Austria
Food and Drink
Food and drink
Eating and drinking is a major pasttime and Austrians will travel several kilometers or miles to visit a reputable restaurant or to obtain a local speciality or seasonal dish.
The search for the best asparagus or mushrooms is an annual event. Austrian enjoy good food are have a gourmet tradition. Several restaurants specialize in fish ( all fresh water fish) or vension and other wild meats.
There are many guide books and magazines devoted to food and drink. Restaurants who have achieved a good reputation are frequently crowded espaecially at weekends or public holidays.
Remember that Austrians do take their main meal at lunchtime and that the choice in the evening may be curtailed. Food in Austria is generally excellent and portions are invariably enormous, but a few guidelines are needed.
Menus and Tageskarte are usually displayed outside restaurants and you can often tells a great deal from this. Fixed price menus, usually offered at lunchtime, are often excellent value. Portions may not be as large as the same à la carte dish, but are still ample.
The Austrian likes to eat early and if a restaurant is half empty at 12.30 p.m. it is not a good sign. Unless there is a sign stating ‘ganztägig warme Küche’ (hot food all day) it may not be possible to obtain hot dishes after 2.00 p.m. Likewise in country areas it is often not possible to eat after 9.00 p.m.
Restaurants with a good reputation may require an advanced reservation. Most restaurants have a ‘Ruhetag’ (a rest day) usually a Monday or Tuesday but in cities this may be Saturday.
It is unusual to obtain a bad meal in Austria. If you need fast food try a ‘Würstelstand’ (Sausage stand) where you may join many city workers having a spicy sausage served with mustard and a roll. There are also many fast food chains which are mostly frequented by tourists and young people.
Coffee houses
The Austrians drink a great deal of coffee and Austrian coffee culture is most developed in Vienna where you will find many grand coffee houses. Austrians do not order a coffee but instead ask for their favourite beverage by name.
There are coffee menus listing some 30 different means of serving coffee. A coffee house is the best place to relax, read the newspaper and enjoy the good things in life! Here there is a café Society where you meet your friends, chat possibly play chess, or cards.
Wine
Austria's wine-growing industry is small but highly acclaimed and Austrian wines are being taking ever more seriously on the international stage.
Austria’s wine-growing area is divided in four regions: “Weinland Österreich” (Lower Austria and Burgenland), “Steirerland” (Styria), the capital city “Wien” (Vienna) and “Bergland Österreich” (the remaining provinces, where small vineyards are thinly scattered).
The 26th International Wine Challenge (IWC) – the world’s most prestigious and influential wine competition – announced the results of the 2009 Challenge. Entries came from a record 41 countries. Austrian wines won 133 medals.
The Decanter World Wine Awards 2009 – 116 Medals for Austria.
“The Decanter World Wine Awards is THE ultimate terroir competition!” Tom Stevenson.
Announcing the results of the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards at the London International Wine Fair, Stephen Spurrier awarded Austrian wines a record 116 medals. Special accolades go to Gold medallists Hillinger, Nittnaus, Donabaum and Malat and Trophy winners Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner 2008 (White Austria under £10 Trophy) Johann Donabaum Riesling Smaragd Setzberg 2007 (White Austria over £10 Trophy).
Find your favourite Austrian wine at a supermarket near you using supermarketwine.com. For a list of Austrian wines available in the UK, visit the Austrian Wine Marketing Board .
Experience a wide range of cultural and social events including; concerts, wine tastings, lectures, film evenings, excursions and social gatherings.
