Being a frequent customer, one of the things that we were particularly interested in was how she manages to always have so unique and different but totally excellent meals on the menu. Although we couldn’t figure out a concept behind this, there is one. “We have always a vegetarian, a meat and a fish dish, a salad and a soup,” she says. At the beginning of each week they decide what kind of ingredients they like to buy for the 7 days. Then, every morning, Telse talks to the cook who is responsible for the cooking that day, and decisions are made what to make from the food bought. “It’s a little bit like cooking duel (a german TV show), we talk about the food, both of us making suggestions how to combine it the best and discuss as long as the menu needs to be perfect.”

Another aspect that plays an important role in creating the dishes are the different nationalities of the resident cooks swinging the pans. “It works like being a DJ,” she states, “We have different ingredients that we got to use for a week and try to find the best mix, like a DJ does on a night that he’s spinning.” Avoiding the same recipies that are on the menu every other week is one key point to Telse’s cooking philosophy. Although there are no returning receipies, there are certain days to structure the week.

On every monday night a “food lottery” takes places here, during which the customers can write their favourite dish on a piece of paper. After that the papers are mixed together and drawn as long till everybody is happy with what will be cooked. Tuesday’s “pinchos day” when everything is served on sticks according to a spanish tradition is followed by wednesdays “home cooking”, where german food is reinvented. On thursday there’s an electro night, on which various local DJ’s spin the records at this St.Pauli joint. Music also accompanies the food on friday, when it’s time for “powerwoman-day”, but also male DJ’s are more than welcome. But probably the most interesting day at the “kochsalon” is saturday where a “cooking battle” of two of the best cooks takes place. Some combinations that come out of this unusual concept are for example austrian dumplings with peanut sauce and bacon. Besides this there’s a weekly art opening inside. Rounding up the week is the “los sabrosos latinos” (tasty latinos day) where mostly latin american food is served.

As you can see, there’s quiet a lot happening at the “Kochsalon”. In our opinion it’s concept to close the gap between gourmet cuisine and relaxed, layed-back atmosphere, totally worked out and it’s always a pleasure to have your dinner here.

Kochsalon
Address: Bernhard-Nocht-Str 95, Hamburg, German
info@kochsalon.de
https://www.kochsalon.de