White Trash Fast Food and meeting the Bloggers in Berlin

If I’m in a new city I always like to seek out fun and authentic neighbourhood places to eat. Guidebooks have their place but there may just be too many recommendations, or they’re on the other side of town, or they just don’t match your mood or the time of day. So my answer is always - ask a local. This might mean the person at the desk of your hotel, but better still ask a resident who shares your interests, and especially one that enjoys eating out.

That’s one reason on our trip to Berlin last spring, that I took the opportunity to meet up with Jacinta Lodge, an Aussie, travel blogger, embroiderer and writer who’s settled in Berlin. Before we arrived we exchanged a few e-mails and arranged to meet for a drink at our hotel one evening. ‘I’ll be the one with the fuschia and lime green glasses’ she told me in her e-mail and ‘I’ll be the tall blond twentysomething’ I quipped back, thinking she was joking.

I’d seen that Jacinta had been a fellow blogger at Europe a la Carte and that she was also one of the Berlin experts writing on Planet Eye, so I thought she’d be good for a tip or two on Berlin. We nearly missed each other, as she was waiting for us in the bar of Circus Hostel across the road from the sister Circus Hotel where we were staying. Luckily she realised the mistake and rushed in to the hotel just as I was off to find the mobile number and call her. She was indeed the girl with the lime green and pink specs, but sadly I wasn’t the tall blonde twentysomething.

We chatted for an hour or two over those delicious cocktails that they do so well at Circus Hotel - mine was a Mojito, Jacinta’s a Caipirinha and they were slipping down very nicely. But we moved on to the local recommendations and this was my brief to Jacinta. We wanted somewhere that we could take our gaggle of gorgeous 14 year old girls to give them a taste of the famous Berlin nightlife and music scene, but which wouldn’t subject them to over-18 pick up lines and would be relaxed and teenage friendly. WhiteTrashFastFood was Jacinta’s recommendation and it proved to be a great choice.

It’s a burger bar with live music every night, housed in an old bank with an atmosphere of pub meets Chinese brothel. There’s a tattoo parlour downstairs, where most of the waiting staff looked as if they had been spending their tips and a congenial atmosphere with groups of 20-somethings enjoying their beer, burger and fries. Think Hard Rock cafe with a bit more quirky Berlin originality. It was absolutely packed and we were relegated to a booth towards the back, but luckily we had a word with our nice English waiter from Essex and bagged a table much nearer the front and the music as soon as it became available. The music started at around 9pm but we didn’t stay for it all once we’d finished with our home-made apple pie and ice cream. Street cred all round I’d say - but not the place for your tiddlers who’ll want to pay a visit to the tattoo parlour or ask you to explain some of the ‘Ooh shocking!’ names on the menu.

Along the same lines was the second recommendation for teenagers of Kunsthaus Tacheles that Jacinta thought we’d enjoy for that authentic, grungy Berlin experience, what with the graffiti murals, and the half burried plane in the waste-ground sculpture park at the back. Take a look at my article on Kunsthaus Tacheles here.

Perfect recommendations for teenagers I’d say - if in doubt ask a local!

This article is posted as part of Wanderfood Wednesday, posted at Wanderlust and Lipstick - head over for some comfort Nachos and other foodie delights

White Trash Fast Food
Schönhauser Allee 6-7
10119 Berlin
Telefon:               (030) 5034 8668         (030) 5034 8668
Telefax: (030) 5034 8669

Email: info [at] whitetrashfastfood [dot] com

Read more Berlin Articles

Budget boutique bliss at Circus Hotel in Berlin
Our 36 hours in Berlin
Eat on the street in Berlin

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Review and Giveway of Eyewitness Top 10 travel Guide to Munich

On my visit to Munich just before Christmas I used the pocket sized Eyewitness Top 10 guide to Munich as my guidebook of choice and now I’ve got a Top 10 guide to give away to one of my readers too.

I often take short breaks in Europe of just a weekend in one city and I’ve found the Eyewitness Top 10 travel guidebook series from Dorling Kindersley ideal in highlighting the best things to see on a short trip, while still giving some depth on a wide range of sites that might interest visitors.

You may have read my review of the Eyewitness Top 10 guide to Lisbon, and at the risk of repeating myself, I do enjoy the Dorling Kindersley coffee-table style of publishing, with loads of colourful photos and maps throughout the book.

Top 10 guide to everything

The guide is organised along the theme of Top 10 everything, and although this might normally make for shallow reading, there’s plenty of useful detail, and when you’re short of time it’s quite refreshing to be able to focus immediately on the key things to see. Personally I would still use any guidebook as a starting point and then seek out a few local recommendations or just wander around and see where the fancy takes you. But I hate to miss anything major just because I turned left rather than right on my wanderings.

There’s also a handy fold-out map in the back that also covers the transport system, although I find I’m increasingly that I have to squint to read the small print on guidebook maps. My Mother jokes that as every year goes by the books are publishing in smaller and smaller font - they must think that all travellers are twenty-something backbackers with eyes that aren’t yet worn out by too much blogging!

