Berlin | A Taste of Spring at Estelle 🌸

I've been to Estelle Dining several times and always made reservations in advance, but this past Saturday, we dropped by on a whim and managed to get a table (at 5:30 pm, living the senior lifestyle), which shows that Berlin's popular bistro scene is ever-evolving with new talents emerging. 🌊 Estelle Dining stands out in my mind for its excellent seasonal dishes and a solid menu featuring hearty pizzas (with toppings that change with the seasons), making it relatively affordable. I've visited in three different seasons—spring, summer, and winter—and never had a dish that disappointed, except for accidentally setting the menu on fire. 🥹 This spring menu allowed someone who transitioned from the colorful world of China to the colder climes of Germany to experience the beauty of spring fruits and vegetables: Appetizer: Cherry radish with Labneh (thick yogurt), a very small plate, but I absolutely love German radishes. They are in season, slightly sweet and crisp, without any astringency. Paired with yogurt, it's like eating ice cream. Appetizer: Oat fried balls, a variant of Arancini, with oats providing a crisper and more chewy texture than rice. The addition of smoked meat or bacon gives a smoky sensation, served with a bean dip, which tastes reminiscent of a savory bacon rice dish. Pizza: We chose the Nduja Pizza with Lauch (leek), Fenchel (fennel), Tomate (tomato), and Büffelmozzarella. Leek and fennel are crops of the winter-spring season, with a strong onion flavor and enhanced with fennel seeds, which pair well with Italian nduja sausage (an Italian sausage that specifically includes fennel seeds). Dessert: Rhubarb sundae with rhubarb ice cream. Rhubarb is truly a plant made for ice cream, with a balanced tang, creaminess, and sweetness. I ate more than half the bowl by myself. These dishes were plenty for two girls, with kombucha, it came to 27 euros per person. #BerlinLife #BerlinFood #BerlinExplore #GermanyBerlin #TrendyEats