The Wonders Of Local Cuisine THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

The capital's cuisine is undoubtedly influenced by the specialties of the territories that once belonged to the Habsburg empire, so you’ll also find typical dishes from other parts of Austria or neighboring countries. One example is Goulash, a meat stew of Hungarian origin, seasoned with paprika and accompanied by lard and boiled vegetables. But you'll also be able to sample typically Viennese dishes, such as Wiener Schnitzel, a crispy breaded cutlet of meat, or Tafelspitz, a really tasty beef and vegetable stew.

You can try these and many other specialties in a variety of eateries, from Spezialitaten Restaurant to Café-Restaurant. If you’re visiting the city in the summer, I recommend a visit to one of the many enchanting Biergarten: beer gardens tucked away in romantic inner courtyards, adorned with flowers, plants and fountains where, among other experiences, you can discover the beers brewed in the capital.

If wine is more your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that in the Vienna area alone there are nearly ten square kilometers of vineyards, planted with grape varieties that include the popular Grϋner Veltliner. In the rustic wine cellars called heuriger you can also sample the young wines between late October and December: this is sure to be a relaxing experience in good company, with live music and some impromptu dancing!

And to end on a sweet note, in any one of the numerous pastry shops, or Konditorei, your sweet tooth will be satisfied not only by tempting mousses, strudels, krapfen and Kaiserschmarren (a kind of sweet omelet filled with raisins that was apparently invented by Kaiser Franz Joseph), but also by the world-famous Sachertorte, the Viennese cake made with chocolate and apricot jam.

An interesting fact: The authorship of the original Sachertorte recipe sparked an actual legal battle between two famous, historic Viennese establishments: the Hotel Sacher and the Demel confectioner’s. The so-called "Sacher War" was recently settled in court in favor of the hotel that gave its name to the cake.

So what else can I say? Enjoy!