Chocolatier Kristiane Kegelmann came to Berlin in 2016 to conquer the capital’s culinary scene. Since then, her handmade chocolates have been teasing our taste buds with their unique quality and craftsmanship. These one-of-a-kind chocolates are not just regular pralines: every single ingredient has been put together with love and precision. Visually, they are reminiscent of gemstones, with straight lines and hints of pink and gold. It’s a look Kristiane describes as “pure, reduced and to the point”. This style has now been used to create something a bit bigger: a restaurant. Architects DMtk and Some Place Studio were commissioned to transform Café Savigny in Charlottenburg into a bold, straightforward dining room called Pars, opening November 2022. It’s not just a place for chocolates, but a whole new dining destination out west.
Alina Jakobsmeier, Kristiane’s head pastry chef and chef de cuisine, gave us a first (and promising) glimpse into Pars’ fine dining concept at a preview sitting on Saturday (12.11.2022). We were treated to a seven-course menu including paired wines from sommelier Christoph Geyler. Our highlight was the homemade ravioli filled with herb mushrooms in a full-bodied shallot reduction and dill flowers, followed by amaranth, pickled Brussels sprouts and bacon. Alina’s culinary direction is clear and direct: high-quality regional ingredients in dishes that are light, honest and elegant. The restaurant features a large asymmetrical “chef’s table”, which fellow restaurateurs will recognize from their professional cutting boards. The kitchen is open, letting you watch Alina and her team as they work calmly and professionally. With Pars restaurant, Savignyplatz and West Berlin are heading in a very tasty direction indeed.
Text: Laura Iriondo / Photos: Pujan Shakupa
Pars Berlin, Grolmanstr.53, Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
Tue–Sat 10–16h & 18–23h. Opening 19.11.2022. You can book a table online.
@pars.berlin