ADVENTURES IN EATING: VACATION FOOD
Although I have food adventures wherever I'm living; I have them all over the world too. Here's a peek at some of my favorite foods that made me salivate globally.
Seattle and Surrounding Areas October 2011 - Day 1
Other than a summer trip over a decade ago to the beaches of Washington via road trip, I had never stepped foot in Seattle. It was time to change that fact. I had plenty vacation time and plenty of job stress so I packed a small bag, called my cousin B, and scheduled a trip to Seattle to see her and meet her new husband. As we wound down the highway from the airport I soon saw the tell-tale siren of Seattle's skyline: The Space Needle. Although I didn't end up spending the money to go up to the top, I made sure to take some fun pictures from the ferry involving the beloved needle.
We wandered around downtown and ended up at a neat little bistro called Cafe Fonte for grilled cheese, tomato soup, and killer caramel lattes. Yes, killer; those lattes slayed us with caffeine.
First on my list was a visit to the immortal king of farmer's markets: Pike's Place. We happened upon a rally in the square and had to weed our way through the throngs of angry demonstrators so we could get to the market, but the elbowing was worth it once I saw the plethora of fresh food stands and, the motherlode, the fish stand. I found a cute and willing fishmonger to throw a fish so I could document the famous activity. We didn't buy anything from them, sadly, because we didn't have a way to keep it fresh while we explored all day.
We wandered around downtown and ended up at a neat little bistro called Cafe Fonte for grilled cheese, tomato soup, and killer caramel lattes. Yes, killer; those lattes slayed us with caffeine.
First on my list was a visit to the immortal king of farmer's markets: Pike's Place. We happened upon a rally in the square and had to weed our way through the throngs of angry demonstrators so we could get to the market, but the elbowing was worth it once I saw the plethora of fresh food stands and, the motherlode, the fish stand. I found a cute and willing fishmonger to throw a fish so I could document the famous activity. We didn't buy anything from them, sadly, because we didn't have a way to keep it fresh while we explored all day.
Seattle and Surrounding Areas October 2011 - Day 2
My second day with my cousin we took the ferry over to Seattle from her home in Bremerton and it was a lovely respite from the freeways and crowded streets in the San Francisco Bay Area. I had to visit the very first Starbucks to pay homage to where I have spent most of my time writing since college and where I discovered my love affair with the nonfat vanilla latte. The signs out front are unchanged and the inside was as crowded as a morning rush in any other Starbucks, although when we visited it was mid-afternoon; I guess everyone has an affinity for the mermaid who hoards all the caffeine. Thankfully there were about five others in the area I could have visited in order to get my fix because we did not order a drink from this Seattle landmark.
Brussels sprout trees, in their natural state.
After elbowing our way out of Starbucks, we wandered through Pike Place Market (again) and marveled at the produce--Brussels sprout trees!--and purchased chocolate pasta, a bouquet of beautiful flowers, and some other goodies. A few antique stores later, we found our way to the alley behind Pike Place Market where graffiti and gum combine to create a unique alleyway of artwork.
Thousands of people flock here every year to stick their saliva-laden gum wads to the wall; us included. B and I found a hard-to-find space on the wall that we could reach to apply our colored gum discs, while being careful not to touch anyone else's "art". We wandered up the rest of the walkway and found a neat array of signed artwork, most "Made by Sharpie" and tourists. Either signifying rebellion or just a way to be a part of the Seattle architecture, this small gallery of oddities remains a collaborative effort.
B's husband met us in Seattle proper and from there we wandered around underground on a tour of the old town before the fires and floods. Our history lesson was fun and we got exercise while seeing the old storefronts under the current city.
We ventured on and had dinner at Etta's seafood near the water and it was Restaurant Week so Prix Fixe meals were all the rage. I chowed down on fresh clam chowder, wild king salmon atop a polenta cake, butter-sauteed mushrooms and green beans and finished it off with a little Southern pecan pie. Needless to say, I left Seattle full and happy. The sunset on the ferry ride back wasn't too shabby either.
