A year + ago, I moved, and had to switch from gas to a glass cooktop
or whatever they call it. I felt like I had to learn how to cook again,
I was burning stuff or it wasn't coming out right or just sucked in
minor ways somehow. This condition subsided after a couple of weeks.

Now I'm in Vienna on vacation in an airbnb place with gas, woo hoo!
But the cookware sucks and again I have to adjust, this time more than
one variable. Also, it's a tiny stove with three burners, the fourth
spot for letting your hot stuff sit there I guess. I'm not complaining,
just observing.

Throw in the added dimension of language, and preparing food for oneself
and one's family becomes a bit of an adventure.

Some more food observations over he

These Germanic people live up to their reputation for precision and
analytic leanings. I notice that you can get several different versions
of mayonnaise, clearly labeled "80% fett" or "35% fett" or it seems really
all sorts of gradations of fett to suit your exact mayo fett-ness needs.
None of this vague "light" stuff a la USA. I went with the full strehgth
stuff of course. Also, their "licht" milch is clearly labeled "0,9 % fett".
No rounding up here to the nearest 1%, nein!

Senf (mustard) in toothpaste tubes. Love it.

It is possible to please six-year-olds when in unfamiliar surroundings
if you can concoct something familiar in the kitchen. I made a lucky
guess that the gemischt ground meat (shut up Sheldon) was part pork
and part beef, and would make some decent meatballs. I was not wrong
and everyone was happy. I also guessed right that some crushed
tomatoes plus a small can of something tomato-y with a picture of a
basil leaf on it would be a great start for some red sauce. tert 2,
German 0.

You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
than 1% of actual practice in that country).

They have Kettle(tm) brand chips here. I was kind of surprised to
see that. I guess I didn't keep up too well with the last decade of
that company's ownership/distribution/trajectory.

Can't go wrong with baked goods here. Well, I imagine you can if they're
sold wrapped in plastic from a factory but I'm not interested in that
stuff. Pizza on the other hand is probably better in Italy.

It's a little depressing to see two McDonalds'es within ~200 meters
of Stefansdom. One would have been acceptable, but two? Why?? I would
send a letter to the appropriate Ministry but I'm too self defeating
for that sort of thing.

On 6/23/2013 6:20 PM, tert in seattle wrote:
> A year + ago, I moved, and had to switch from gas to a glass cooktop
> or whatever they call it. I felt like I had to learn how to cook again,
> I was burning stuff or it wasn't coming out right or just sucked in
> minor ways somehow. This condition subsided after a couple of weeks.
>
> Now I'm in Vienna on vacation in an airbnb place with gas, woo hoo!
> But the cookware sucks and again I have to adjust, this time more than
> one variable. Also, it's a tiny stove with three burners, the fourth
> spot for letting your hot stuff sit there I guess. I'm not complaining,
> just observing.
>
> Throw in the added dimension of language, and preparing food for oneself
> and one's family becomes a bit of an adventure.
>
> Some more food observations over he
>
> These Germanic people live up to their reputation for precision and
> analytic leanings. I notice that you can get several different versions
> of mayonnaise, clearly labeled "80% fett" or "35% fett" or it seems really
> all sorts of gradations of fett to suit your exact mayo fett-ness needs.
> None of this vague "light" stuff a la USA. I went with the full strehgth
> stuff of course. Also, their "licht" milch is clearly labeled "0,9 % fett".
> No rounding up here to the nearest 1%, nein!
>
> Senf (mustard) in toothpaste tubes. Love it.
>
> It is possible to please six-year-olds when in unfamiliar surroundings
> if you can concoct something familiar in the kitchen. I made a lucky
> guess that the gemischt ground meat (shut up Sheldon) was part pork
> and part beef, and would make some decent meatballs. I was not wrong
> and everyone was happy. I also guessed right that some crushed
> tomatoes plus a small can of something tomato-y with a picture of a
> basil leaf on it would be a great start for some red sauce. tert 2,
> German 0.
>
> You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
> in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
> you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
> limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
> than 1% of actual practice in that country).
>
> They have Kettle(tm) brand chips here. I was kind of surprised to
> see that. I guess I didn't keep up too well with the last decade of
> that company's ownership/distribution/trajectory.
>
> Can't go wrong with baked goods here. Well, I imagine you can if they're
> sold wrapped in plastic from a factory but I'm not interested in that
> stuff. Pizza on the other hand is probably better in Italy.
>
> It's a little depressing to see two McDonalds'es within ~200 meters
> of Stefansdom. One would have been acceptable, but two? Why?? I would
> send a letter to the appropriate Ministry but I'm too self defeating
> for that sort of thing.
>
Thanks so much for the travel report. I got a kick out of it.

