Eat a lot: La Bolognina, Neukölln

This is where I go when I fancy a take away lunch or some premade fresh pasta. I know it's homemade, by lads who know what they're doing and do it well. Everything is fresh, delicious and, when you choose to eat in, perfectly cooked. The portions are decent too.

 

Fresh pasta in the making

 Last time I went they had a choice of spinach and ricotta ravioli, tagliatelle and wholegrain strozzapreti with a tomato, pesto or butter and sage sauce.They also sell Italian olive oil per litre (€14) which I know is a hit with the Italians in the area. I would have taken a bottle, had my wallet not been a few euro short (no card payments here).

Perfect ravioli filled with spinach, ricotta and a dusting of nutmeg

Helion Torrone candy: nothing but almonds, sugar and candied fruit

It's simply not worth making my own ravioli when I have these guys on my doorstep.

La Bolognina, Donaustraße 107, Berlin, 01577 8712004, facebook page, open Mon, Wed and Thu 12-7pm, Tue, Fri and Sat 12-10pm.

Mural

Cook a lot: Fast, fresh, simple. by Donna Hay

I first 'met' Donna Hay in the shape of her magazine when working for Jamie Oliver in London. It was one of the mags that were eagerly awaited by everyone in the office. Once in, it would be fought over, disappear for days on end and finally pop up somewhere with drool marks on the pages.

Donna's books are like fat versions of her magazine: summery, whitewashed pictures with lots of pastels and impeccable food styling that somehow doesn't make you feel inadequate just by looking at it, but convinces you that your plate/table/life can look this good too.