In August 2023, Arash Ghassemi invited us to his intimate home dinner series in Kreuzberg to present his then-new concept Lobb. It was a special evening that I look back on fondly: shared comfort food, unusual cocktails, great conversation and, to top it all off, spaghetti ice cream and daiquiris on the rooftop terrace. One thing is clear: hosting runs in Arash’s blood. And that’s exactly what makes Lobb Lobb — it’s not (only) about what’s on the plate, but how it got there and by whom. It’s about interacting with guests, bringing people together and creating a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable. Arash cares about guest feedback, so much so that after six months he can still remember my favorite drink: that night, I was particularly taken with his cherry daiquiri over shaved ice. You’ll find daiquiris on the menu at almost every Lobb pop-up, so it’s no surprise it’s Arash’s go-to drink. He likes to experiment with the classic version and try out new ones for his dinners and parties, such as his “Tropical Frozen Daiquiri”. Like every daiquiri, it’s based on a classic rum sour, but Arash gives it an additional fruity, Caribbean note with pineapple liqueur. Lime juice provides the acidity and the orange sugar, which he makes himself using Woodford Reserve rye, provides the sweetness. There’s also a shot of Botucal‘s “Reserva Exclusiva” rum, which is a must. What other ingredient makes this a drink to dream about? The shaved ice with grapefruit juice and apple cider vinegar, which Arash grates directly into the cocktail glass with his Kakigori machine!
Lobb has plenty of surprises in store — whether it’s new drinks, the location, the small details of the table decorations or a classic dessert from your childhood, just à la Arash. Lobb is like a traveling circus moving from one location to the next. All around Berlin and, after this summer, further afield. In October, Arash is heading to New York, where he will take over a kitchen for “Lobb for Schmock” for several weeks. We are excited to see what comes after the spaghetti and sandwich ice cream and can hardly wait to sip the next frozen daiquiri. And if you want to know what Lobb tastes like before the next pop-up: Arash shares many of his recipes on Instagram for you to recreate at home.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Lobb
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