My brother moved to Switzerland last year and he told me that the cuts
of meat are quite different there. They went to Germany to get some
meat to their liking and got slammed with import tax of some sort, but
at least they could get what they liked.

nancy

On Sun, 23 Jun 2013 22:20:31 +0000 (UTC), tert in seattle
> wrote:

>A year + ago, I moved, and had to switch from gas to a glass cooktop
>or whatever they call it. I felt like I had to learn how to cook again,
>I was burning stuff or it wasn't coming out right or just sucked in
>minor ways somehow. This condition subsided after a couple of weeks.
>
>Now I'm in Vienna on vacation in an airbnb place with gas, woo hoo!
>But the cookware sucks and again I have to adjust, this time more than
>one variable. Also, it's a tiny stove with three burners, the fourth
>spot for letting your hot stuff sit there I guess. I'm not complaining,
>just observing.
>
snippity doo dah

Thanks for the update. Have a great time.

koko
--
Food is our common ground, a universal experience
James Beard

www.kokoscornerblog.com

On Sunday, June 23, 2013 3:20:31 PM UTC-7, tert in seattle wrote:

> Now I'm in Vienna on vacation in an airbnb place with gas, woo hoo!
>
> But the cookware sucks and again I have to adjust, this time more than
>
> one variable. Also, it's a tiny stove with three burners, the fourth
>
> spot for letting your hot stuff sit there I guess. I'm not complaining,
>
> just observing.
>
>
>
> Throw in the added dimension of language, and preparing food for oneself
>
> and one's family becomes a bit of an adventure.
>
>
>
> Some more food observations over he
>
>
>
> These Germanic people live up to their reputation for precision and
>
> analytic leanings. I notice that you can get several different versions
>
> of mayonnaise, clearly labeled "80% fett" or "35% fett" or it seems really
>
> all sorts of gradations of fett to suit your exact mayo fett-ness needs.
>
> None of this vague "light" stuff a la USA. I went with the full strehgth
>
> stuff of course. Also, their "licht" milch is clearly labeled "0,9 % fett".
>
> No rounding up here to the nearest 1%, nein!

Kaese, too.


> Senf (mustard) in toothpaste tubes. Love it.

I keep a tube of tomato paste here for those recipes that call for a tiny amount.

>
>
>
> It is possible to please six-year-olds when in unfamiliar surroundings
>
> if you can concoct something familiar in the kitchen. I made a lucky
>
> guess that the gemischt ground meat (shut up Sheldon) was part pork
>
> and part beef, and would make some decent meatballs. I was not wrong
>
> and everyone was happy. I also guessed right that some crushed
>
> tomatoes plus a small can of something tomato-y with a picture of a
>
> basil leaf on it would be a great start for some red sauce. tert 2,
>
> German 0.

Austrians eat beef, too, the famous tafelspitz. Fried chicken is another Austrian specialty. You can get cevapcici, the Balkan ground meat treat, as well. I like the Siebenstern Brewpub, over towards the Westbahnhof, off Mariahilferstrasse. http://www.7stern.at/

You should go to a Heuriger, with white wine still fermenting and all types of bar snacks.

We spent a great evening with my cousin Ottilie and her Persian then-boyfriend at the last Heuriger in Ottakring, years ago. A gypsy played the cimbalom, and it was just fabulous.


>
>
>
> You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
>
> in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
>
> you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
>
> limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
>
> than 1% of actual practice in that country).

You can touch produce in supermarkets, where it is selfserve.

>
>
>
> They have Kettle(tm) brand chips here. I was kind of surprised to
>
> see that. I guess I didn't keep up too well with the last decade of
>
> that company's ownership/distribution/trajectory.
>
>
>
> Can't go wrong with baked goods here. Well, I imagine you can if they're
>
> sold wrapped in plastic from a factory but I'm not interested in that
>
> stuff. Pizza on the other hand is probably better in Italy.
>
>
>
> It's a little depressing to see two McDonalds'es within ~200 meters
>
> of Stefansdom. One would have been acceptable, but two? Why?? I would
>
> send a letter to the appropriate Ministry but I'm too self defeating
>
> for that sort of thing.

Go to the Schatzkammer and look at all the imperial treasures. American dollars helped reroof the Stephansdom after the war, by the way -- there's a thank-you plaque inside.

Go to Demel for coffee if you're near Stephansdom. Spar was my favorite market. Buy orange juice in the tetrabrik to save money.

On Sunday, June 23, 2013 3:20:31 PM UTC-7, tert in seattle wrote:

Go to the Prater by the way, and ride the giant ferris wheel (cabins, not outside)


> They have Kettle(tm) brand chips here. I was kind of surprised to
>
> see that. I guess I didn't keep up too well with the last decade of
>
> that company's ownership/distribution/trajectory.

Big groceries will have American "gourmet" products.

>
>
>
> Can't go wrong with baked goods here. Well, I imagine you can if they're
>
> sold wrapped in plastic from a factory but I'm not interested in that
>
> stuff. Pizza on the other hand is probably better in Italy.
>

tert in seattle wrote:

> You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
> in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
> you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
> limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
> than 1% of actual practice in that country).

