Vienna, Austria
Friday, July 27th, 2012Just got back from a two week trip to Austria. We went to Vienna, Villach, Innsbrook, and Zel am Zee. Austrian food is not big on the vegetables but they do have some unique vegetarian specialties so you will have fun trying them out. Did I mention the bier? My favorite was the Weisbier (medium darkness and unfiltered) but they were all good. Another fun one is the Raddler which is half bier half lemon juice.
Austrian Specialties for Vegetarians (they have cheese):
Käsespätzle- The original mac and cheese. Topped with fried onions. Hearty and fattening I am sure. You can get this everywhere…
Kasenudel – Austrian ravioli filled with cheese or sometimes chanteralle mushrooms (Pfifferlinge) or spinach (spinat)
Pfifferlinge – Austria’s chaneterelle mushroom, they are delicious and they are on the menu when they are in season. I highly recommend trying any dish focused on them.
Spinatknödel – Spinach dumplings in a cream based sauce. Pretty tasty but also high calorie. Lunch of champions.
Apfelstrudel – yummy apples in pastry, like a deconstructed apple pie.
Topfenstrudel – sweet cheese in pastry, sometimes with vanilla sauce.
Kaffee – Austrians are known for their coffee, there are about 8 different coffee drinks you could order. I liked the Verlängerter, but try them all and find you favorite brew.
I will now summarize the places we visited including things to do and where we ate.
Vienna:
Wow, what a beautiful city, the architecture and the art work will blow you away. Make sure to check out the Uber Hapburg Monaracy buildings now in the ownership of the state: Residenz (wow), Treasury (beats the crown jewels), national museum (check out Klimt early work in the form of Murals on the top floor walls), Egyptian museum, and the Belvedere (ode to Gustav Klimt). Also check out St. Stephen’s cathedral, Rathous (city hall), “Plague statue, main park, and walk every nook and cranny of the old city, so you can see all the pretty old buildings, fountains, and churches. In terms of eateries, this is a major city so you will be spoilt for choice.
Bio Bar Von Antun – vegetarian / vegan restaurant in the center of the city where you can have vegan sausages with sauerkraut, not to mention vegan goulash. I highly recommend this place for the food, service, ambiance, and price. Rick Steves walked in when we were there! I did not muster the courage to ask him for his autograph…
Indien Village – They have main veggie options including a vegetarian Thali. The food was very tasy and well spiced. It is a bit out of the center of the action but that means a 7 minute walk, not big deal if you want really good Indian food.
Zanoni – Tasty Gelato, tons of flavors, in the middle of everything, and less expensive than others.
anitasen