Just the other day I was invited to “Abendbrot” — what may sound rather unspectacular triggered an endless whirlwind of thoughts… It evoked thoughts about home, family gatherings, and the fact there are so many people in the world who share similar memories and yet all in very different ways. Marwan Fakhriddin, owner of Forn Simsim, associates home with bread. Marwan grew up with man’ousheh, a traditional flatbread from the Levant, which is baked in a forn (Arabic for oven or bakery). Formed into hand-sized shapes, they were served for breakfast in his home. With Forn Simsim, Marwan has been bringing a piece of home to you since May 2024 in the middle of Kastanienallee. Here, his man’ousheh is made from homemade sourdough. “Jibneh Akkawi” is my personal favorite and will be for all those for whom the words “too much” and “cheese” will never exist in the same sentence. The flatbread is topped with mozzarella and Akkawi cheese, and you can order homemade chili oil to go with it. Another classic is “zaatar” with thyme, sumac, sesame and olive oil, or “b ajeen” with minced lamb, tomatoes, sweet paprika, mint, parsley, chili paste and pomegranate molasses — leave out the meat for a super tasty vegan option. The seating in the small store is limited, but the flatbread is perfect as a to-go snack. It’s best to gather your loved ones for your visit to Forn Simsim because, as we all know, bread always tastes best shared with others.
Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Andrea Zoltanetzky, Robyn Steffen
Forn Simsim, Kastanienallee 24, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
@fornsimsim