Depends on time: in my area it is all weigh-yourself but ten years ago it
wasn't like that.
You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about finding some
horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst meal?
Happy touring
--
"Un pasto senza vino e' come un giorno senza sole"
Anthelme Brillat Savarin

ViLco wrote:
> tert in seattle wrote:
>
>> You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
>> in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
>> you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
>> limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
>> than 1% of actual practice in that country).
>
> Depends on time: in my area it is all weigh-yourself but ten years ago it
> wasn't like that.
> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about finding some
> horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst meal?
> Happy touring

ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf und brot

my son is equally enthusiastic about this cuisine

http://www.ftupet.com/upload/wurstmitsenf.jpg

tert in seattle wrote:

>> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about
>> finding some horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst
>> meal?
>> Happy touring

> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf
> und brot

LOL, just as I did when in Germany

> my son is equally enthusiastic about this cuisine
> http://www.ftupet.com/upload/wurstmitsenf.jpg

I bet
--
"Un pasto senza vino e' come un giorno senza sole"
Anthelme Brillat Savarin

"ViLco" > wrote in message
...
> tert in seattle wrote:
>
>>> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about
>>> finding some horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst
>>> meal?
>>> Happy touring
>
>> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf
>> und brot
>
> LOL, just as I did when in Germany

My daughter and family have lived there for years. It is good they don't
live only on that
--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On Friday, June 28, 2013 2:01:57 PM UTC-7, tert in seattle wrote:
> ViLco wrote:
>
> > tert in seattle wrote:
>
> >
>
> >> You have to weigh your produce yourself. A kindly cashier clued me
>
> >> in to this feature. Huge contrast to my experience in Italy where
>
> >> you are not supposed to touch the produce (this is based on extremely
>
> >> limited experience so I can not say it represents all or even more
>
> >> than 1% of actual practice in that country).
>
> >
>
> > Depends on time: in my area it is all weigh-yourself but ten years ago it
>
> > wasn't like that.
>
> > You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about finding some
>
> > horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst meal?
>
> > Happy touring
>
>
>
> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf und brot
>
>
>
> my son is equally enthusiastic about this cuisine
>
>
>
> http://www.ftupet.com/upload/wurstmitsenf.jpg

Foot-long hot dogs.

Just like in A-MAY-ree-ka.

tert is in the land of my homies. Feel free to ask a question.

Ophelia wrote:
>
>
> "ViLco" > wrote in message
> ...
>> tert in seattle wrote:
>>
>>>> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about
>>>> finding some horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst
>>>> meal?
>>>> Happy touring
>>
>>> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf
>>> und brot
>>
>> LOL, just as I did when in Germany
>
> My daughter and family have lived there for years. It is good they don't
> live only on that

it was good to take a side trip into northern Italy so they could eat some
decent pizza

for me the bonus was that it's impossible to get bad coffee in Italy

and I got some good risotto, gnocchi, and an amazing cold veal dish
with capers and some sort of egg sauce

wow

On Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:52:02 AM UTC-7, tert in seattle wrote:
> Ophelia wrote:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > "ViLco" > wrote in message
>
> > ...
>
> >> tert in seattle wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>>> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about
>
> >>>> finding some horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst
>
> >>>> meal?
>
> >>>> Happy touring
>
> >>
>
> >>> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf
>
> >>> und brot
>
> >>
>
> >> LOL, just as I did when in Germany
>
> >
>
> > My daughter and family have lived there for years. It is good they don't
>
> > live only on that
>
>
>
> it was good to take a side trip into northern Italy so they could eat some
>
> decent pizza
>
>
>
> for me the bonus was that it's impossible to get bad coffee in Italy
>
>
>
> and I got some good risotto, gnocchi, and an amazing cold veal dish
>
> with capers and some sort of egg sauce

Tarvisio, or did you go further into Italy?

I like that you can get good meals at the autostrada plazas.

wrote:
> On Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:52:02 AM UTC-7, tert in seattle wrote:
>> Ophelia wrote:
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > "ViLco" > wrote in message
>>
>> > ...
>>
>> >> tert in seattle wrote:
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >>>> You're in wurst land, you already got soem mustard, what about
>>
>> >>>> finding some horseradish, some nice bread and put together a wurst
>>
>> >>>> meal?
>>
>> >>>> Happy touring
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >>> ha! every third "meal" or so (or occasional snack) is wurst mit senf
>>
>> >>> und brot
>>
>> >>
>>
>> >> LOL, just as I did when in Germany
>>
>> >
>>
>> > My daughter and family have lived there for years. It is good they don't
>>
>> > live only on that
>>
>>
>>
>> it was good to take a side trip into northern Italy so they could eat some
>>
>> decent pizza
>>
>>
>>
>> for me the bonus was that it's impossible to get bad coffee in Italy
>>
>>
>>
>> and I got some good risotto, gnocchi, and an amazing cold veal dish
>>
>> with capers and some sort of egg sauce
>
> Tarvisio, or did you go further into Italy?
>
> I like that you can get good meals at the autostrada plazas.

it was Treviso, not Tarvisio

also in Trieste overnight, Udine for a few hours (not by choice - only to
get lunch and a SIM card but we had to hang around for a couple hours until
the phone store opened), and ate lunch in Battaglia Terme

we got a decent meal at the Landzeit outside Graz