Articles by Jared

Jared Goldman is the Bar Manager at both Goldman’s Bar and Fabisch…and our expert on fine drinking in the city. To contact him: goldman [at] circus-berlin.de

Forza Pankow! Football in the Berlin suburbs

20. Mai 2010 in Berlin, Circus News, Football, Stuff We Like by Jared

pankow football(Jared and some friends go to watch the football…or, what the Circus staff do in their spare time…Who’s Who from left to right: Andrew, Toga, Josefine, Sean, Bernie, Konny, Jared and Cami )

This past Sunday I woke up with the traditional feeling that it was Saturday night the day before. I woke up to my handy going off with a text: “Football today meet at Pankow S-bahn at 13:30”. So I nursed my small hangover and jumped on the tram to be taken way out of my hood. (I am known for never leaving Berlin Mitte). I arrived in Pankow and could only think: Dorothy, we are not in Kansas no more.

I arrived in Pankow to see a girl beating up her boy friend. Not something you see very often…but as Jim and little Jo Jo arrived with Andy and little Bernie I told them the story and it seemed to be some what of a regular occurrence in this part of the world. Sean rolled in and then Toga on his bike and to top it off, Konny and Cami in a car.

We caught the bus to the stadium, where I discovered we were to watch Konny’s old team Einheit Pankow, who were playing against BFC Preußen.  Arriving at the out door pitch Konny shook hands with the guy selling tickets and organized us a deal at the door. Making our way to the beer Konny seemed to know everybody there. I knew Konny could play football (since I am the official circus physio)  but I didn’t know about his good old days as  a famous player for Pankow. He had to hang up his boots  since he got married and the team demands 3 days of training and one game day.

We hit the fan curve. It was just us all speaking English and about 50 other people drinking  crates of beer and smoking butts.. The away teams fans must have  got lost since they had about 5 of them there.

The game kicked off and we watched and yelled what ever and when even Konny told us too. We got a couple rounds of beer in before half time, and at half time it was time to wash a few sausages down with a few more beers. The second half was supposed to be more exciting than the first half, but the final result was 0-0 and there were few chances for Pankow to score.

The game ended and it was time to retire to the club house. Konny gave me tour of the club house where the players were enjoying asparagus and potatoes. They all looked at me like I was in the wrong place but Konny had my back and showed photos of his famous father on the pitch , in the period when he was a leading light in the over 50s team. Now he is playing for the over 60s!

Paul, Katrin and little Lotte showed up about a half hour after the game – we are still trying to figure out why there were so late – to drink a few beers (not Lotte). The sun came out later in the day and the kids were having a great time.

It was a great day to hang out with people since most have kids these days and they got no time for beer drinking. The weather held out for us, the beer was plentiful and well priced, and the football was as exciting as it gets. Actually I was more fascinated by the planes passing by about to land at Tegal.

Thanks for everyone that made or Sunday trip so much fun and I am sure when there is another game and a trip to the forgotten corners of the Berlin football world,  Konny will let you all know.

Mr Goldman goes to Bar Zone

13. Mai 2010 in Bars, Berlin, Events by Jared | 1 comment

barzone(Taking a break from his tour of Berlin’s best bars, Jared finds something else that is just as good…a trip to one of Berlin biggest bar conventions…)

I am sure as many of you readers out there have started to notice the I like to drink. So twice a year in Berlin there are two bar convetions. The first one took place on the 4th of the 5th of May this year and the second one is coming on the 4 and 5th of October.

This last week I went with my fellow bar tender Christian to the bar zone. We woke up much earlier than any bar tender should have to and by 10:30 in the morning we were standing outside getting prepared for the day. I would like to add one reason out of many I much prefer the BCB run my mixology is that they listen to their readers and the convention starts at 12:00. A much more human hour to wake up for.

Anyway we checked in at the door got our badges and away we went. We had a a lot of business to get done on this day. This is a ba tenders code word for we need to do a lot of drinking but tell the bosses we were working hard. But don’t tell my boss please! One of main goals of the days was to find  Pisco de Oro the brand we choose for our new cocktail menu. The first stand we saw was this one so we jumped over to speak with Ana Rosa and by a quarter to eleven I had drunk 2 different types of pisco. What a start to the day! I know had to full shots on an tired empty stomach. Well that’s how these things go.

Next stop was a new Korn product on the market made in Berlin. The bottle was stripped down and very simple but eleganat but what caught my attention was the fact it was made in Berlin. I had look at the 1000 limited edtion bottles each numberd and out poped the representative for the company. Of course I had to try the product. It was very unentertaining much like vodka is but its made in Berlin it’s a cool bottle and what I liked even better was the price. So if anybody is looking for a gift just contact me and I am sure I can organize you a bottle.

