How I wish I could try the traditional dishes that are prepared locally in every country I visit albeit being vegan, I thought. It didn’t take long for this little wish of mine to find light of day!
In the summer of 2022, I was visiting a dear friend of mine in Vienna, Austria for a couple of days. Apart from all the architecture and touristic sites, I also wanted to experience the Viennese cuisine.
Viennese cooking plays a very big role in Viennese culture just like the locals indulging in the eternal couple of coffee & kuchen (cake in german) at coffee houses. When you ask about typical Viennese dishes its usually the Wiener Schnitzel cooked with veal (calf) and coated with breadcrumbs that grabs the headlines. Tafelspitz (boiled beef) and Beuschel (veal lungs and heart) are few of the other competitors. And when it comes to desserts, Apfelstrudel (pastry with apple and cream) and Kaiserschmarrn (pancakes with fruit compotes) are the mainstreamers that you find on the Viennese menu cards.
As I was told by my friend’s Austrian flatmates, traditional Austrian or Viennese cuisine was full of meat or cheese and it would be really hard to find any vegan alternatives. They commented that had I been a vegetarian, it would have still been a lot easier.
Being vegan must be some pain, some of you may think. But in fact its this challenge that pushes us everyday and spices up our travel itinerary in unique ways. And this time I thought I’ll challenge another notion that I had been carrying for many years. That of missing out on certain food cravings since I am a strict vegan.
My generous friend & host had already stocked up her fridge with loads of veggies, fruits and couscous for the days that I was to stay with her. However, I was hell bent on finding traditional Austrian food that is vegan.
Having rung up every last vegan restaurant on Google search and finding no luck I thought I should probably let go of this pursuit. All of them offered standard vegan cuisine but none served local options. But as luck would have it, I came across Gasthaus am Predigtstuhl and checked their website. It seemed quite old from the first looks but I decided to try one last time. My friend called the restaurant and asked them in german if they cooked typical Austrian dishes without meat. And there we were! We finally found one; my temptations couldn’t settle anymore.
The restaurant run by the Smolik – Abutalib family was located about 10kms from the city center and we decided to bike all the way. Little did we know that the ride would be strenuous since the region had a hilly terrain. I was already tired halfway and couldn’t bike any further. I got down and began to drag the bike along. We had to rush since the restaurant was to shut at 20:00 and we certainly didn’t want to miss out on this last opportunity before I head back to Belgium the next morning. Stubbornly, I kept moving forward even though I was gasping for air. When we finally arrived and rushed to the reception to ask if they were still open, they welcomed us with open arms and I knew then that this was going to be worth it all!
With my breath-rate regained and now seated on a rather comfortable chair, I asked for some recommendations from the menu card. I went on to choose vegan Spinat Spätzle and vegan Apfelstrudel with cream. I was extremely pleased that the food was delivered within a short amount of time and I could satiate my starving gut. I could admire the food all day long. The smoothness of the creamy sauce, the well-cooked veggies and the warm Apfelstrudel on the side! Now this is a true reward! Not only had I discovered this place but also was about to satisfy my cravings.
Spätzle in general is a form of noodles comprising flour, eggs and milk/water. This healthier version, Spinat Spätzle, had shredded spinach as the main ingredient, rolled into bite sized maccaroni with a bit of flour as binder. Served with a herby white sauce with delectable veggies it was one wholesome meal in itself. The Apfelstrudel on the other hand is a very traditional and common Viennese pastry with a filling of sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon and bread crumbs. Topped with whipped cream it is one of the evergreen desserts in this part of the world.
