Under the handle @berlinfoodfeast, Bettina Grabl curates culinary discoveries and travel gems on Instagram and TikTok. In this interview, she shares how she picks eateries, handles off days at restaurants, and discusses a challenge that goes beyond food.
Bettina Grabl, better known as "berlinfoodfeast", tries out a wide variety of restaurants in the capital on the side. No wonder the food influencer was nominated for the TikTok "What to Eat Award" in the "Best TikTok Food Recommendation Creator" category for her numerous (secret) tips. She keeps private matters, that have nothing to do with her work on social media, to herself - including her age, although she has long since completed her A-levels, she jokes in a quiet moment shortly before the award ceremony. Her fans in particular regret that she was unable to take home the prize in the end - but they can still find out where to get the best ramen in Berlin and which city trip they shouldn't miss.
FALSTAFF: As Berlinfoodfeast, you provide around 155,000 followers on TikTok and 253,000 followers on Instagram with food, restaurant and travel tips. How did this come about?
Bettina Grabl: I've always been a foodie. I love discovering new places and trying things out. In September 2021, I simply started sharing my discoveries and tips. At first, though, it was only on TikTok, because at the beginning it took a lot of effort to hold my face up to the camera, and I thought the platform was more niche at the time. But that changed pretty quickly.
Most people also find it difficult to go out to eat alone. How do you deal with it?
I've gotten used to eating alone. But what still makes me uncomfortable is filming. When I set up my tripod or film myself walking through a restaurant, the other diners give me a funny look. Fortunately, most of them are more interested and want to know what I'm doing. After all, they usually only see the finished video and not the entire creation process.
How do you go about selecting the places you visit and recommend?
I usually follow my instincts and look for interesting or new places that I would like to try out. I travel a lot, often by bike, so you automatically discover new things. Sometimes I also receive recommendations from followers, which is important to me; only if I find it worth recommending will I perhaps make a video about it.
Everyone has a bad day, and that goes for restaurants too.
Watching your videos, one gets the impression that everything you test is super delicious and worth a visit. Do you ever get disappointed with a restaurant?
Of course, but I would never upload that. Some people criticise me for exactly that, asking why I always find everything praiseworthy. I simply don't show the things I don't like. After all, taste is always subjective. It doesn't do anyone any good if I advise against a restaurant - it can potentially even harm the places. Everyone has a bad day, and that goes for restaurants too. Or maybe I just don't like the taste of something, while others love it.
If you are enthusiastic, you award up to 10 points. What criteria do you use to rate the dishes or places?
Out of feeling and very intuitively. The scoring is more of a game. I do not claim to give a perfect review. It's much more about lightness and openness - about trying things out. Food is also always a cultural exchange.
That's why you'll not only find out where to get the best handmade noodles in the capital, for example, but also the story behind them.
If the opportunity arises and someone wants to talk to me, I take the chance. But because I'm a very spontaneous person, I hardly ever register - so the pubs don't know that I'm coming.
Ultimately, you are dependent on the opinions of other people - and these are formed within seconds,
Initially, your focus was exclusively on restaurants in Berlin, but now there are also (travel) tips from Amsterdam, Prague and Bratislava. Does it ever get boring in the capital?
No, but I love leaving my comfort zone and experiencing new adventures. For example, I always wanted to travel by night train and spontaneously booked the first night train connection from Berlin to Stockholm. I was totally excited and didn't know what to expect, so I recorded my experiences in a video, simply because it would have helped me to watch such a video before the trip. This is exactly the added value I want to offer with my articles: not only share exciting adventures, but also pass on practical tips and information.
What has been the biggest challenge on your culinary journey so far?
In fact, mental health is a topic that is indirectly, but nevertheless strongly linked to my content. The constant comparison with others and the self-imposed pressure can be stressful. Especially when videos are not as well received as hoped, this can lead to a small low. Ultimately, you are dependent on the opinions of other people - and these are formed within seconds, which can create additional pressure. It is definitely a challenge to stay mentally healthy.
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