I don’t need much to be happy. Cheese, sausages, pickles, bread. That’s enough. Just give me good things — give me Vom Einfachen das Gute. Snack time (Brotzeit) carries its own weight here. What you need is a board, a knife and a loaf of bread. This is where Vom Einfachen das Gute comes in. For thirteen years, the shop has curated some of the city’s most beautiful Brotzeit moments. What began in Mitte focuses on cheese and sausages, small producers, and farms and workshops that sometimes produce just a single product. I visited the new location at Olivaer Platz in Charlottenburg. Behind the counter, Natascha enthusiastically shares stories behind each cheese, while market manager Leo reveals the secrets of vampire apple juice and Spanish hams that resemble precious stones and taste every bit as exceptional. The meat counter feels less like a display and more like an installation. Sculptural coppiette sit beside Landjäger sausages and the same Hessian Mettwurst my grandmother used to serve at dinner. Instantly, I feel nostalgic. Starting this summer, steaks will be added to the selection. Vom Einfachen das Gute makes a point of offering products that stand apart. Finding them requires curiosity and dedication. A former employee travels through Italy in search of pasta from mountain regions. Relationships with suppliers are personal. In the bistro next to the shop, I’m served grilled cheese with red cabbage. There is cake, of course, Brotzeit, and wines by the glass. As I eat my cheese sandwich, I think, I really don’t need anything more. Good bread, a piece of cheese with a story, maybe a glass of wine. Dinner is a small pleasure, carefully assembled. You leave with a full bag and the comforting feeling that the next meal is already taken care of.
Text: Inga Krumme / Photos: Vom Einfachen das Gute
Vom Einfachen das Gute, Olivaer Platz 18, 10707 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
@vomeinfachendasgute