So now with 3 shots in my belly getting close to 11 we took a small break had a look around and after that I got a bit thirsty again. I saw one of the bar tenders I have known for a few year Jacob from Stagger Lee working in the Borco stand. We greeted each other and he then kindly offered us a drink. Now it was time to get serious and have a real drink.

Jacob, being the excellent bar tender that he is, pumped us out drinks with nothing but the finest mixing spoon, mixing glass and jiggers that a bartender would like to have. His zests were perfect and filled the air with the smell of fresh citros and orange. It was one of the best drinks I have had in a long time. But I can’t for the lift of me remember what the hell was in it. Thanks Jacob and readers keep your eyes out because Stagger Lee is on the list for Mr. Goldmans bar tour.

We took another little break to watch some guy doing latte art but I was just not thinking about coffee anymore. We found another little bar stand that looked very inviting. We tried a few new rums one of which I must have for the hotel, and decided to have a cocktail. The bar man offered me one of his chocolate cocktails with a 25 year old rum and I was very disappointed. Christain ordered a rum manhattan and even that lacked the passion. The rum was good but I think that company better get a better representative.

Now I was in pretty much auto pilot mode and couldn’t really see properly at this point so we decided wehad  better take a beer break. Veltins dressed some girls up real nice and were kind to put some beers on ice for us so we had a beer and planned the attact for the rest of the day. The plan was back to Ana Rosa for pisco cocktail and then home.

We some how got stopped at another stand to try cachaca. One that was really not fitting to me but the bar man made us a drink and the drink was very nice. That is my way of saying I got no idea how it tasted at this point. He then went on to make a caipi for Christian but it was so bad that we told him we could not drink it.

By then we were ready to get out of there. But we went back to our friends at Pisco de Oro and finished the long hard day of work with a pisco basil smash. I couldn’t really taste the basil and wasn’t sure the bar man had any idea of what was going on but still I drank it with a smile on my face. I slightly remember drinking a pisco sour after that or maybe I just made that up!

Anyway that was our day I was in bed by 20:00 and was fit for another day in the office. Thanks to everyone we meet at Bar Zone and I am looking forward to the BCB in October.

Mr. Goldman over and out

The Bar Zone Website

Jared’s Bar Experience #5: Windhorst

28. April 2010 in Bars, Berlin by Jared | 1 comment

Windhorst bild(Next up on Jared’s guide to the best bars of Berlin and elsewhere is Windhorst, a great little place in the heart of the city)

Located on a side street close to Friedichstrasse, the Windhorst is a small bar with place for about thirty souls, and every time I have been there the atmosphere has been busy and yet relaxed, usually with some nice jazz on the sound system. This fits the decor, with photographs of jazz legends and a Cuban guy drinking rum looking down from the walls.

The centrepiece, as in all good drinking establishments, is the bar itself. Elegant, beautiful and topped with a nice light wood, it is everything you expect of a bar. But of course, what is most important are the drinks placed upon it. I asked the bartender for a recommendation of something vodka-based but not too sweet. He pointed out a few on the menu, and I selected the Mrs Rockefeller, which is made with vodka, fresh lime juice, cassis and a shot of campari, and finished with grapefruit juice.

It came in a chilled martini glass, and I have to say it tasted very nice. The flavours were complex, and it was not too sweet…it was the fresh lime juice that was the key to the whole drink. The rest of the menu makes it clear that this is a bar run by someone who is passionate about the drinks that are going out, and there are no traditional cocktails. It looks mainly as if these are drinks that have been created in-house and carefully selected.

Altogether I can recommend the Windhorst for good drinks and a pleasant, unpretentious atmosphere. As with all the best bars, you can see the personality of the owner and the bartenders both in how the place looks and feels, and the drinks that they choose to serve. So hop on the tram M1 from outside the Circus, and go and check it out.

WindhorstWindhorst Bar and Lounge
Dorotheenstraße 65, Berlin-Mitte

Open Monday to Friday from 6pm, Saturday from 9pm.
Click on the map for a closer look of how to get there.

