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It’s well-known that Peruvian cuisine borrows some of its flavors from Japan. But spaghetti with truffle and caviar? “I cook what I like,” explains Lila’s Omar Ben-Hammou with a smile. And it works! After stints at New York’s Le Bernardin and Melbourne’s Attica, the half-Peruvian chef has now settled on the Paul-Lincke-Ufer. In a Hinterhof behind Zola, Omar has opened an eclectic dining room, with oversized dreamcatchers and a sea-blue tiled open kitchen. Everything on the menu gives us deep wanderlust: a tuna tartare Nikkei style with wasabi roe and sushi rice crackers; barbecued razor clams; crescent-shaped octopus with hummus and a rich chorizo emulsion; and salmon in a dashi broth – it’s enough to make you forget you’re not by the sea. The desserts are anything but ordinary: a panna cotta with white chocolate and crumble, and an unbelievable caramel flan served with a dollop of cream. For liquid accompaniment, pisco is the way to go. Lila is the perfect place to get a taste of Peruvian cuisine – not to mention the excellent truffle pasta. (Text: Eva Biringer / Photos: Savannah van der Niet)
Lila, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39/40, 10999 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Tues–Sun 18h30–23h
@lila.restaurant
There couldn’t be a better exhibition venue than the Reinbeckhallen for Gregory Halpern’s photographic land surveys. As Berlin’s Oberschöneweide feels like an industrial wasteland, so are Halpern’s motifs influenced by the melancholy of the periphery. For “ZZYZX“, an exploration of Los Angeles, the artist starts in the desert of Bernardino County. ZZYZX is not a fictional placeholder for this place of longing, but the real name of a village in the Mojave Desert, where Halpern’s journey begins. The impressions he collects along the way are as dreamlike and surreal as the name suggests – charred palm trees sprouting anew, a man with pink hair and a hand that no longer needs to reach for the stars because it’s already tattooed with them. Halpern also drifts through the American backcountry for the “Omaha Sketchbook” series. These photographs show the boys of Nebraska on football fields, in prison cells and front yards. By depicting vulnerability as well as stereotypical ideas of masculinity, Halpern succeeds not only in portraying a lost generation, but in showing the USA in a state of transformation. (Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Gregory Halpern (above and right) & Loock Gallery, 2020)
Loock Galerie, Reinbeckhallen, Reinbeckstr.17, 12459 Berlin–Oberschöneweide; map
Gregory Halpern: Omaha Sktechbook | ZZYZX until 01.11.2020
Wed–Sat 11–18h
@gregoryhalpern
@loockgalerie
@mack_books
After the success of their cafe at Gleisdreieck, Jules opened a new spot – Jules Geisberg – near Schöneberg’s Viktoria-Luise-Platz in September 2020 and what a beautiful space it is to sit in! The building is the former neighborhood post office, above which hangs a life-size statue who seems to wonder where all the postmen have gone. The interior design is minimalist with elegant marble details – a perfect complement to the warmth and friendliness of the team. Funny story: the cafe’s barista crew were actually friends before they started to work there together. They were attracted by a gastro business that cares about its people and the ethics behind the products they offer, including the coffee which comes from the likes of North Star and Vote. If you’re strolling around the area, do yourself a favor and take a moment to savor a piece of their fluffy banana bread, cheesecake – or both – along with one of their gorgeous drip coffees in my fave seat: the cozy corner bench. (Text: Lucie Eon / Photos: Bui Luu Quynh Nguyen)
Lucie Eon is a coffee nerd and ex-barista studying horticulture and focusing on her photography project.
Jules Geisberg, Geisbergstr.9, 10777, Berlin–Schöneberg; map
Mon–Fri 7h30–18h, Sat–Sun 10–18h
@jules_cafe_berlin
In Schöneberg’s Red Island, an area between Südkreuz, Schöneberg and Yorkstraße stations, there is a lot to discover – not least the bookshop Odradek. Its owner, Mieke Woelky, furnished this place in 2018 with great attention to detail: pastel wooden shelves are lined with treasures of English literature, current fiction and lots of children’s books. Indeed the shop is most popular with parents – due to the diverse picture books on offer, says Mieke. As the little ones immerse themselves in a book in the cozy reading corner, the grown ups browse literature out front. About half of the books are in English, a product of Mieke’s own enthusiasm for the language. She currently recommends “Queenie” by Candice Carty-Williams, in which the 25-year-old protagonist hovers between her Jamaican roots and British culture. Young or old, there is something for everyone here, and the large selection and friendly advice make you want to hang around. And as for the name: it goes back to a short story by Kafka, which you can read on the website. (Text: Annika Hillig / Photos: Odradek & Felix Zimmermann)
Odradek, Gustav-Müller-Str.1, 10829 Berlin–Schöneberg; map
Mon–Sat 10–18h
@odradek.buch
Some of us welcome the idea of spending lots of time at home, but are there really people who would voluntarily go into lockdown? Homecoming, an interactive game that is part of Hebbel am Ufer’s HAU4 online program, deals with exactly this topic. Developed by Berlin interactive theater group Machina ex, the game runs on your computer via the Telegram’s desktop app, taking you on a journey of investigation and intrigue. After purchasing your ticket for a specific time slot, you receive a mysterious letter in the post. Then, once Homecoming starts, you use your letter and a Telegram group chat to help a team of “lockdowners” solve the mystery of a shady organization that offers to protect people from Covid. The game is best understood by playing it, but just to warn you: this is not a performance for a passive audience. You are required to take tests, make phone calls and assist your fellow participants. This twisting and turning adventure is of course fictional, yet it brings the potential consequences of today’s real-life lockdowns into sharp relief. (Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Barbara Lenartz)
Homecoming, an online game from machina eX, runs on HAU4 until 08.11.2020 – check the website for dates. To allow for the post, tickets can be bought up to two days before the game starts.
ANMELDUNG