Kaffee und Kuchen in Vienna

The Viennese have a lovely tradition of dropping everything at around 4 PM and indulging in some Kaffee und Kuchen. In the interest of getting the most out of our vacation, we of course also adopted this practice while we were in Vienna. We are nothing if not cultural adventurers.

To get the true Austrian experience, you have to order your coffee mit Schlag, which translates roughly to buried under copious amounts of really stiff whipped cream. I’m not sure if it’s the word or the actual cream which makes me not like this particular type of coffee, but I always just got mine black.

Although Kuchen translates to cake, it’s used more as an umbrella term to include a wide variety of sweet baked things that one may consume alongside the coffee. Of course there is the oh-so-famous Sacher Torte, a chocolate cake with raspberry jam filling and a chocolaty outer coating (not entirely unlike Magic Shell). It originated at the tragically snooty Hotel Sacher, which is right next to the Vienna Opera House, but these days every Thomas, Dieter, and Horst in this city makes his own version of it (despite Hotel Sacher’s claim to having a top-secret recipe).

Luckily Vienna had plenty in the way of sweets that I was actually impressed with, like this thing called a Scheibbserkugel – a chocolate-coated ball filled with cookie and creamy goodness. We found them at the Easter markets around the city, but hopefully these things are around at other times of year, too. Another thing I liked were these pointy chocolate things filled with chocolate mousse. I think the name had something to do with Paris (how’s that for good journalism for you?).

8 thoughts on “Kaffee und Kuchen in Vienna”

  1. We’ll be in the region on Ascension weekend, so I’ll fill-up (read: eat) plenty of that sweet goodness. I’m just happy that I’m not that much of a sweet tooth… I’d gain 10kg just thinking abut it.

    I hope you had a chance to try the Trzesniewski’s (pronounced Tschesnjevski)- the best small open-face sandwiches I ever had in my life. If you ever have a chance, GO THERE.

  2. I love Kaffee und Kuchen. What a great concept.

    On a totally unrelated note, let me just say how much I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog. Now that we’re living a very different life as non-traveling parents and ex-expats back in the US I’m realizing how great it is to live vicariously through your travels. It helps me remember the good old days!

    And on another totally unrelated note, are you still watching Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar? What’s the latest? Now I’m watching American Idol instead and I’m missing Mark Medlock! (just kidding, of course…)

  3. CS – we totally missed Trzesniewski’s … I’ll add it to my ever-growing list of stuff to do when we go back!

    Gretchen – aaaw, thanks. 🙂 You can count on me whenever you need DSDS updates. Last week Martin got kicked off (finally!), so now only Mark, Max, and Lisa are left. I’ve always liked Mark and Lisa, but I have to admit Max is growing on me…

  4. Wow, those pictures all look delicious. Do they not have Kaffee and Kuchen time in Zurich?

    And I actually thought Martin had improved over the last few weeks, but I guess somebody had to go.

  6. That was a good show. I thought Martin did pretty well last night (although Lisa and Mark were probably better overall). He’s improved quite a bit, he was pretty god-awful at the beginning.

    And hubby explained to me that even though Kaffee & Kuchen exists in Germany, the Viennese take it to a whole ‘nother level.

  8. HELLO from an Austrian girl! 🙂
    Emigrated in Ireland about 6 months ago. Overe here we have “tea & bisquits” at 4 o’clock ;o)

Comments are closed.