European Cuisine - Es Ist Sehr Gut!

This blog entry is dedicated to the fine Bavarian, Austrian, Viennese and Slovak cuisine. The pace here is so much more laid back.  Fast Food is not a priority, which is so refreshing.  They do not give you your check to leave until you ask for it "Zahlen bitte", encouraging you to linger and enjoy your meal and company.  When they come with your bill, they are prepared to collect money at that time, and tips are not expected, though it is appreciated to round out your total.  Pride is taken in the presentation of your meals.  We were on a mission to find the best apple strudel, and found so much more.  Here are a few highlights:

Amy took us to her favorite cafe hangout, Heart of Joy.  Generally, when you order a coffee, they bring you an espresso.  Which is so good and robust. I ordered a Mozart Coffee!  (My favorite!)

Brezen stands are all over.  So, of course we had to partake in one . . .

Just for the record . . . Weight Watcher points were not being recorded!!  Our "activity points" and all the walking we did, were our saving graces.  Bon Appetit!

This was an excellent restaurant.  True Austrian cuisine.  The students call it the Yellow Place, because they can't remember the name, and it is yellow.  They made their own brew, which was one of Michael's favorite.  Michael had a rum steak with kartoffel pancakes and I had the traditional Weinerschnitzel. The restaurant accomodated Amy with the "best" vegetarian meal she has had so far.

The bakeries were amazing with all of their fresh baked goods.  Pigs were everywhere, and we think they meant good luck for the new year!

We had pure hot chocolate.  I think they basically melted creamy chocolate bars.  Amy said it was not as good as in Slovenia -- no complaints from me!

We found the Sporer Schnapps Shop.  It was very crowded in the tiny little store, no wonder.  The Schnapps were, very spirited!!

 Another authentic Austrian restaurant.  The sauerkraut salad was great.  I had a cucumber salad with my meal, that tasted just like Grandma Ruby's!

 A cream cheese strudel, served with a warm vanilla sauce and whipped cream. 

Then, of course here is the traditional apple strudel served with warm vanilla sauce and whipped cream.

Getting ready for our 4-course meal before the Mozart Concert.

Michael ordered the famous Sacher Torte in Vienna - (chocolate cake with apricot filling)

Amy had a creme torte and I enjoyed a hazelnut torte.  It was very cold and windy outside, so a nice cup of coffee and dessert was just what we needed.  Plus, we were in Vienna, so "Why Not?!"

Happy New Year!

There were little booths of fresh roasted chestnuts all over.  They give them to you in little paper cones, and you just peel the skins off.  They were hot and good.  This brings on a song  . . . "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . ."

A little shop in Bratislava, Kolace is a traditional Slovak pastry!

The Bier Palace in Bratislava.  A dish called "Hungarian Tavern" - paprikas with brazened pork.

We had dinner in Freising, Germany (a small town near Munich), our last night in Europe.  Pork with mushroom sauce, spaetzle and served with Weihenstephan (premium Bavarian beer established in 1040).

Alas, so much fine food, so little time.  As Michael and I would say each day,

"Another day, another dinner!"

As they say in Europe, Bon Appetit!