|
|
|
|
Gastronomy in Vienna
|
Viennese gastronomy
Sachertorte
The most delicious item in Viennese gastronomy is probably the Sachertorte. This culinary delight came into being by pure coincidence. In 1832, a minister was suddenly faced with unexpected guests, whilst his wife was away on holiday with the kitchen staff. Only the 16-year-old apprentice chef, Franz Sacher, had been left behind. He was given the task to spoil the guests with a meal. The dessert was so popular that he became a pastry cook. The Sachertorte still underwent many changes. It made the descendants of Franz Sacher immensely rich. Figuratively and literally because they used the money to acquire a hotel which was to receive many members of state. Even today, you can still sample the real Sachertorte at the Sacher Hotel (Philharmonikergasse, by the Staatsoper).
Coffee houses
The Viennese drink their coffee in a Kaffeehaus, as this is the tradition. It is a place to meet, but it also gives you the opportunity to be alone among people and to read one of the many newspapers available. When you are on the lookout for such a Kaffeehaus, you should not confuse these with Café-Konditoreien and Espresso-Café's. We visited the Café Central at Herrengasse 14 and Café Landtmann at Dr.Karl-Lüger-Ring 4.
|
|
Apfelstrudel and Wiener Schnitzel
Two culinary delights which we believe to be Viennese or Austrian in origin, but nothing is further from the truth. The Habsburgs brought immense wealth to Vienna, and the rich attracted artists from abroad. Austria was also a powerful country in that period with international relations. Those foreigners brought with them their own local specialities and the chefs introduced them into Viennese cooking, albeit with some slight changes. The Apfelstrudel is Turkish in origin and the Wiener Schnitzel originally comes from Milan in Italy. Website Figlmüller Schnitzel
Wiener Heurigen
Around Vienna there are wine-growing villages. Since the end of the 18th century, the wine-growers were allowed to sell their own wine of that year over a period of six weeks or so, without any tax being levied. The name 'Heurigen' therefore means wine of that year. The wine-growers organised festivals to attract customers from Vienna.
Now there are festivals throughout the year, although these are no longer organised by the farmers, but instead by clever traders who provide entertainment for the tourists. However, the ingredients remain the same: wine, a farm buffet, and musicians playing "Schrammelmusik". This is cheap classical music based on a violin, guitar and accordion. Grinzing is the most famous village for the Heurigen. Website Grinzinger Heurigen Show
|
Picture: © Photographer: Anatoliy Babiychuk | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Text: GVDV/RD - © AT-Europe sprl
|
|
|
|