Eating in Austria

Amongst the fun stuff I got, at 50 cents per, at the Brandeiss Book sale, were a bunch of books from a Time-Life Foods of the World series ca. 1969. One of the ones I got was The Cooking of Vienna's Empire. In this book, they point out what "keeps and Austrian going". I point this out first to ask anyone (Antonius?) how accurate it is to eating in Austria today, second to make you jealous, and third, to perhaps start a movement to eat like this in Chicago.

They [Austrians] start their day with coffee and mile, Semmelan (breakfast rolls) and bread with butter and jam...by 10 o'clock many of them need their Gabelfruhstuck* or fork breakfast including goulash orsometimes calf's lungs [sic] or a pair of hot sausages knows as Wieners everywhere except Vienna where they are called Wurstel**.

By noon everybody is hungry again and most people go home for a substantial lunchof soup, meat with potatoes and vegetables, salad and of course dessert--usually some kind of Mehlspeisen, a homemade pastry. Yet, many people are hungry again in the mid-afternoon. The Jause restores them...considered by some to be the most important meal of the day with its coffee and whipped cream, presented with a selection of sandwiches and cakes.

By 7, everyone is hungry again. Dinner is often a simple meal--cold meat, sausage, a vegetable casserole, eggs, salad, cheese.

After-dinner invitations are frequent all over Austria. You are asked to come around 8:30. You will be offered a glass of wine and perhaps some small sandwiches, and around 11 black coffee will be served to keep you awake. But Austrians don't often drink coffee "with nothing" so there will be a Torte or perhaps a piece of Strudel so you will not have to go home on an empty stomach.

*dialectics not used.
**Ibid

Well, Rob, that is the old-fashioned Teutonic schedule for eating, back when lots of people did something more than talk on phones and pick at computer keyboards to earn their bread. I doubt anyone -- except perhaps in rural areas -- eats that way on a regular basis nowadays but there are elements of that eating schedule that are maintained to various degrees under certain circumstances. The late afternoon sweet meal is something that is still enjoyed all across northern Europe on special occasions, and to a degree that can just mean 'Sunday'. The mid-morning Wurstel snack, typically with beer, I used to see enjoyed in both Belgium and Germany by those who did blue-collar work and started their days particularly early. Back before Brussels became the glitzy EU capital, the decidedly gloomy but somehow -- to me at least -- really fascinating Brussel-Noord train station ca. 9-10 a.m. would give you a good example of train-workers in their overalls eating wieners and drinking beer around a couple of stands scattered around the station.

I just recently expressed my admiration for Austrian cuisine. It's both very good and very interesting from an historical standpoint. But I think I prefer the Italian schedule of meals a bit more.

Incidentally, the traditional Mexican meal schedule (at least for the bourgeoisie) is also quite impressive.

Antonius

Antonius wrote:I just recently expressed my admiration for Austrian cuisine. It's both very good and very interesting from an historical standpoint. But I think I prefer the Italian schedule of meals a bit more.

Incidentally, the traditional Mexican meal schedule (at least for the bourgeoisie) is also quite impressive.

Antonius

So can you help me start a new movement?

Vital Information wrote:

Antonius wrote:I just recently expressed my admiration for Austrian cuisine. It's both very good and very interesting from an historical standpoint. But I think I prefer the Italian schedule of meals a bit more.

Incidentally, the traditional Mexican meal schedule (at least for the bourgeoisie) is also quite impressive.

Antonius

So can you help me start a new movement?

How 'bout this, Rob, as a first step: I'm going to organise a day long event and follow precisely the schedule and kinds of meals that would traditionally go into an old-fashioned Austrian day: der österreichische Freßtag, to remember and honour an empire that never made much sense (outside the kitchen). Perhaps I can come up with activities to fill in the short spans of time between some of the meals as well (some would presumably be largely filled by the time needed to go from one destination to the next, but not all).

More on this anon, possibly in the Events Forum. Just leave it to me (oh boy, my first complex event!).

A

Well, that was easy.

And I look forward to the event. Let me know if you need any help.

Vital Information wrote:Well, that was easy.

And I look forward to the event. Let me know if you need any help.

I'll be in touch soon to discuss this Austrathon.

A