After heeding fully to my tummies’ greeds, I made sure I had a short conversation with the head chef. I learnt that he was vegan too and his parents were running the place for a long time now. It was interesting to note that some of the recipes at the restaurant were passed down from his grandparents and were in fact vegetarian by default, back in their times. I was reminded how dairy and meat were a luxury and not all families could afford it on a regular basis. Over the years however, with the rise in demand for meat and cheese, these recipes underwent alterations. The son of the Abutalibs also told us that he is constantly working on the menu to revive these traditional recipes that were inherently vegan and spread the message of animal cruelty in today’s times. Head over to their Instagram page to stay tuned with these mouth-watering updates. Although located far from town, the eatery has welcomed guests from all over the world. I was left amazed by his determination to keep his family tradition active and specifically by his perseverance to spread the knowledge of veganism through his innovative efforts.
Upon returning to the comfort of our beds that night I remember how I was caught in my own thoughts…“ Here I am, in the middle of Austria, relishing typical Viennese food that was prepared with a recipe passed down from a different generation. Today has been a toast for sure. ” And I slept with a happy heart and a bumpy belly.
Hi ! We’re Forum and Shiva, two intrepid souls united by our shared love for TRAVEL and SUSTAINABILITY. We met as architectural colleagues and we both spent some years exploring sustainable and socially responsible architecture. Our mutual fascination for vernacular architecture, traditional communities, and the curiosity to witness the natural world.. all led us to build this little nest: Barriers and Borders.
Our mission is simple – to bring you meaningful stories from the small or the big journeys that we make which could allow you to see the world differently. To let you join our journeys through our words.. to touch upon those little details that maybe get missed.. and above all to attempt to give back to the places we are privileged to visit in this lifetime.
Barriers and borders
Vegan Travellers | Eco-Conscious Architects | Love Envoys | Nature enthusiasts
Barriers and Borders
Hi ! We’re Forum and Shiva, two intrepid souls united by our shared love for TRAVEL and SUSTAINABILITY. We met as architectural colleagues and we both spent some years exploring sustainable and socially responsible architecture. Our mutual fascination for vernacular architecture, traditional communities, and the curiosity to witness the natural world.. all led us to build this little nest: Barriers and Borders.
Our mission is simple – to bring you meaningful stories from the small or the big journeys that we make which could allow you to see the world differently. To let you join our journeys through our words.. to touch upon those little details that maybe get missed.. and above all to attempt to give back to the places we are privileged to visit in this lifetime.
Superb writing ,dear Forum.I felt that I am there and witnessing and enjoying the delicious vegan food.You are very expressive,keep writing.Give your experience to others who couldn’t explore like you had and definitely ,it would be helpful to others.
Thank you so much Mom. It means a lot coming from you. I’m very grateful to have your constant encouragement and support !
Loads of love 🥰❤️
Superb write up…. Had a virtual tour and could literally taste the food 👍🏻
Please keep writing and sharing 🥰
Thank you so much kaki 😘😘 really appreciate you taking time and reading our article. Forever thankful for your support.
Big hug and loads love ❤️
Great work! Reading the article is an experience in itself. Would love to read more about your travels. 🙂
Stuti, thanks a tonne! Loads of love ❤️ 💖
Hey Forum!
This article is so astonishing and enlightening. Keep posting such content; we need such inspiration, awareness and affirmation that nothing is impossible. Indeed it’s not easy to become a vegan, but after reading your post, I felt if you want something from your heart, the world helps you to get it!!!
Love and hugs to you♥️😘
Thank you so much Saumya <3 Your words mean everything to us. You are the kindest person. and yes, I totally agree to what you said. Once you want something badly, the whole world conspires to bring that to you. Keep spreading such positivity love.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this rarity! Can’t wait to try the vegan Apfelstrudel! 🤤
Thanks a tonne Bina. Let´s have an apfelstrudel party soon 🙂
Wow. Forum. That was very engaging. Wonderfully written 😄 kindled my curiosity to look up vegan apfelstrudel and try it soon. 🤗 Such journeys are always very inspiring ❤️
Thank you Sneha. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it. Well definitely share more. Let’s have vegan apfelstrudel together ❤️
Loads of love
Pingback:Why we consciously chose to shift from vegetarianism to veganism? - Barriers & Borders