Moving to Austria
If you’re moving to Austria, then it is important to have an idea of the type of food that you’re going to be facing while you’re there. With a perfect selection of national dishes, iconic sides and the coffee that is regularly drunk with the meals, you are certain to find at least one dish that you will love. With neighbouring regions like Italy, Germany, Hungary and more strongly influencing the cuisine in this country, the melting pot of dishes truly is an exciting experience when you relocate. In fact, we struggled to pick just 5!
Tafelspitz
This is possibly one of the most popular dishes that can be found in Austria, and the name refers to the cut of meat which is known as the tri-tip. Tafelspitz is generally considered to be the national dish of Austria, and it a boiled beef broth which is then served with horseradish, root vegetables, spices and minced apples. This classic will be on the menu of almost any restaurant that you will come across in Austria, along with a number of variations and twists to keep the dish even more exciting.
Wiener Schnitzel
This dish is a thin, breaded and deep fried meat dish usually made from veal. The veal is butterflied and whipped together with eggs and bread crumps in order to make it light. Then it is fried to a crispy texture. Traditional Wiener Schnitzel in Austria is generally served with kopfsalad or another form of salad such as cucumber or potato salads. Any schnitzel in Austria called Wiener Schnitzel needs to be made from veal, but if it is made from pork then it will be known as Wiener Schnitzel “vom Schwein”.
Wiener Würstchen
When in Austria, there is nothing more traditional than a Wiener Würstchen and this is without a doubt something that you should try. This is a unique Viennese sausage and is customary as fast food in the country. Readily available everywhere, the sausage was originally invented by a butcher in Vienna, and are similar to the hot dogs that you can find in America. These long, thin and tasty snacks truly are delicious.
Apfelstrudl
Apfelstrudl is a popular pastry dish often associated with Vienna in particular. It is a traditional apple strudel, and is a thin apple filled pastry, which includes cinnamon, sugar and raisins. This is the perfect breakfast or dessert dish and is often accompanied with a cup of coffee. Not only is this popular in Vienna and Austria as a whole, this dish is also something that you can spot across a range of countries that were once a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Kaiserschmarrn
If you’re looking for a dessert in Austria that is fit for an emperor, then make sure to turn to Kaiserschmarrn. This dish consists of fluffy, caramelized pancake that is torn up and sprinkled with sugar and some form of hot fruit compote (usually made from plums). While the origin of this dish is unknown, many stories point to it first having been created for Austrian Emperor Francis Josef I. In fact, Kaiserschmarrn actually translates to ‘emperor’s mess!’
