The cakes were fantastic, but why we ended up seeking out French and Italian food in Vienna. We liked Austrian food, but I'm not sure that we actually enjoyed it.
Wonderful post, Rachel, and I enjoyed following along on your trip on Instagram. I completely understand the sense of yearning, wanting to experience it all, but simultaneously wanting a plate of vegetables!
Thanks Jolene! And I'm glad you enjoyed following along - usually I'm not big into creating for my Instagram stories but I really enjoy it as a format for storytelling when I'm travelling. Next stop Tuscany in the autumn!
My grandmother was part Austrian and I recently came across her recipe for a “spring” goulash, which seems like an oxymoron, but whatever. I’m mostly pescatarian, not sure if this dish will ever see the light of day.
I hear you. I would have eaten cake for every meal.
Nothing that screams "spring!" in my opinion; it's pretty basic with veal, tomatoes, noodles, sour cream etc. I'm thinking lamb would be more spring-y. The full recipe may appear in a future issue of my foodletter. Keep your eyes (and potatoes) peeled!
Well veal is quite light so perhaps that is why it is a "spring" version? I'll keep a look out because that does sound delicious. Made and served in my own home where I can serving it with plenty of veg...!
Rachel, I enjoyed this post! Vienna was our honeymoon destination decades ago, and I felt the same way about the food then. What I enjoyed were the wines, much lighter, brighter, and more German than what I sipped in the US. And now I am very much a fan of the Austrian Gruners. It was the crossing of cultures that spoke to me, that East meets West that was present in the markets, restaurants, and people. It is not a place I want to return to, but I am glad we got to experience it. And yes, the schnitzel is massive!
Thank you Anne! Oh I loved the wines - I think they were a lot more challenging than what I'm used to drinking from what has been marketed to British tastes, or even the wines reserved for the domestic French or Spanish markets. I was not much a fan of their sparkling wine though, whilst J loved all the whites universally, but none of the reds - so much more of a conversation starter than I'm used to, too, and as a couple we're really into our wines.
I also like how you describe it as East meets West - beautifully put!
Everything may be more blended today, but back then, it was noticeable when the staid European-Viennese culture sidled up to the bright spice of the East.
I loved it, and I'm so glad I went with the pancake option rather than dumplings because whilst I enjoyed all the dumplings I had it was so pleasing in that it was familiar flavours and textures, but prepared in a new and an unfamiliar way.
It is funny that you feel it closer to home, isn't it? All the arabic did not bother me in the slightest in Egypt, but I'd not expected to feel isolated like that in mainland Europe.
Wonderful post, Rachel, and I enjoyed following along on your trip on Instagram. I completely understand the sense of yearning, wanting to experience it all, but simultaneously wanting a plate of vegetables!
Thanks Jolene! And I'm glad you enjoyed following along - usually I'm not big into creating for my Instagram stories but I really enjoy it as a format for storytelling when I'm travelling. Next stop Tuscany in the autumn!
My grandmother was part Austrian and I recently came across her recipe for a “spring” goulash, which seems like an oxymoron, but whatever. I’m mostly pescatarian, not sure if this dish will ever see the light of day.
I hear you. I would have eaten cake for every meal.
What is in her Spring Goulash? I'm curious now!
Nothing that screams "spring!" in my opinion; it's pretty basic with veal, tomatoes, noodles, sour cream etc. I'm thinking lamb would be more spring-y. The full recipe may appear in a future issue of my foodletter. Keep your eyes (and potatoes) peeled!
Well veal is quite light so perhaps that is why it is a "spring" version? I'll keep a look out because that does sound delicious. Made and served in my own home where I can serving it with plenty of veg...!
Rachel, I enjoyed this post! Vienna was our honeymoon destination decades ago, and I felt the same way about the food then. What I enjoyed were the wines, much lighter, brighter, and more German than what I sipped in the US. And now I am very much a fan of the Austrian Gruners. It was the crossing of cultures that spoke to me, that East meets West that was present in the markets, restaurants, and people. It is not a place I want to return to, but I am glad we got to experience it. And yes, the schnitzel is massive!
Thank you Anne! Oh I loved the wines - I think they were a lot more challenging than what I'm used to drinking from what has been marketed to British tastes, or even the wines reserved for the domestic French or Spanish markets. I was not much a fan of their sparkling wine though, whilst J loved all the whites universally, but none of the reds - so much more of a conversation starter than I'm used to, too, and as a couple we're really into our wines.
I also like how you describe it as East meets West - beautifully put!
Everything may be more blended today, but back then, it was noticeable when the staid European-Viennese culture sidled up to the bright spice of the East.
I’m glad you got to try pancake soup (as it’s known in my family)!
On the language thing - that’s exactly how I felt in Amsterdam, really disorientated. You’ve expressed it much better than I have though!
I loved it, and I'm so glad I went with the pancake option rather than dumplings because whilst I enjoyed all the dumplings I had it was so pleasing in that it was familiar flavours and textures, but prepared in a new and an unfamiliar way.
It is funny that you feel it closer to home, isn't it? All the arabic did not bother me in the slightest in Egypt, but I'd not expected to feel isolated like that in mainland Europe.