Article: The differences in austrian cuisine

I found an interesting article about 'The Regional Cuisine of Austria' on tourmycountry.com. Austria consits of 9 provinces and every one got his own characteristics in cuisine. This interesting article will inform you about all the facts you have to know for your next austrian trip

As I have stated in the article on the "Wiener Küche", the "Vienna Cuisine" is sort of a national standard. Beyond that, there are many styles and dishes that are typical for a particular region of Austria. Based on the provinces, this article now shows some of the local highlights going from West to East.

Vorarlberg

The Alemannic "Ländle" ("little country") is culturally, linguistically and even ethnically a very special place. Closer related to Switzerland than the rest of Austria, Vorarlberg′s food is heavily influenced by strong cheeses and rich in carbon-hydrates.

Tables are set in a restaurant in Vienna.Gnocchi-like Spätzle get a local touch through regional cheeses, and so do cheese dumplings and fried breads. Check out Käsdönnala, Flädlesuppe, Öpfelküachle and Funkaküchle. No way I could possibly translate this into English (not even into real German, actually), you will have to try these dishes yourself.

Tyrol (Tirol)

The "heilige Land Tyrol" ("holy land Tyrol", referring to its consistently Catholic history) is famous for its dumplings. In dozens of variations they come with ham, spinach and Tyrolian mountain cheeses. The dumpling-like Spätzle are common everywhere in the Austrian Alps and get regional flavour through the cheese that is used for them. Typical Tyrolian cheese is the "Graukäse", which is also used for the excellent, but very heavy "Kaspressknödel".

Graukäse cheese is sometimes sliced, marinated with oil and vinegar and served with onion rings. Other specialities are the highly recommended "Tiroler Gröstel", a stir-fried mix of meat, potatoes, onions and herbs, often served in a heavy, cast-iron pan (this, by the way, applies to many mountain-meals and is not done only for tourists, but for actual Austrians, too). Other local goodies with untranslatable names are Kiachl (kind of a doughnut) and Melchermuas (another pan-meal).

Salzburg

My very homeland! The beautiful province of Salzburg is divided into a Bavarian-influenced North and an alpine, Tyrolian-influenced South. Until 1816, Salzburg was an independent principality under the rule of Prince Archbishops. Naturally, monastic life and Catholic eating regulations (lent) were shaping forces on Salzburg′s cuisine, as well as the trade with Italy and Bavaria.

In the South, the cuisine is similar to the one of Tyrol, with lots of cheese, very little meat or fish meals and a carbohydrate-oriented base. The mountain valleys are great for wild mushrooms. Polenta (shredded corn) and potatoes are common, too. Local fruits and berries are blended into the sweet meals of Viennese-Bohemian origin, such as blueberries, elderberries and elderflower, apple varieties or pears. "Nidai" are pieces of fried potato dough.

The food in the North is more sophisticated due to access to lakes (fish and crayfish) and a higher diversity in fruits. Cheeses are common and Salzburg is considered to be the centre of beer culture in Austria (for three reasons: it is close to Bavaria; monastic life was a big deal in this church-state; and it was too cold for raising vine). Lent specialities include fish-meals and "Bock Bier" (extra strong beer brewed before Easter and before Christmas).

Monks were also very generous with their definition of fish. Beavers were commonly eaten in days long gone by, and there is a letter in which a bishop clearly states to monks that they should refrain from throwing pigs into their well - they would not count as "fish" through that treatment. These days, northern Salzburg cares less about lent and is famous for its many posh restaurants that accommodate the demanding Salzburg Festival audience. A sweet speciality are the "Salzburger Nockerl", a soufflé.

Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)

Very similar to the excellent cuisine of bordering Bohemia, Upper Austria is famous for its dumplings. They come made of plain dough (flour or potato based) and all sorts of sweet or savoury fillings. Common sides are Sauerkraut and Kraut salads or the universally present Upper Austrian potatoes.

The Linzer Tart made it into the Vienna cuisine, but actually originates from Upper Austria′s capital. Agricultural production includes excellent schnapps and "Most" (cider, made of specific varieties of apples and pears). Fish (particularly trout) is common around the lakes of the Salzkammergut.

Beyond that, it is difficult to identify local specifics that were not absorbed by the "Wiener Küche".

Carinthia (Kärnten)

Fish is more common in Carinthia than in other Austrian provinces, clearly because lakes are more common there, too. A speciality that is very peculiar to me are the "Kärnter Kasnudeln", little bags of potato dough filled with quark and mint. Very unusual, but definitely worth trying. Schlickkrapfen are normally filled with meat. Ritschert is a stew made of beans and cereals and said to originate from Celtic times. Especially in mountainous areas Klachlsuppe soup or Reindling are common, too.

Styria (Steiermark)

The "green heart of Austria" is famous for its vast vineyards, laid-back people and atmospheric countryside pubs called "Buschenschanken" (literally "bush tavern" - a term originating from the time of Emperor Joseph II, when taverns declared their business by hanging a bush in front of their door).

A pan-fried torn omelette (Schmarrn, including the most famous one, the Kaiserschmarrn) is the Heidensterz, many fruits, cold cuts and bread spreads (Verhackert) are locally distinct.

The Schilcher wine if typical for the western part of Styria. Pumpkin seed oil is an almost black oil with a very strong, nutty aroma and flavour, excellent for many salads. Fruits and nuts are favoured by the mild climate in Styria.

Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)

The oldest province of Austria offers many culinary delights, most notably of the liquid kind: it is the producer of great wines, particularly acidic white wines. Generally speaking, much of Lower Austria′s cuisine has been absorbed by the "Wiener Küche", distinct regional specialities vary due to the province′s size from area to area.

The Marchfeld is famous for its vegetables, in particular white asparagus. The Waldviertel area raises poppy seeds. Deer is commonly eaten, so are rabbits, hares, pheasants and boars. The Wachau region, which is flanking the Danube, is famous for fruits, in particular its apricots (called "Marillen" in Austria).

Burgenland

The Burgenland is special in many terms: very non-Austrian in its flatness and mild climate, it was under Hungarian administration in the days of the Empire. The spices and vines of the pannonic plains are still very present (and pleasant) in Burgenland′s cuisine. Many meals are based on fish (such as carp) and poultry (chicken, duck and goose).

Wine is very affordable in the Burgenland and generally of high quality. Wild mushrooms, wild asparagus and herbs add distinct features to the local cuisine. Polenta and corn are also more commonly used than in other parts of Austria.