Top 10 things to see in Munich

On our visit to Munich we managed to see several of the Top 10 city sites that were recommended, such as the Residenz Palace, former home of the Kings of Bavaria and the area around Marienplatz, the town square at the heart of the old part of the city. Another recommendation was the Oktoberfest, one of the most famous folk and beer festivals in Germany, but we weren’t there in October so we visited another enjoyable festival, the Tollwood Winter festival that is held on the same showground for some ethnic food, Furzangenbowle mulled wine and crafty Christmas shopping. Other recommendations in the guide would come into their own in the summertime, such as the Starnberger See lake and the castles close to Munich.

More information on Munich

The later sections of the Eyewitness Top 10 guide to Munich cover different areas of interest such as the best Markets, Festivals, children’s attractions and even Gay and Lesbian hang-outs. Then there are sections that cover each neighbourhood with a map, cafe and restaurant recommendations and extra things to see in each neighbourhood. If I had more time, I’d love to follow the recommendations of how to spend a day wandering in each neighbourhood, with recommended coffee and lunch stops and things of architectural interest. At the back of the guide there are sections with on getting around, planning tips and all the boring but useful information you might need to refer to like shop opening and restaurant hours.

Who this guide’s good for

Although there are sections on hotels and other accommodation, I’d say that this is not the best guide for someone who needs to find the cheapest hostel in a hurry - it’s more for those who have planned the practicalities in advance and want to spend their time sightseeing and enjoying what the ciy has to offer. I was a little disappointed to find that there was very little information on the Christmas markets of Munich that we’d come to see, although we found more than enough to enjoy just by walking around the central area. I was also pleased to find that the information on which S-bahn or tram to use to get to key sites was a bit more comprehensive than I found in the Lisbon guide, although the one time we tried to use the tram information, a local at the tram stop told us that it was incorrect, and directed us to the S-bahn instead.

Guide Book Giveaway

I should tell you that Dorling Kindersley kindly gave me a free copy of the guidebook for the purposes of this review, but I’ve either paid my own money or borrowed others guides in the Top 10 Series before and found them excellent, which is why I’m happy to recommend them to you. In fact, when I was in Berlin, our group had a choice of three well known guidebooks between us and this was the one we inevitably took with us, because it is such a convenient size to carry. I have noticed that although in the UK the Eyewitness Top 10 guides are priced at a moderate £7.99, when you buy them on Amazon.com they seem to be a lot more expensive.

Even more reason then to take this opportunity to enter for my giveaway sponsored by Dorling Kindersley of a copy of the Top 10 travel guide of your choice for one of my readers. To be entered for this draw, just leave me a comment telling me which guide you would like and your reasons for visiting that city. I’ll draw one of the names at random in a couple of weeks and the Eyewitness Top 10 Guide of your choice will be on it’s way to one of my readers.

To check out which of the guides might take your fancy, go to the Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Top 10 page and start dreaming of where you might go next, from London, Venice and Rome to Las Vegas, San Francisco and Toronto to Bankok, Singapore and Hong Kong I think I counted almost 50 destinations to choose from. To be entered for the giveaway, just leave a comment on which guide you’d like and why.

Other Munich stories to enjoy

Visiting the Christmas Markets in Munich - Podcast
Location and Value at Hotel Falkenturm in Munich
Bavarian Pork Knuckle at Haxnbauer in Munich

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My travelling year in 2009

2010 is well and truly here, and with snow on the ground in Bristol, I’ve been reliving the memories of some of the sunnier places I visited last year - here’s the round up the places I travelled and enjoyed in 2009.

By the way, if you enjoy my blog, please do nominate me for best travel blog at the Bloggies before 12 January 2010.

Berlin for a girly break in April

April saw me on a 4 day break to Berlin in Germany with my teenage daughter and her friends. We were blessed with sunny spring weather and loved our stay at the fabulous budget boutique Circus Hotel, where the girls had their own apartment and the Mums were banished to their room at the other side of the courtyard. We saw the sights on foot, bus, s-bahn and rickshaw and generally soaked up the arty and trendy vibe of Berlin, an ideal city to please the most picky teenager. For more Berlin stories read;
Checkpint Charlie and other Berlin Wall stories
Blue Glass reflections at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
Our 36 Hours in Berlin

Val Cenis, France for a family ski-break in April

Hardly had we returned from Berlin when we were off again to join the boys on a family ski-ing break in Val Cenis in France, not too far from the Italian border. This was a last minute bargain break at the end of the ski season, in which we squeezed ourselves into a modest self-catering apartment. My kids are mad-keen snowboarders, while I’m a rather more sedate skier who likes to break up a few easy runs with long chocolat chaud stops in between. Meanwhile my children whizz past me showing no fear, only pausing to blague the price of an expensive plate of pommes frites or a crepe. For tales from Val Cenis read;
The Good Friday service in the ski resort of Val Cenis in France
Keeping my ski helmet on in Val Cenis, France
Savoyard food specialities to enjoy from the French Alps

