Things You Need To Eat In Austria

By now if you have learned anything about me it is that I have a deep love for food. Growing up, I was that person at the dinner table who was shoveling food in her mouth while asking what we were going to have for dinner tomorrow. Lucky for me, I come from an Austrian family who loves to cook just as much as I love to eat. I seriously think a huge part of being Austrian is eating. I know that sounds weird to some people but so many of my family traditions are built up around food. That is why whenever someone asks me for tips for their vacations in Austria, my list is usually revolved around food. So I decided to make a little foodie cheat sheet for those of you wondering what to eat when you visit Austria!

Okay, so I know this is kind of a duhhh moment but I'm not kidding. Bread is so different in Austria. I once met someone and told him I was from Austria and the first thing he said to me was “oh my god you guys have the best bread!” No joke. There is something about fresh farm bread that is absolutely addicting. Get a loaf, spread some butter on it, and go to town!

This kind of goes hand in hand with the bread. What this is is a cutting board filled with farm goodies. You get meats, cheeses, spreads, veggies, and more. It is something that is so simple and basic yet you will find it nowhere else in the world. Any farmhouse restaurant will have one and they are to die for.

I think this one is going to be on every menu everywhere! It may be a cliche choice but it is one of the first meals that I eat when I get home!

This Austrian style pig roast comes perfectly sliced up. It is the best when you can go to a farmhouse restaurant because they will make it fresh at least once a week. They serve it up with suaerkraut and knödel and you'll be in heaven!

This is kind of general but there are some of the most amazing bakeries throughout Austria. Having an afternoon coffee with a small piece of cake is a huuuuuge tradition, at least for all the people I know. I think it just gives people an excuse to see their loved ones and catch up on how the day is going. Personally my favorites are Topfentorten and Sacher Torten!

I don't think I really need to describe this one! However, I do want to brag and say that my mom makes one mean Apfelstrudel!

The whole knödel concept is hard to explain! Everyone always compares them to dumplings but that is just so far off. I would say they are more like dough balls. These two specific kinds of knödel are sweet. They are filled with jams and fruits and served as a desert. I eat them daily when I get home haha!

This is one of my personal favorites. Now it is kind of hard to describe because there truly is nothing else like it. However, it reminds me a lot of extra fluffy pancakes all hacked up into little pieces, topped with powdered sugar, and served with an apple or plum sauce. It is too good to share, trust me!

This is what my boyfriend refers to as mountain juice. It is a sweet syrup that is made from elderberry flowers and then mixed with either sparkling or still water to make a sweet juice. It is completely unique and perfect for those Austrian hikes. In fact, my grandma used to make it homemade and then fill up our water bottles with it when we went hiking!

It is no secret that Austrians love their Schnaps a much as they love their food. Nothing is better than having a good meal and finishing it off with a small shot of nut or honey Schnaps! It tastes sweet and is even known to be an Austrian home remedy for digestion. Not to mention it makes the hike back down the mountain a lot more interesting!

Now I could go on and on, but I hope this gave you a bit of an idea of what I like to eat when I go to Austria! If you have any suggestions of your own, I would love to hear them!