GMC in Europe 2008

Wow…the Greater Middletown Chorale is in Vienna.

No exclamation mark, just a fact. We’ve been grounding ourselves in the local culture for the past two days and having a blast.

Our two groups were reunited at the Hotel Ananan on Friday evening, and those of us who were on the Northwest/KLM flight were reassured to know that the Lufthansa folks had had their own “hardships” (no choice of movie on the plane; an early arrival that resulted in an unscheduled wait for two hours; a Mozart visit that was less than spectacular). By comparison, our wait due to “technical difficulties” at the Amsterdam airport (we were finally airborne at 2:30, about three hours past our scheduled departure) was almost pleasant.

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Me again…the one NOT going and wishing she was… I want details…DETAILS ladies, and/or Colin (I know you have a sweet tooth). Wondering what to eat?

• Austrian Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce, Sacher Torte, rich chocolate cake with thin layer of raspberry or apricot jam served with whip cream.
• Linzer Torte, the famouse fruit tarte but not like we make.
• Damf Nudeln with plum filling and Vanille sauce—this big lump of steamed dough with a filling, usually plum or mohn (poppy seed) sometimes displayed in a tiny oven (if they have that up there)

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Hello everyone! Boy was that hard staying by last night knowing I would be missing SOooooooooo much fun with you wonderful people. Then all that Cake and wonderful bread and rolls you will be eating without me! 

I just wanted to chat about a few things that I thought could be useful when out and about. We are amid a bunch of savy experienced travelers so some of  you may know this already. 

There are some big differences with eating out in the States and in Europe. Firstly (and I am mostly speaking from what I remember from living in Germany- and being on tour), the service is slow—waiters and waitresses do not work for tips. So when tipping, you round off to the nearest Euro or giving a Euro is acceptable. Or, two or more if you feel like it was exceptional service.

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Well, I must tell you that connections are everything!  As it so happens my partner’s college-age daughter spent considerable time in Prague last summer and was kind enough to pass on her impressions.  Her report was most enthusiastic.  The following are some verbatim excerpts:

Language:  “Most people speak english, though knowing some czech is nice”.  Some suggested key terms spelled phonetically: 

“Dob-ry-den” means “good day, pardon, excuse me”.

“De-koo-yoo” is “thank you”.

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Well, believe it or not I have come across yet another patient who is well-connected to Vienna.  She is an American native who spends the better part of each year in the city and she recently offered the following recommendations to us as it pertains to working the muscles of mastication and ambulation:

Consumption:

1.  DeCapo restaurant, in Schulerstrasse district.  A “European” Italian as opposed to “American” Italian place which is known for taking full advantage of seasonal foods, e.g. asparagus (”spargel”) and pumpkin, in order to always keep the menu fresh and interesting.  This is her favorite place in Vienna where she swears she has never had a bad meal.

2.  Cafe Demel, near the Hofburg.  A “MUST” for the best pastry.

Observation:

I personally don’t know what the following sights are, yet anyway, or what they signify, but these are what she recommends.  Some of you I’m sure are familiar with these places.  Please feel free to comment:

1.  Hofburg Palace

2.  Schloss Shonbrunn

3.  Stephansdom-a “Must See”.

4.  Kunsthistorches Art Museum- “Absolutely fabulous”.

5.  There is also a music museum, just off Kartnerstrasse, and a Freud museum (Rich, this one has your name written all over it.  I’d love to check it out with you).

There you have it, from someone who knows. 

Cheers,  Adam

I have the good fortune of having as patients a lovely couple who are native Austrians.  They have graciously forwarded a list of the best in Viennese dining establishments.  Here is the list complete with websites for some advanced reconnaissance if one so desires.  All of these places are in Vienna’s “inner city”, the Innenstadt:

Restaurants:

1.  Figlmuller- A Viennese tradition.       www.figlmuller.at

2.  Gusshaus- Viennese cuisine.    www.gusshaus.at

3.  Plachutta- Viennese cuisine.   www.plachutta.at

4.  Julius Meinl- A Viennese tradition for fine coffees/food

Wine cellars:

1.  Zwoelfapostelkeller- great wine/good food.   www.zwoelf-apostelkeller.at

2.  Augustiner Keller       www.bitzinger.at

3.  Melker Stiftskeller      www.melkerstiftskeller.at

Cafe:

1.  Cafe Landtmann beim Burgtheater    www.cafe-wien.at  

There you go.  As the Autrians say  “Wien, Wien, nur Du allein”.   

Enjoy,  Adam