Thousands of people flock here every year to stick their saliva-laden gum wads to the wall; us included. B and I found a hard-to-find space on the wall that we could reach to apply our colored gum discs, while being careful not to touch anyone else's "art". We wandered up the rest of the walkway and found a neat array of signed artwork, most "Made by Sharpie" and tourists. Either signifying rebellion or just a way to be a part of the Seattle architecture, this small gallery of oddities remains a collaborative effort.
B's husband met us in Seattle proper and from there we wandered around underground on a tour of the old town before the fires and floods. Our history lesson was fun and we got exercise while seeing the old storefronts under the current city.
We ventured on and had dinner at Etta's seafood near the water and it was Restaurant Week so Prix Fixe meals were all the rage. I chowed down on fresh clam chowder, wild king salmon atop a polenta cake, butter-sauteed mushrooms and green beans and finished it off with a little Southern pecan pie. Needless to say, I left Seattle full and happy. The sunset on the ferry ride back wasn't too shabby either.
Seattle and Surrounding Areas October 2011 - Day Three
Today was my cousin's day off of work so we decided to stay on her side of the water and take a little trip back in time. Poulsbo is an adorable town just outside of Bremerton that is rich in Norwegian history. Dubbed "Little Norway" by its people, Poulsbo was settled in by the Norwegians due to its terrain similar to their fjords back home.
This little community is so quaint and inviting, we saw lots of Viking remnants, or replicas of, lining the streets, fun artwork lauding their history, and shared in their love for all things pastry.
B & I had lunch at a great little Italian restaurant that, to date, has the best cauliflower soup I have ever had, highly recommended if you're in Poulsbo, just don't forget to stop at their famous bakery. you'll see it...there's a pretzel doorknob at the front and dozens of pastries glowing in your eyes from the shop window. Forget chips, you can't buy just one of these beauties. In fact, we bought a box of assorted sweets from Sluys Poulsbo Bakery because we just couldn't choose a few.
Once at home from our carb-loaded afternoon, B's husband threw chicken on the grill and we ate at home along with a dessert of chocolate pasta with all the fixings of an ice cream sundae, we just had to find out how chocolate pasta tasted; it wouldn't be my first choice of dessert but it wasn't bad.
The following day, which was my last morning in town, I had just enough time to make my bed, repack my suitcase, and grab a Poulsbo pastry while B drove me to the SeaTac Airport. Once through security, I unfolded my wax paper bag and drooled over my breakfast while onlookers seethed with jealous. I flew back to San Francisco loaded with cream cheese frosting and smiling the whole hour with bits of dough and cinnamon in my teeth.
Would I got back to Seattle even if my cousin didn't live there? In a New York minute; I'll even bring some old Doc Martens and a flannel shirt.
This little community is so quaint and inviting, we saw lots of Viking remnants, or replicas of, lining the streets, fun artwork lauding their history, and shared in their love for all things pastry.
B & I had lunch at a great little Italian restaurant that, to date, has the best cauliflower soup I have ever had, highly recommended if you're in Poulsbo, just don't forget to stop at their famous bakery. you'll see it...there's a pretzel doorknob at the front and dozens of pastries glowing in your eyes from the shop window. Forget chips, you can't buy just one of these beauties. In fact, we bought a box of assorted sweets from Sluys Poulsbo Bakery because we just couldn't choose a few.
Once at home from our carb-loaded afternoon, B's husband threw chicken on the grill and we ate at home along with a dessert of chocolate pasta with all the fixings of an ice cream sundae, we just had to find out how chocolate pasta tasted; it wouldn't be my first choice of dessert but it wasn't bad.
The following day, which was my last morning in town, I had just enough time to make my bed, repack my suitcase, and grab a Poulsbo pastry while B drove me to the SeaTac Airport. Once through security, I unfolded my wax paper bag and drooled over my breakfast while onlookers seethed with jealous. I flew back to San Francisco loaded with cream cheese frosting and smiling the whole hour with bits of dough and cinnamon in my teeth.