Jared at the Sage Bar School

15. April 2010 in Bars, Berlin, Fabisch by Jared | Comments closed

barschuleberlin_header(Last year our bar manager Jared took a course at the Sage Bar School in Berlin, which was five intense days of bartender training, the results of which you can taste in Fabisch every time you order a drink. Here is his report of what he learned…)

The first thing I learned during the five days at the Sage Bar school is what Berlin is like if you wake up at eight in the morning. After years of working bars at The Circus, it was a revelation to discover that in the daytime the trams are full, and that people in Berlin actually go to work for a living. In between these revelations I also learned plenty about bar history, the different types of alcohol, speed mixing and cocktail building.

The course was led by David Wiedemann, an extremely knowledgable and good teacher, who was a fountain of information about all aspects of working the bar. During the week we learned about cocktails and drinks from the beginning on, including the history of cocktails – and the unique role played by prohibition in its development – the fermentation and distillation process, how different types of bars require different approaches, and then of course the drinks themselves.

The attention to detail was truly impressive, from the discussions about all types of equipment to what kind of ice shovel to use, to the detailed courses on different types of alcohol, including vodka, cachaca, tequila, gin, cognac, brandy, whisky and whiskey, as well as likore, bitters, amaro and champagne. Phew! By the end of the week we were tested on what we had learned, both written and practical, including a speed pouring test and well as cocktail building.

All in all it was a fantastic learning experience, and give me much to think about when it came to our drinks offer at Fabisch. For those who can read German, you can find out more about the Sage Bar School and their courses, from one-day workshops to six-month programmes, on their website.

Mr Goldman and his Bar

9. April 2010 in Bars, Circus Hostel, Design, Goldman's Bar by Jared | 1 comment

[17]-GOLDMANS-CMYK-web-300dpiIt all started about 8 months ago when we heard that we had the chance to renovate the hostel. The owners asked the bar to brainstorm and that no idea was out of the question. The bar team had a few meetings and over a few drinks an idea formed.

For many months it was all in our head but it one time the owners asked for a more concrete idea of what we wanted. So back to a few more drinks we put all of our ideas on paper and got prices for everything we wanted.

Our budget was cut a bit around the edges but we were happy with what we got and when the hostel closed the bar team consisting of Bazzy our in house artist, Ben our assistant manager, Flo our sound enigineer and of course myself jumped into action.

We ripped the place apart threw everything away that we had never touched, and packed everything that we held dear to us in boxes.

Bazzy was our team leader and was the one that called the shots and told everyone what time we had to show up for work. ( I think he learned a few things from his dad). Ben was always there with a couple of cans of red bull so he could paint up a storm. (Ben surprises us with all kind of talent all the time) Andy was in charge of ordering bread boxes and a lighting rack that was only 2 meters to long. Flo was cutting speaker cable that nobody had an idea to where it went. Me well I just mostly surpervised and came in at the end of the day to have a beer in an empty bar.

We worked long hard days and Bazzy worked long nights cutting stensils and doing strange things that he can only get away with at night. It went slowly but at one time the crunch came along and we really had to spring into action. We got everything done we needed a week before opening and had time to enjoy our work and put the final polish on all the ideas that are now reality.

It was a bumpy ride with differences of opion and you know what its like to deal with aritists but in the end we all came through with an end product that we can be proud of.

I would just like to thank the owners for their financial support and there just do it attitude, Bazzy for pulling through another rennvoation and taking on at times more than he was expected or asked to do, Ben for jumping in and doing what ever but always there and willing to work, Flo for being Flo and getting those cables done without messing them up in the time he said he would, Andy for our new bread box and getting the lighting rack cut down and the support of the hosuy team for putting up with our crazyness.

Thank you to all the above people. I learned a lot during this renovation that is priceless and we are off to a good start. We hope that the guests coming to our bar enjoy it because we did it for you.

Mr. G

Jared’s Bar Experience #4: Victoria Bar, Berlin

7. April 2010 in Bars, Berlin by Jared | Comments closed

victoriabarlogo(For the next in his series of trips to bars in Berlin, Jared picks up his passport and heads south of the border to West Berlin and the Victoria Bar)

The Victoria Bar, just to the south of Potsdamer Platz, is one of the bars that often features on the top ten lists of the city. On the day I went there, I was in the mood for a simple drink and so I ordered a daiquiri…and sometimes ordering a simple drink is a good way to test the skills of a bartender. The drink was well balanced, and the lime, sugar and rum all acted together in perfect harmony.

What is also nice about the Victoria Bar is their range of snacks that they offer to nimble on whilst you are having a drink. I ordered the small bar platter, which is four slices of baguette in little rounds, each with a different topping and a neat little garnish, such a cocktail onion, small pickle, smoked sausage…and the plate also contained their famous roast beef, wrapped in a bread stick and served with a honey sauce. It was the perfect snack to go with a cocktail, and accompanied the drink very well.

