#fatsch

@Cafe Collective Fatsch

Usually we exchange music tips but she’d recently caught on that I have this thing for cake. My Hairdresser, she told me about Fudge. She knew straight away that I’d misspelt it in my head. “F.A.T.S.C.H – the way you’d spell it in German”, she explained.

I’ve started expanding my revere to the other side of the river and I was thankful for this tipoff. It’s right spank in…

@Cafe Collective Fatsch

Usually we exchange music tips but she’d recently caught on that I have this thing for cake. My Hairdresser, she told me about Fudge. She knew straight away that I’d misspelt it in my head. “F.A.T.S.C.H – the way you’d spell it in German”, she explained.

I’ve started expanding my revere to the other side of the river and I was thankful for this tipoff. It’s right spank in the middle of Kalk – a part of town my prejudice has kept me away from. It’s been long renown as a deprived area and a multicultural hot spot. I read later that the suburb is developing forward at a rapid pace and I must say – I was pleasantly surprised at what I say.

I set off after a quick lunch on a wee bike ride photo spree through Deutz on to Kalk. The route to the café ended up being longer than I intended – I kept stopping to take pictures. I could have spent the afternoon just doing that and have promised myself to go back for more.

Eventually I reached Josephskirchstrasse and found myself in front of a wonderful cosy café. It is just off the main (wild) shopping streets in the quiet residential area. Inside there’s a mix of old cottage furniture and lounge room sofas. The guests were pleasant and there were lovely people catering for food and drinks.

Fatsch is vegan. The standard milk in the coffee is soy and your options are oat and rice. They have the best range of cakes I’ve ever seen for a vegan café and I had to have two.

They have no service. They are a collective. There’s no boss. A few of the people that do the main shifts during the week are paid. Most of the people involved do it voluntarily – baking, cooking, cleaning, making coffee. That’s one of the reasons no one waits at the tables.

I felt at ease the minute I walked in. The girls behind the bar were friendly and easy going – patient while I considered the cake options. Then I relaxed at a window seat and watched the world go by outside.

I’m sorry I can’t really describe the chocolate cupcake I had. It had some cream of sorts in it and was topped off with sesame seeds. It was lovely. After that came the raspberry pie. Hmmm! Berry like with sweet crispy pastry.

Fatsch is looking for help. I’m wondering if I can fit in a weekend a month – baking, next year. I think I’d like that. Then I’d really be doing some cake in Cologne.

Josephkirchstraße 25, Kalk. Lines 1, 9.