Would I got back to Seattle even if my cousin didn't live there? In a New York minute; I'll even bring some old Doc Martens and a flannel shirt.
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Summer 2011, Day 1
My first experience at Jimmy John's.
While having working for a giant national health insurance company for about a year and a half I finally had the first chance to travel for business as our small San Francisco team was needed to collaborate with headquarters for our bi-annual summit. On the downside, it was smack in the middle of the humid summer in Minnesota; on the upside, I had never explored the area near the Twin Cities and was excited to see the midwest that wasn't just due to visiting relatives in surrounding states.
When we got to the hotel it was just before evening and we had just enough time to wrangle dinner in the surrounding area of St. Louis Park, where we were staying. A lot of my coworkers went to the pub across the street but I walked around the village of shops and stopped at Jimmy Johns sandwiches because I had only heard amazing things about their subs. I found them to be better than Subway and Quizno's but not immediately crave-worthy. I got a veggie sub with swiss but the picture wasn't interesting enough to post. The signs in the shop, however, were memorable and funny, as you can see.
Any time I am in an unfamiliar place, I tend to scout out the local market. If you want to get a glimpse of the character of a city, look no further than their store offerings. Sure, San Francisco has loads of sourdough bread and fresh seafood and an inordinate amount of gluten-free, non-dairy, relatively tasteless, fancy vegan-adjacent food that costs more than your weekly allowance of groceries, but we are a culture of health-loving, land-preserving, up-to-the-minute trending foodies.
Minnesota, on the other hand, seems to be flush with comfort items bursting with flavor. Lots of barbecue and fancy chips and interesting dips. Being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I'm sure there is a ton of fresh fish but I neglected the foul-smelling section of the grocery store that evening. One of the items that caught my fancy were dill pickle chips. Yes. Chips that taste like pickles. I've heard of deep fried pickles but I have never bit into a Kettle Chip and thought, "Man, I wish these tasted more like a fresh, cold, briny pickle." Unfortunately, these intriguing crisps didn't go home with me because I didn't have anywhere to store them after sampling and there were no individual bags in this flavor.
When we got to the hotel it was just before evening and we had just enough time to wrangle dinner in the surrounding area of St. Louis Park, where we were staying. A lot of my coworkers went to the pub across the street but I walked around the village of shops and stopped at Jimmy Johns sandwiches because I had only heard amazing things about their subs. I found them to be better than Subway and Quizno's but not immediately crave-worthy. I got a veggie sub with swiss but the picture wasn't interesting enough to post. The signs in the shop, however, were memorable and funny, as you can see.
Any time I am in an unfamiliar place, I tend to scout out the local market. If you want to get a glimpse of the character of a city, look no further than their store offerings. Sure, San Francisco has loads of sourdough bread and fresh seafood and an inordinate amount of gluten-free, non-dairy, relatively tasteless, fancy vegan-adjacent food that costs more than your weekly allowance of groceries, but we are a culture of health-loving, land-preserving, up-to-the-minute trending foodies.
Minnesota, on the other hand, seems to be flush with comfort items bursting with flavor. Lots of barbecue and fancy chips and interesting dips. Being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I'm sure there is a ton of fresh fish but I neglected the foul-smelling section of the grocery store that evening. One of the items that caught my fancy were dill pickle chips. Yes. Chips that taste like pickles. I've heard of deep fried pickles but I have never bit into a Kettle Chip and thought, "Man, I wish these tasted more like a fresh, cold, briny pickle." Unfortunately, these intriguing crisps didn't go home with me because I didn't have anywhere to store them after sampling and there were no individual bags in this flavor.
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Summer 2011, Day 2
112 eatery, Minneapolis - Click picture for menu
In the months leading up to our expedition to Minnesota, my colleagues and I had been having little conversations here and there about what we will be able to do during our time off of work-related activities. We didn't realize that we also had team-building events post-work hours including happy hours, dinners, and a volunteer event during the week.