In general, the Victoria Bar has some great drinks and snacks, and the kind of speakeasy vibe which comes from the layout, the design and the music, all add up to make it a pretty cool place to have a drink, and well worth a trip out from Mitte (which, if you know me, you will know that it quite difficult to get me far from my hood…)

victoriabarmapVictoria Bar
Potsdamer Strasse 102
10785 Berlin

Open Daily from 6.30pm
Victoria Bar website
(click on the map for a closer look of how to get there)

Jared’s Bar Experience #3: Saphire Bar, Berlin

23. März 2010 in Bars, Berlin by Jared | Comments closed

saphirebar(For the next stop on Jared’s tour of Berlin’s bar scene, he heads north from the Circus into Prenzlauer Berg)

The neighbourhood in which this bar is located is more famous for its €1,50 kebabs and €1 mini pizzas, but ring a doorbell at the Saphire Lounge and you will find on the other side of the door one of Berlin’s nicest bars. This time on my trip I had some friends with me, which gave us a chance to sample a number of drinks that were made by the owner of the bar himself.

Paul ordered a Hemingway Sour, which is an extremely famous and popular drink that I have tasted many times, and yet this was easily one of the best. The secret was the Saphire’s own sweet and sour mix, made to a special recipe that of course the bartender would not divulge and which was used in many drinks.

Mark ordered the Tanz der Glaktischen Alien, which included another homemade special – the chilli vodka – as well as vanilla vodka, fresh passion fruit, blackberry liqueur, fresh strawberry puree, lemon juice and triple sec. It came in a martini glass and had a deep purple colour and a thick texture. The first sip was sweet, followed by the flavours of the chilli vodka…a unique taste sensation.

I was fascinated by the chilli vodka, and so made a choice that also included this house specialty. I ordered the Traume hinter Reispapier, which included both the Saphire chilli and vanilla vodkas as well as mandarin napoleon, sparkling wine (sekt) and ginger beer. It came with an astonishing garnish of pineapple, apple slices, cherry and finely sliced cucumber. It was both refreshing and tingly with the chilli and the bubbles of sekt.

Both the music and the decor of the Saphire is classy without being too formal, but it  is the drinks that are the star here, with the level of attention and care – including the homemade ingredients – that makes for both an interesting and pleasant experience. Go and check it out.

saphiremapSaphire Bar
Bötzowstrasse 31
10407 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg

Open daily from 8pm
Saphire Bar Website
(click on the map for a closer look of how to get there)

Jared’s Bar Experience #2: Bellini Lounge, Berlin

12. März 2010 in Bars, Berlin by Jared

Bellinilounge(Jared continues on his mission to drink his way around Berlin’s famous and infamous watering holes.)

A Bellini is an internationally famous long drink cocktail that originated in Italy, and is a mixture of sparkling wine – traditionally Prosecco – and peach puree. It is one of the most popular cocktails in Italy, and is often served at celebrations. So when I went to check out the Bellini Lounge on Oranienburger Strasse in Berlin-Mitte, I was kind of expecting something both fizzy and fruity.

Actually the decor once inside is quite minimal, as is the lighting, although one feature that the Bellini Lounge is famous for is the giant fish tank…which is not something you see on every night out in the city. But more than the fishtank, the Bellini Lounge is well-known, and has been often written about in the media, as one of Berlin’s very best cocktail bars.

On the night I was there the music was – similar to the decor – a minimal electro mix…which was a very pleasant accompaniment to reading through the menu, an elegant publication than runs to 60-odd pages. Its starts with pre-dinner drinks, then after-dinner drinks, then alcohol-free drinks, then specialty cocktails…for which the bartenders at the Bellini Lounge have won many awards. After that there were more cocktails divided into categories, plus wine, champagne and a specialty rum section…enough choice for the most demanding drinker, but difficult to make a selection.

I choose in the end on of the award-winning cocktails, the Green Temptation. This includes butterscotch schnapps, coconut liqueur, melon and kiwi liqueur, lemon juice and passion fruit juice. The bartender built it in the glass and added some shaky shaky action to get it just right. And it was.

The Bellini Lounge is right in the heart of the main touristy area of Berlin-Mitte, but it is popular with locals and visitors alike who come for the quality and the expertise of the bartenders and the excellent range of drinks on offer.

bellinimapBellini Lounge
Oranienburger Strasse 43
10117 Berlin-Mitte

Open daily from 6pm
Bellini Lounge Website
(Click on the map for a closer look of how to get there)

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