Restaurant of the Week: »KAUPEN No. 6«
The "Kaupen Nr. 6" restaurant is located in the heart of the Spreewald forest. On stilts over the water, amidst punts, canoes and woods, Johanna Koal serves modern Spreewald cuisine – with complete consistency.
Johanna Koal took over "Kaupen No. 6" in the Spreewald village of Lehde from her parents and cooks modern Spreewald cuisine there: boiled potatoes with quark and linseed oil from the mill in Lübbenau, Hefeplinsen – yeast pancakes fried in linseed oil, traditionally served with cinnamon and sugar – and fresh pike-perch from the Spree River. The house where she does all this stands on stilts over the water, accessible on foot or by bicycle through the forest. Every few minutes, a boat with tourists glides by, or a group of canoeists: anyone who wants to can moor directly at the terrace.
The beef dumplings in horseradish sauce are made with meat from the Mutschenhof farm, whose animals graze on meadows right by the Spree River. The horseradish comes from the Karl Koal grater, a family business located in the village. The Spreewald-style black pudding is made with barley groats instead of the traditional buckwheat, and is served with sauerkraut and homemade mustard. The pike-perch comes with Spreewald fish sauce and brown butter, and the salmon trout with herb gnocchi, dill, and preserved lemon. Clear preparations, good products, no unnecessary fuss.
The herb pancakes, a savory variation of the traditional yeast pancake, come with green asparagus, wild herbs, and Béarnaise sauce. For dessert: the soft-serve ice cream made with pasture-raised milk from the "Glass Dairy" is simple yet delicious. The wine list features selections from Germany, Austria, France, and Italy: just right, without any pretension. Reservations are recommended. For those wishing to stay longer, a holiday apartment is available for up to three guests.
