Paetzolds Kitchen is the creation of Johannes Paetzold
gallery
ABOUT
Born in Franconia, on the river Main, regional Asparragus was the veg of my childhood. My mother – five children – would cook every day, for the family, but I always remember guests at the table; school-mates, friends, colleagues. “Not enough food for everyone” – was an unthinkable concept, rather it was “how can we make it stretch for all?”. Food and eating culture were means to hospitality. Mama was my first hero chef. She would mix a salad sauce, then stop, look at me and say – “once you have finished there might be a little something missing, so just do something crazy!” And she would splash a spoonful of jam into the marinade. Father would take over on the weekend, his three course Sunday meals were an absolute must.
Music journalism in radio became my main profession when returning to a now reunited Berlin after many years in England. I was fortunate to be able to dedicate my radio shows to soul, reggae and Global Pop from Africa and Latin America. The key event which lead to my 2nd passion, the culinary scene, was working for one week as Radio Eins reporter in chef Marco Müller’s kitchen. Now feted with three Michelin stars, he allowed me into his kitchen where work was in full swing. To me its protagonists and settings made it all look like a Shakespearean play, with all the drama confined to a small space between pots & pans. To this day I can’t stop marvelling at the accuracy, the passion, the masochism of these crazy madwomen and madmen in the kitchen.
