilding seems to be the major business of the city. Unfortunately, the architecture is some of the worst “sharp angle” designs I’ve seen. Still, it’s clean, friendly, relatively safe and with some historic interest. Worth a couple of days on a stopover, not worth the day trip from cruise ships docking in Wernemunde, though (see this account of the whirlwind tour).

Tried Xanh tonight, for the first time (it’s on Castro in Mountain View, CA) – outstanding! This is no Vietnamese noodle shop, but shows all of the style and grace of the best Franco-Vietnamese establishments. Best we’ve had in a number of years!

The crispy egg roll and crispy shrimp roll were fine, my Miso Salmon over coconut rice and Anne’s Crab with Glass Noodles were head and shoulders above the best Thai & Chinese establishments. And, of course, the ambience is simply elegant. At least, as elegant as you can get on Castro.

We enjoyed a bottle of Gewurztraminer from New Zealand’s Bird vineyards along with it. Just an excellent meal.