Austrian food
Food in Austria
Most of the more popular Austrian dishes are part of international cuisine
everywhere. However, Wiener schnitzel, goulash and various strudels are
Austrian specialties. There are numerous other less known specialties
worth trying, especially dishes with small dumplings. Do not miss the
Viennese pastries which can be sampled in any coffee shop. It is quite
usual to make acquaintances in public places, especially in the coffee
shops. A favorite occupation of Austrians is to sit in their local,
favorite cafe, drink coffee and read the newspapers. It would be true to
say that the average Austrian has a large appetite and food is an
important part of their culture. A continental breakfast of coffee and
rolls is taken upon rising but, for the older generation at least, there
is a tradition of taking a second, heavier breakfast at 10a.m. Afternoon
tea is called jause and it is served after 4p.m. It consists of
sandwiches, pastries, coffee and tea.
Even in the small inns, food is served in substantial quantities.
Austria is both a beer and a wine drinking country. The beers are
excellent and the wines wonderful. The best red wine is Voeslauer with
Klosterneuburger a close second. But Austria is best known for its white
wines such as Duernsteiner, Gumpoldskirchner, Grinzinger, Nussdorfer,
Riesling and Veltliner. Austrian champagne is good. Schnapps, or other
distilled liquors, obtainable in great and potent varieties, are also well
worth trying. . Heuriger is a famous institution in all Austrian wine
growing areas. A law - more than 300 years old - allows Austrian wine
producers to sell their own wine and other products grown and prepared by
themselves at their places subjected only to very low taxes. Because the
number of days to do so is in some way limited they mark with a bunch of
branches they hang over the entrance that the Heurige is open. The famous
Heurigen wine of new vintage is served by the wine growers in the gardens
of their premises in all the winegrowing areas at particular times of the
year, always served with wonderful buffet food of roast meats and salads
and delicious deserts. Often there is music and singing. The best time to
visit a Heuriger is late afternoon or early evening.
Vienna abounds in wonderful restaurants, bars, small smart eating
places and coffee house. There are also traditional kellers where, in
some, you can listen to traditional live music while you eat. The
beautiful winter garden, with its restaurants, coffee shops and bars, is
interesting to see.
Other resources
Greek food
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