In the “Mitti” there is regional lunch to take away
When Lilith Ketzmar happily twirls around in her kitchen, the surrounding area slowly starts to growl. And anyone who stands at the window of their 37 square meter small kiosk can have a look to see whether there is a salad, red lentil curry soup, bowls, rice pudding or maybe a mustard celebration again that day. Everything is homemade, everything is seasonal and regional, often vegetarian and vegan. And if there’s a currywurst, “then it’s organic meat, of course,” says the 36-year-old.
Every Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lilith Ketzmar offers lunch to go in her small shop “Mitti, die Kioskluncherie”. The whole thing is available in compostable and reusable containers or in their own bowls, which regular customers now take with them as a matter of course.
Ketzmar fulfills a lifelong dream
Since May 2021, the neighbors who are enthusiastic about the surrounding offices, shops and authorities or Ketzmar’s three children (three, seven and ten years old) have been getting their lunch in the former shower stall at Hildesheimer Straße 258. The regular clientele grew quickly. “I started with 20 to 30 portions, now I’m at 40 to 50,” says the trained hotel manager, who has fulfilled a lifelong dream with kiosk lunch. “I grew up around the corner from here, as a child I used to get my colorful bags from the old kiosk.” 20 years since she’s been in the catering trade, “but I’ve also been at home with the children for a long time”.
From autumn 2020 it was renovated and the kitchen was installed. It was then opened in May 2021. Pretty brave in the Corona period, right? “A lot of people say that,” says Lilith Ketzmar and laughs, but the concept is only “Takeaway food, I don’t have any seats”. They didn’t have to worry too much about that. “But maybe I was just too euphoric that I could get the store.”
The colorful bag is still there
After the end of the Brausebude at the end of 2019, the kiosk in Döhren was empty for a while. “Since this is my children’s way to school, we often thought in the family: something has to happen with this. I’ve always had in mind to do something of my own. And this place is just cool.” Apart from lunch, Lilith Ketzmar also makes colorful bags for her guests – a must at the kiosk. In addition to soft drinks, vegan ice cream and honey from an apiary in Döhren, she also has small toys such as rubber twists or yo-yos on offer for children.
The limited opening times are due to family life. “In the summer, Fridays should also be open.” They calculate the food portions so that as little as possible is left over. “If something is left over, I offer it for a donation the next day.” What Ketzmar thinks is great: “Something really comes together.” The first time this money went to the Red Cross around the corner, the next time the association gets it Dark figure the money.
Last question: where does the name actually come from? Lilith Ketzmar laughs out loud. “The ‘Mitti’ is a creation of my children and my best friend came up with the ‘Kioskluncherie’. I think the name is great.”
By Petra Rückerl