One particular colleague and close friend of mine from Georgia, D, had been chatting with me about how much we love to eat amazing food and what we could explore while in Minnesota. A friend of D's had suggested that we check out a boutique restaurant in downtown Minneapolis called 112 eatery.
With our minds drooling from the online menu and our taste buds sufficiently teased, we made a reservation for the week we would be in town and planned our attack.
After a particularly long day at work, everyone else met up at a nearby Italian place, across from our hotel and D and I met there to chat with everyone before grabbing a cab downtown--a less than ten minute drive from St. Louis Park--we were reassured when a manager claimed that she had enjoyed a meal there on a previous visit.
Pockets weighed down with our day's stipend, we ordered everything we wanted starting with my request to split the cauliflower fritters. Golden friend and covered in parmesan cheese and lemon butter, I would go back just to eat these. We then shared an order of the warm duck salad with radicchio and egg; although I am not usually a fan of duck, this was prepared subtly and was equally as delicious as our first course. Third, we slurped raw east coast oysters with mignonette, which were as good as expected. We each got an entree, I ventured into the uncharted territory of frogs legs.
Now, I don't usually complain--especially at a restaurant that I particularly enjoy--but in this instance while thinking back, I should have complained. The frog legs, while they looked interesting, were immersed in salt. I made D try them and he agreed that they were over salted and that he had enjoyed frog legs before and they had never been as clouded in sodium. I can only assume in the hustle and bustle of the busy kitchen, they got dressed with salt before and after cooking, and then again...for good measure. I thought briefly of having our server try them, because they ended up being inedible, but I said nothing because it ultimately wasn't on my dime (thanks workplace!). Ultimately this is not ideal, and now I regret not saying anything because in the end all I would want is for their future customers to be satisfied and from having worked in a restaurant, I would always invite constructive criticism.
However, I was pretty full from the other courses and decided to let the legs lie while we waited for our dessert, a lovely chocolate hazelnut torte with toffee ice cream and a perfect latte. Salty legs aside, I would definitely go back to 112 eatery and highly recommend it to anyone near Minneapolis.
We walked away with huge smiles and full bellies and walked around downtown Minneapolis, stopping to find a new bronzed friend before cabbing back to our coworkers to join in a round of beers before heading into our final workday.
One particular colleague and close friend of mine from Georgia, D, had been chatting with me about how much we love to eat amazing food and what we could explore while in Minnesota. A friend of D's had suggested that we check out a boutique restaurant in downtown Minneapolis called 112 eatery.
With our minds drooling from the online menu and our taste buds sufficiently teased, we made a reservation for the week we would be in town and planned our attack.
After a particularly long day at work, everyone else met up at a nearby Italian place, across from our hotel and D and I met there to chat with everyone before grabbing a cab downtown--a less than ten minute drive from St. Louis Park--we were reassured when a manager claimed that she had enjoyed a meal there on a previous visit.
Pockets weighed down with our day's stipend, we ordered everything we wanted starting with my request to split the cauliflower fritters. Golden friend and covered in parmesan cheese and lemon butter, I would go back just to eat these. We then shared an order of the warm duck salad with radicchio and egg; although I am not usually a fan of duck, this was prepared subtly and was equally as delicious as our first course. Third, we slurped raw east coast oysters with mignonette, which were as good as expected. We each got an entree, I ventured into the uncharted territory of frogs legs.
Now, I don't usually complain--especially at a restaurant that I particularly enjoy--but in this instance while thinking back, I should have complained. The frog legs, while they looked interesting, were immersed in salt. I made D try them and he agreed that they were over salted and that he had enjoyed frog legs before and they had never been as clouded in sodium. I can only assume in the hustle and bustle of the busy kitchen, they got dressed with salt before and after cooking, and then again...for good measure. I thought briefly of having our server try them, because they ended up being inedible, but I said nothing because it ultimately wasn't on my dime (thanks workplace!). Ultimately this is not ideal, and now I regret not saying anything because in the end all I would want is for their future customers to be satisfied and from having worked in a restaurant, I would always invite constructive criticism.
