My kitchen is … tiled on all four sides with the original 1910 tiles. I live in a turn-of-the-century apartment in Berlin, and traditionally kitchens were always in the back, with an extra entrance for the staff. We blocked that up to get more space when we renovated. The tiles are mostly cream, with blue Delft-style patterns every couple of tiles – you can tell they’ve lived through two wars. I like that it’s big, with a window looking out on to a courtyard below, and enough space for a table that seats four.
My favourite kitchen tool is … a toss-up between my knife and my cutting board. I have a square-lipped cutting board from Cuisinart that I’m obsessed with. I have a second one just in case. The lipped edge means that everything – juices, seeds, small pieces – automatically gets corralled and doesn’t go skittering off the edge into the pan. The knife is one I’ve used for years: solid, perfect for my hands.
My storecupboard staple is … canned tomatoes – pureed, chopped, whole, plum ... I feel like as long as I have a can in the cupboard, I can make any meal: lunch, dinner, even breakfast, quickly. I try to buy ones from Italy; otherwise I’m not really particular about the brand or quality.
My culinary inspiration is … my mother. When I’m just cooking for myself and my family I don’t use cookbooks, and I don’t experiment much either. I always return to the homey Italian food I grew up with.
When I’m starving I … eat dark grainy German rye bread and butter. And a quick meal almost always involves tomato sauce – I can put it on pasta, or cook beans, meat or fish in it, or poach eggs in it. It’s the thing I know how to make in my sleep.
My best-kept kitchen secret is … understanding salt. You have to salt tomato sauce at the beginning when you’re sweating the onions, otherwise they don’t soften and release their flavour. Salting the pasta water is equally important.
My current obsession is … black beans. Berlin doesn’t have good Mexican food, so I’ve learned to make my own and we all love it. Our family favourite is a salad of black beans, chopped tomatoes, avocado, canned corn, and a salad dressing from Gwyneth Paltrow – don’t judge me! Her chapter on dressings is reason enough to own the book (It’s All Good).
Everything tastes better with … olive oil – it’s the one thing I’m particular about. I’m currently working my way through a 5-litre can I bought in Tuscany last summer. I try only to buy olive oil from small producers. I particulary like Greek varieties and I feel Greece can use all the help it can get at the moment.
When I go shopping I … am disorganised. I wish I had a weekly delivery for my staples, but I don’t. I shop almost every day – it’s ridiculous, and so inefficient.
Luisa Weiss is a food blogger, Harper’s Bazaar DE columnist and author of My Berlin Kitchen and Classic German Baking, out this autumn. the wednesdaychef.com; Instagram: wednesdaychef
