A purposeful Michal Caasmann traverses the Düsseldorf METRO store, headed for the spirits section. He is looking for the traditional Slovakian schnapps slivovitz. While you won’t find it on the drinks menu of the Byliny restaurant or bar, it has become part of the closing time ritual – whether for a toast with the team to another successful day or a relaxed round while sitting with guests. The fact that it comes from Slovakia is no coincidence. On the contrary, as Michal’s home country, Slovakia plays a central role in the Byliny enterprise. After all, both the restaurant and the bar bear a Slovak name: in Michal’s mother tongue, ‘byliny’ means ‘herbs’. And the guests encounter them not just on their plate or in their glass, but also as plants on the shelves and in pictures on the walls. Once he has found slivovitz, Michal continues striding along the aisles, which he knows well. He carries his shopping list in his head. He needs cheese, fig mustard, basil syrup and lemons for the Byliny Bar. For the coming evenings, the menu calls for a summery cheese platter and, fittingly for the summery temperatures, a house-made lemonade with basil syrup and fresh lemon slices.