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It is an endless struggle, and those who travel often will agree. That search for a meal you once had, the aim of trying to replicate that experience. It is with great sadness that on so many occasions, I am let down. After all, food is almost always better in its country of origin. That is only natural.
It is no secret that I adore Thailand. I cannot get enough of the country, having visited six times in the last five years or so. There are many reasons to love Thailand; the weather, the people, the relaxed nature but nothing tops the amazing food on offer. I remember many of the meals there very fondly and often go searching for something similar when I return home.
I am quite fortunate to have amazing, authentic Thai food near me, a food truck serving just four or five delicious dishes. However, that doesn’t stop me from craving the Thai food experience. Eating in Thailand is more than just great food. It is the sun beating down as you sit on a little plastic stool and pop up table and it is the cold beer that often goes so well with it.
I first heard about Thai Park years ago, before I had ever travelled to Thailand. With no immediate plans to visit Berlin, I naturally forgot about it. That is until I recently visited the German capital. Once the market was brought to my attention, it became the number one item on my itinerary. Reliant on good weather, as without that the market doesn’t happen, I prayed for sunshine and got my wish. It was the only sunny day out of the five that I was in Germany and I was on my way to Preußenpark to eat what I hoped would be amazing Thai food.
From a distance, it looks like an area of the park overcrowded with sunbathers. All you can see is a huge amount of umbrellas with people sitting underneath. Once closer though, those ‘sunbathers’ were in fact, dozens and dozens of vendors selling their homecooked meals. The aroma started to hit me as I entered the market. I knew instantly that this was going to live up to all my high expectations.
Roaming through the rows of vendors trying to decide what would be my lunch was the hardest part. That was until I found a stall selling both a pork and a beef noodle soup. Anyone that has eaten either of these in Thailand will be familiar with its scent, the beautiful meaty smell of the broth. Once I got that, my decision had been made. The dark, murky broth, the huge amount of noodles, fresh greens, tender pieces of pork and one of those amazing Thai meatballs, it was perfect. Sitting there on the floor at my small plastic table, I couldn’t be happier.
That is until I added my number one reason for being there into the mix, Chang. Chang is my favourite beer from anywhere in the world. Nothing I have tried since has ever topped it and I doubt anything ever will. I have created (and lost) so many memories whilst drinking Chang. This was the first time I have ever seen it outside its homeland and I planned on making the most of this opportunity.
As I spent my afternoon on the grass, snacking on spring rolls, deep-fried bananas and whatever else took my fancy, I could have just as easily been in Bangkok as Berlin. I wouldn’t have changed those few hours for anything.
I got a real sense that only the Thai people could pull this off. Facilities were limited, vendors were crouched down on mats, cooking on camping stoves. A guy went around collecting empty dishes, washing them and returning them to their respected vendors. It was all so simple and yet so well done. Thai Park Berlin is the perfect place to go should you be looking for that true taste of Thailand. If you have travelled to Thailand before, this market is guaranteed to bring back some memories. If not, this is where you need to eat and subsequently realise that any Thai food you have previously eaten has no comparison on the real thing.
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