Wiener Schnitzel, boiled beef and meatball soup
Austrian cuisinePhoto:SutterstockThe very concept of "Viennese cuisine" first appeared in the 18th century, and throughout its development, the cuisine of the capital of the Austrian Empire was influenced first by French, and then by Hungarian, Jewish, Italian and Polish culinary traditions. It was in Vienna, and not in France, that the croissant was invented, but the laurels of the most famous Viennese dessert soon passed from it to the apple strudel. What other dishes should you definitely try in Vienna? What is Viennese cuisine famous for and in which restaurants is it best to get to know it? For lunch: Wiener schnitzel, beef and wineThe calling card of the Austrian capital is the Wiener schnitzel. Traditional schnitzel is made from veal, not pork, breaded with egg and bread crumbs and weighs at least 200 grams. Considering that such a large piece of meat is always accompanied by potato or cabbage salad with vinegar and olive oil sauce, you need to go to lunch on an empty stomach. Another hit of Viennese cuisine will perfectly satisfy your hunger after a long city walk - boiled beef Tafelspitz according to the favorite recipe of Emperor Franz Joseph I. Real Tafelspitz is not so easy to prepare: the meat must simmer for five hours over low heat to become soft and juicy, and it is served on the table in broth with obligatory apple and sour cream sauces and freshly baked bread. If you are counting on a light lunch, order Viennese soup with meatballs and herbs, potato cream soup with bacon or Bohemian cucumber salad with sour cream, reminiscent of the signature Greek salad tzatziki. For lunch in Vienna, do not forget to order a bottle of local Riesling or Pinot Blanc wine. Or explore the Viennese wine bars to try rarer wines, such as the fruity dessert wine Blaue Zweigelt, the aromatic Gemischte Satz or the light table wine Grüne Veltliner. The best place to get acquainted with Viennese cuisine in a pompous setting is the Imperial restaurant (Karntner Ring, 16), for a tasting of Wiener schnitzel you should go to the more homely restaurants Dom Beisl (Schulerstrasse, 4) or Figlmüller (Wollzeile, 5), and for a quick snack on the go you should definitely stop by the local Naschmarkt market, where they make fresh sandwiches with meat in five minutes and pour mulled wine that you will want to make at home.
