Currywurst at Witty's

In preparation for a visit to Berlin, I put out the word in my social networks that I was looking for tips about places to eat and food to see. I had seen David Lebovitz's post on this subject and Kerrin Rousset over at My Kugelhopf, but I had barely scratched the surface.

Two people suggested I get ahold of Luisa Weiss, over at The Wednesday Chef who is working on a book about Berlin -- and I was glad that I did. Not only did I get some tips, I actually got to meet a bunch of other bloggers for real socializing, not just the electronic kind, at Luisa's home. They are the people behind these English-language sites:

• Berlin on a Platter (Luisa's take on Berlin restaurants)
• Foodie in Berlin (food insights on the city)
• Ahrelich Gesagt (bread and beer focused blog)
• Berlin Reified (food and design, with stylish photos)
• Travels with my Fork (A Supper Club, outside Berlin)

You shouldn't miss the currywurst (if you eat meat), but I felt it was more of an initiation -- I had it once, and maybe that was enough. Basically, it's a fried sausage smothered in ketchup and curry powder. Pictured above is the organic currywurst stand at Witty's, just across from the KaDeWe department store (with its massive food section). But it was far from the best thing I ate in Berlin. My favorite was the pickled herring and smoked fish, food I associate with my Jewish roots but which I now realize is just typical of northern and eastern Europe.

- Samuel Fromartz