However, I was pretty full from the other courses and decided to let the legs lie while we waited for our dessert, a lovely chocolate hazelnut torte with toffee ice cream and a perfect latte. Salty legs aside, I would definitely go back to 112 eatery and highly recommend it to anyone near Minneapolis.
We walked away with huge smiles and full bellies and walked around downtown Minneapolis, stopping to find a new bronzed friend before cabbing back to our coworkers to join in a round of beers before heading into our final workday.
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Summer 2011, Day 3
As a large team effort, our company took a break from the cubicle confines and ventured into the direct sunlight for a volunteer project helping out at a local donation site. Sorting clothes for donation to locals in need of a fresh start or a new winter coat, cleaning up toys, cleaning and organizing their kitchen, replanting their garden and making it better for the community.
At the end of a long, hot summer day we all took a much needed break and had dinner together as a large group at a barbecue joint called Famous Dave's. I guess it's a local chain with "famous" sauce that I later saw back at home being sold at Target, so they are somewhat of a substantial, recognizable brand. We all got large buffet for each table and I couldn't resist sharing a picture of our particular table trough.
Minneapolis was fun while it lasted and I haven't been back yet, but when I do, I will go visit Spoonbridge and Cherry, part of the Walker Art Center.
At the end of a long, hot summer day we all took a much needed break and had dinner together as a large group at a barbecue joint called Famous Dave's. I guess it's a local chain with "famous" sauce that I later saw back at home being sold at Target, so they are somewhat of a substantial, recognizable brand. We all got large buffet for each table and I couldn't resist sharing a picture of our particular table trough.
Minneapolis was fun while it lasted and I haven't been back yet, but when I do, I will go visit Spoonbridge and Cherry, part of the Walker Art Center.
New Orleans, Louisiana - April 2011, Day One
Elusive Beaded Tree, Garden District
Besides the low hum of jazz music, the shiny lure of beads, and the rebellious nature of this sinking city, I couldn't help but be pulled towards New Orleans for reasons I had yet to fully realize. I had a feeling that I would like it, but I didn't know it was going to permanently haunt me for future vacations. New Orleans surprised me in that it felt ancient, like walking the streets of Rome or tripping on cobblestones in Vienna (see earlier post, below), but with a buzzing undercurrent of revelry; every action is done with the smirk of the devil on your shoulder.
Although my friend B, who moved there in 2009, first inspired my visit; I will forever be thankful for his wanderlust that led me to this magical city. I recruited a girl friend, L, to travel with and vowed to eat my way around the city and soak up any juices New Orleans wanted to part with; I also need to thank her for putting up with my fantasy food itinerary, I'm sure it drove her a little crazy.
My first stop was Butcher. My friend B was managing the small meat counter and bar along with its adjacent, popular, Warehouse District restaurant, Cochon. Despite it being Good Friday, and being a relatively good Catholic girl, I had given up meat for Lent and it was time to open the floodgates. B started me out with sausage and duck sliders with bechamel sauce that were simply divine--it was a holy week after all.
Besides the low hum of jazz music, the shiny lure of beads, and the rebellious nature of this sinking city, I couldn't help but be pulled towards New Orleans for reasons I had yet to fully realize. I had a feeling that I would like it, but I didn't know it was going to permanently haunt me for future vacations. New Orleans surprised me in that it felt ancient, like walking the streets of Rome or tripping on cobblestones in Vienna (see earlier post, below), but with a buzzing undercurrent of revelry; every action is done with the smirk of the devil on your shoulder.
Although my friend B, who moved there in 2009, first inspired my visit; I will forever be thankful for his wanderlust that led me to this magical city. I recruited a girl friend, L, to travel with and vowed to eat my way around the city and soak up any juices New Orleans wanted to part with; I also need to thank her for putting up with my fantasy food itinerary, I'm sure it drove her a little crazy.
