Page 307 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  305

time of the Turkish siege, its
shape being based on the
crescent moon in the Ottoman
flag. While such symbolism is
often lost today, the importance
of the café in Austrian society
is not. Modern-day Austrians
view cafés as extensions of their
home, and spend hours reading,
chatting and even watching
television in them. Treats on
offer in cafés will generally
include a classic Apfelstrudel,
Cremeschnitte (slices of puff
Display of traditional pastries and cakes in a Konditorei pastry filled with custard and
glazed with strawberry fondant),
named after the Budapest underlines the noble Viennese and Punschkrapferl, a calorie-
chef who created it in the tradition of sweet baking. packed, pink-fondant-topped
19th century. Its layers of biscuit Austrian legend has it that the pastry laced with rum.
and chocolate butter cream nation’s café habit began when
are topped with a caramel the Turks left all their coffee MOZARTKUGEL
glaze. In Salzburg, the cake of behind as they abandoned
choice is baked meringue, Vienna after the failed siege Fine chocolates, presented in
known as Salzburger Nockerl, or of 1529. The Kipfel, a light, colourfully decorated boxes
Salzburg soufflé. Esterházytorte crescent-shaped pastry (which carrying the portrait of Mozart,
are probably the quintessential
also features meringue, layered later became famous as the Austrian souvenir. Known in Austria
with a rich hazelnut cream. croissant) also dates from the as Mozartkugel, the chocolates
Stollen is a marzipan-filled fruit originated in Salzburg, where
cake originally from Germany Mozart lived while composing
and now an integral part of an Cosi fan Tutti, the opera in
Austrian Christmas. Regional which he worships chocolate.
or not, you’ll now find all these In 1890, master confectioner
classic cakes in Vienna and Paul Fürst made the first Mozart
across the country. chocolates by forming small
balls of marzipan which he
coated in a praline cream and
Pastries then dipped in warm chocolate.
Viennese confectioners soon
In the perfect global village, adopted the technique and
a place on the main street even today producers vie
would always be reserved for an with one another as to whose
Austrian pastry and coffee shop. Mozartkugel are the best and
That the French collective name Entrance to one of the world-famous most authentic.
for sweet pastry is Viennoiserie Mozart chocolate shops

Apfelstrudel rolls paper-thin Palatschinken are fat, fluffy Topfenknödel are light curd
pastry with apple, sultanas, crêpes that may be filled with cheese dumplings rolled in
cinnamon and sometimes fruit or jam, or served with breadcrumbs, fried and served
pine nuts or poppy seeds. vanilla or chocolate sauce. with fruit compôte.

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