Lebanon for a girl’s road trip

My week in Lebanon, touring the country with a friend who works there was a real highlight. I didn’t know what to expect of Lebanon but was blown away by the variety and accessibility of what was on offer for those who want a taste of the Arab World at it’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated. We didn’t spend too long in the glitzy building site that is Beirut, but got out of the capital to walk the mountain trails, eat mezze in the souks of Sidon, see some amazing archaeological and historic sites and taste our way through some world class wines. For stories from Lebanon read;
St Anthony’s Monastery of Qozhaya in Lebanon - video
The Cedars of Lebanon - Tannourine Cedars Reserve - Video
Mezze Memories in Lebanon

Zakynthos in July for our family beach holiday

July took us back to the Greek island of Zakynthos, where my sister lives with her Greek husband Denis and juggles family life with running two hotels. Although we’ve been going for the last 20 years, there are always surprises when you get away from the main resorts and we enjoyed meeting some locals, like Yannis Vardakastanis who founded the Earth Sea and Sky Wildlife centre at the beautiful Gerakas Turtle beach, Timotheos and Christina-Maria the stylish wine-makers at Oenpoli winery, and our photographer friend and bar owner, Rob Wallace and his wife Ritsa at Freddie’s Beach Bar at Tsilivi. I hope I’ve convinced you that there’s more to this island than its package holiday image might suggest. For tales from Zakynthos read;
How to make delicious Greek stuffed tomatoes
How to find a real Greek Taverna on Zakynthos
My top three beaches on Zakynthos

Istria, Croatia for a family resort break

In August I took a 4 day break with my family as a guest of the Istrian Tourism board, who invited a number of bloggers to this beautiful province of northern Croatia. The kids were smitten with our modern resort hotel Laguna Molindrio with it’s two pools and view of the sea and we swam and cycled through the pine woods that fringe the shore. There was plenty to interest the culture lover in me in the old Venetian ports of Porec and Rovinj nearby as well as fresh seafood, local truffles and the picturesque hill towns that reminded me of Tuscany. For more Istrian travel stories read;
Visiting the hill towns of Grozjnan and Motovan in Istria
My Istria Travel diary - podcast and slide show
Cycling by the sea in Istria

Brittany in August to go fishing for crabs

Another short break took me with my daughter to visit an old friend in Vannes in Brittany, in an effort to improve both our language skills. My friend lives in a beautiful spot overlooking the marina at Conleau on the Gulf of Morhiban and we took a day trip to the island of Houat where we swam, sunbathed and had fun fishing for crabs. Unfortunately our catch was rather insignificant, so we had to pay a visit to the fishmonger on the way home to get some more respectable specimens to eat for dinner. For a few fishing tales from Brittany read;
How to prepare a crab a la Francaise in Brittany - video
Gone fishing for crabs on Ile de Houat in Brittany
A postcard from Conleau near Vannes in Brittany

Lisbon in November for a romantic weekend a deux

At the end of November, I visited Lisbon for a 3 day weekend break with my husband, leaving the kids behind. We loved our welcoming boutique hotel which was ideally placed for sightseeing and wandering the back streets. We visited the Monastery of Jeronimus and the Castelo de Sao Jorge, getting around on the modern metro, old fashioned trams and elevador funiculars that climb hills of the city, saving the legs of the weary traveller. We ate our way through as many local specialities as we could including the port, salt cod and seafood and the custard tarts Pasteis de Nata that are the sweet symbol of Lisbon. For more Lisbon stories read;
An autumn weekend in Lisbon - Podcast
An authentic Portuguese meal at Casa do Alentejo in Lisbon
A rainy day at the monastery of Jeronimus

Munich in December with my parents to see the Christmas markets

To round off the year I took a 3 day weekend break with my parents to visit the Christmas markets and get into the holiday spirit. I loved the feeling of Christmas in the air, especially in the atmospheric market we found in the courtyard of the Residenz with local choirs and Alpine horns playing, the smell of gingerbread, sizzling sausages and mulled wine and the dusting of snow on the rooftops. I loved the cosy feel of sitting in a condotorei, having our kafee and kuchen, but I did feel the cold when the temperature dropped below freezing. For more Munich stories read;
Visiting the Munich Christmas Markets - podcast
Empty splendour at the Resindenz in Munich
Bavarian pork knuckle at Haxnbauer in Munich

So that was 2009 and where will 2010 take me? The only thing booked is a visit to the Passion play at Oberammergau in July, which happens only every 10 years, so it’s really a once in a lifetime thing. Other than that the plans are fluid for the spring - I’m waiting to see where the cheap flights, friends around the world and any other offers may tempt me. What are your travel plans for 2010 - I’d love to hear them. And if they bring you to Bristol in 2010, I’d love to show you my city.

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