My first stop was Butcher. My friend B was managing the small meat counter and bar along with its adjacent, popular, Warehouse District restaurant, Cochon. Despite it being Good Friday, and being a relatively good Catholic girl, I had given up meat for Lent and it was time to open the floodgates. B started me out with sausage and duck sliders with bechamel sauce that were simply divine--it was a holy week after all.
New Orleans, Louisiana - April 2011, Day Two
Went to lunch with B at Sylvain, a quaint little restaurant with an outdoor courtyard you have to walk into before getting to the front door. We were served chicken liver pate and drinks while waiting for our meals.
Apparently uncharacteristically, my burger was not up to "write home about it" status, so it is not pictured here. However, B's cajun chicken sandwich was great, and turned out to be "too cool" for my camera.
My friend, L finally arrived in town and after taking a ghostly haunted house tour of the city, our first dinner out was at B's restaurant, Cochon (Pig). A simple set up of wooden tables and chairs and a welcoming environment keeps expectations low, as it's not a stuffy, buttoned-up place. However, the caliber of the food is top-notch and reaches high above the casual atmosphere. We were starving, but after ordering drinks with flavored moonshine and catching-up, we had a table full of food and not enough room to store it all. From spectacular oysters to a spice-rubbed fish, hands down my favorite dish was the sweet and sour alligator; a must for out-of-the-box food seekers who want the best out of the region.
L and I tried to end our night after a few stops, at Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar where we caught a glimpse of Corona-swigging rock legend Rod Stewart, we couldn't have asked for a more delicious evening, however it didn't end there. We stopped in the wee hours of the morning at Cafe du Monde where we got coffee and beignets covered in powdered sugar, a perfect "midnight" snack. Here is a tantalizing tease of our feast:
L and I tried to end our night after a few stops, at Hotel Monteleone's Carousel Bar where we caught a glimpse of Corona-swigging rock legend Rod Stewart, we couldn't have asked for a more delicious evening, however it didn't end there. We stopped in the wee hours of the morning at Cafe du Monde where we got coffee and beignets covered in powdered sugar, a perfect "midnight" snack. Here is a tantalizing tease of our feast:
New Orleans, Louisiana - April 2011, Day 3
Jackson Square street artist and his work
My third day started out with an unsuccessful trip to church (it was too full, so an outing in Jackson Square was my Easter mass) and a neat cemetery painting caught my eye, as did the artist. After my purchase, I met up with L and we went to Brennan's for their infamous brunch. Brennan's is classic New Orleans and is known for their lavish multi-course meals and the bananas foster with sky-high flames. Brennan's was so filling, we had to go back to the hotel and take a nap before heading out for Easter dinner.
We took it easy on Easter and had reservations at Restaurant August, the fancy food empire of esteemed southern chef, John Besh. After a successful Medium-reading at Marie Laveau's House of VooDoo, L and I walked to August and were seated in the wine cellar. After an amuse bouche we had an appetizer, entree and multiple desserts, along with wine, of course. Scroll down and prepare to be envious.
On our last day in town, I went back to Cochon for lunch to visit B and although all of my food was delicious, my favorite part was the blackberry ice cream sandwich between oatmeal cookies, the sweet satisfaction that solidified my food vacation...and haunted my dreams, as only great New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) food can do.
Although there were many other places on my to-eat list in NOLA, I dare to dream that I will visit again, and bring a hearty stomach to embrace the saucy, spicy, special flavors imparted in all of New Orleans' food; the epitome of soul. Next time, I'll go into the renowned Commander's Palace within the quiet Garden District and order the Turtle Soup with a giant smile on my face, always camera ready.
Vienna - 2005
While studying abroad during college, I not only fell in love with the unassuming, unpretentious city called Wien in German, but was absolutely captivated by some of the foods I ate while studying there. For the group of us who called Wien home for a month in which we studied opera, subsisted on beer and chicken schnitzel (see above), and wandered diligently around the cobblestone streets in search of a piece of history no one had ever unearthed; we were strikingly green and wholly excited for whatever we found around each ancient corner.
