Eating my way through Vienna and the globe

Surprisingly, after almost two weeks of living in Venna, I have eaten very little Viennese cuisine. Vienna is a very international city and is rife with small ethnic restaurants, dotting every corner and tucked between every shnitzel-bar. I've had grilled anchovies at Parthos, braised chicken feet at a Chinese and Dim-sum restaurant, a family style Indian dinner replete with a spicy raita at Namaste, and one of the best Thai panang curries (with duck!) I've ever had at Bangkok.

My first meal here came from a small storefront case filled with sliced baguette topped artfully with a variety of meats, cheeses, veggies, and spreads. Still jet-lagged and with no German in hand I had to simply point and gesture. I opted for a caviar and dill spread with lemon and a Camembert and jam. Both were delicious. I ineffectually tried to order water with my meal. The server tried to give me what appeared to be mango juice until a helpful man in line explained that I wanted water. This is when I first learned that the Viennese do not drink tap water (litungswasser)! I was given a bottle of sparkling mineral water which is the standard here.

We have also discovered, Spirali,  a fantastic slow-foods cafe with a daily menu of seasonal items paired with a constant menu of pastas with a variety of sauces. I've had the pumpkin walnut pesto gnocchi and the carrot-ginger-lentil soup so far, and I am a believer! It is located just around the corner from our workplace and I fear I may be a chronic customer. I blame my initial jet lag for the lack of pictures early on, but I'll be better about it moving forward.

Auf Wiedersehen!

The glorious gnocchi in pumpkin-walnut pesto! 

Lemon Chicken with Sage over Sweet Potatoes and Olives.
One of Spirali's seasonal features on their daily revolving menu.

The obligatory schnitzel. In this case pork. As large as it looks.

Ginger-Carrot Lentil Soup.