Macondo prepares plantains with beef strips
Fried plantains, also known as 'patacones,' are served on many occasions in Colombia. With beef, they are Jorge Rodriguez's favorite food, which is why they're on the menu at Macondo.
An almost magical place
Macondo has a morbid charm that does well with its customers. Many are regulars. When Jorge Rodriguez opened it in 2006, he read from Gabriel García Márquez's novel, "One Hundred Years of Solitude." The Colombian novelist had invented a fictive, magical world in the book: Macondo. The name fit and Rodriguez adopted it for his restaurant.
Berlin as a second home
"A few years ago, I said that I really am a Berliner. And then I met many real Berliners and realized, something is still missing in me; I can't say I'm a real Berliner yet. I say that I come from Berlin, but it will take a bit of time yet before I can call myself a true Berliner." - Jorge Rodriguez
Closing time? Not on the menu
"Friedrichshain doesn't stop. So many tourists and students from other countries who don't know any limits, time-wise. You can sit here until four a.m. and there's still something happening out on the streets and in the clubs nearby. They'll come here, or move on, stay until the next day and come again for breakfast!" - Jorge Rodriguez
A basket of plantains
Plantains are well-loved in Colombia, especially those with savory fillings. The "patacones" are deep-fried or pan-fried and then pressed in a special iron known as a tortillera. That's how they take the shape of a small basket. Then they're served as a snack or dessert, as a side dish or main meal.
Patacones from Bogotá
"The plantain recipe that we used today came from my mother. She cooked this a lot at my home in Bogotá, and I always loved to eat them. When I visited Colombia with my wife four years ago, we ate them and I said, oh, this is something for Macondo!" - Jorge Rodriguez