Of course we knew we weren't going to find anything "new" exactly, we had an assignment to complete upon returning home and needed to write a lengthy essay on something decidedly Viennese that peaked our individual interests on our trip. I dabbled in doing a history of Viennese coffee and decided to cafe-hop around the little stalls in search of the perfect Viennese coffee yet stopped when I found that the perfect cup went smoothly with the piece de resistance that is the irresistible Sacher-Torte (pronounced "soccer", an incredibly rich yet delicate chocolate cake famously made in Vienna and served at the Hotel Sacher). I then thought of writing primarily about the Sacher-Torte and the many imposters lurking around the city claiming to be "original", however the crumb trail soon went dry on that idea as well. I soon found my underexposed corner after seeing Freud's house and wondering about the depth of mental illness and the multiple undiagnosed cases of his day and wrote a confessionally "messed up" love story in which a man, scorned by the woman he loves and let down by the beautiful city, kills himself.
Romantic, eh? I'm sure it was a sign of being a bitter college student, leery of love and its radical consequences. However, in the process of writing a fictional love story to highlight Vienna, I fell in love with the city and even more so with a few of its dishes.
Of course we knew we weren't going to find anything "new" exactly, we had an assignment to complete upon returning home and needed to write a lengthy essay on something decidedly Viennese that peaked our individual interests on our trip. I dabbled in doing a history of Viennese coffee and decided to cafe-hop around the little stalls in search of the perfect Viennese coffee yet stopped when I found that the perfect cup went smoothly with the piece de resistance that is the irresistible Sacher-Torte (pronounced "soccer", an incredibly rich yet delicate chocolate cake famously made in Vienna and served at the Hotel Sacher). I then thought of writing primarily about the Sacher-Torte and the many imposters lurking around the city claiming to be "original", however the crumb trail soon went dry on that idea as well. I soon found my underexposed corner after seeing Freud's house and wondering about the depth of mental illness and the multiple undiagnosed cases of his day and wrote a confessionally "messed up" love story in which a man, scorned by the woman he loves and let down by the beautiful city, kills himself.
Romantic, eh? I'm sure it was a sign of being a bitter college student, leery of love and its radical consequences. However, in the process of writing a fictional love story to highlight Vienna, I fell in love with the city and even more so with a few of its dishes.
Hühner schnitzel (Chicken Schnitzel)
Haas & Haas - Tea Shop
Tea for Four
If you ever find yourself in Vienna, you must go and have Tea for One (or two!) at a quaint little institution called Haas & Haas located behind the colorful-tiled roof of Stephansdom (St. Stephens) Cathedral.
With dozens of tea to choose from, they bring out a menagerie of sugars in which to sweeten your tea, if you so choose. Tea for two gets you a pot of tea and an assortment of sweets and tea sandwiches, without crusts of course! On the second tier of the sweet plate (pictured above) there were dense biscuits with a thick cream and fruit preserves. Once I couldn't get a tea service to rival it in the states, I recreated the biscuit recipe to serve for brunch, continental breakfast, or dessert. This recipe can be configured to your taste; you can mix up the type of cheese, the type of jam, and the type of bread; so easy and delicious your friends and family will be impressed at your chic take on toast with fruit. Click Sweet Viennese Biscuits, Americanized for my recipe or find it on my blog tab.
With dozens of tea to choose from, they bring out a menagerie of sugars in which to sweeten your tea, if you so choose. Tea for two gets you a pot of tea and an assortment of sweets and tea sandwiches, without crusts of course! On the second tier of the sweet plate (pictured above) there were dense biscuits with a thick cream and fruit preserves. Once I couldn't get a tea service to rival it in the states, I recreated the biscuit recipe to serve for brunch, continental breakfast, or dessert. This recipe can be configured to your taste; you can mix up the type of cheese, the type of jam, and the type of bread; so easy and delicious your friends and family will be impressed at your chic take on toast with fruit. Click Sweet Viennese Biscuits, Americanized for my recipe or find it on my blog tab.