When Romain Dumond was a toddler, his mother persuaded him to walk toward her by using a bit of cheese as bait. Now, as certified fromager at Prenzlauer Berg’s La Käserie, he’s the one doing the tempting.
His little Laden, opened in mid-April with co-owner Bastian Slovinski, exudes casual Gallic sophistication, from the name (a Franc-o-fied pun on Käserei) to the blue, red and white wooden chairs arranged outside.
Inside, you’ll find a little wine, a little charcuterie, and a whole lot of fermented milk – all imported from Dumond and Slovinski’s native France. Bona-fide AOC Tome des Bauges (€2.49/100g) and Coeur de Neufchâtel (€4.50/piece) beckon alongside duck rillettes, wines and assorted hams. Take a slab or two home for private gorging, or take advantage of the shop’s cosy ambience and order in. A small breakfast with jam and honey is €4; a larger one with cheese and ham is €8. Both come with what might be Berlin’s best baguette.
But real lactose lovers should consider the Käseplatte of the week: €8 for a selection of six, delicately arranged on a slate with fruit and fig jam, as well as a large basket of the aforementioned wonder bread. Wash it all down with wine for an extra €2, or spring for a glass of Normandy cider (€3).
Between the sofa, comfy chairs and all-day opening hours, you can linger for a long time, flipping through the shop’s numerous books on cheese whilst eating cheese. Meta-yum.
