Spain: Bienvenidos a Madrid!

Third and final post from Spain - Madrid!

 We finally made it to our final destination - Madrid - after a crazy car ride from Barcelona and a lovely stop in Zaragoza. Today's topics include: history on Madrid, Museo del Prado, food and wine (of course!) and final thoughts on the Vis Competition for team Cardozo overall!

Starting with my usual favorite - history! One of the cutest pieces of history (and of course history can be

cute!

) was Madrid's coat of arms (pictured below). The shield is a bear sable supported on a strawberry tree. This coat of arms can trace its foundation back to the Battle of Law Navas de Tolosa in 1212, where the troops sent in support of the Christian King carried a flag with the statant bear on a silver field. For those who want to get really nerdy about coat of arms, statant refers to the

attitude 

(yes, attitude!), or position, of the animal on the shield. Specifically, statant means that the animal is standing (either on 2 or 4 feet).

A statute of the the coat of arms is located in the Puerta del Sol which is the famous center of Madrid. Interestingly, this busy city center is also the center of the radial network of Spanish roads (thus the literal center of Spain).

After walking through the Puerta del Sol, the group headed to Mercado de San Miguel. This place is a definite must see (or must eat-at rather) because everything, and I mean literally, everything in here looked delicious. Then, the group headed to the Royal Palace of Madrid and I was surprised to learn that this is still the resident of the Spanish Royal family. Yes, Spain still has a monarchy, similar to that of England. The current monarchy is led by King Juan Carlos I and his wife Queen Sofia. Preserving the monarchy is very popular in Spain, with approximately 75% of the population in support.

After we walk around the courtyards of the Palace (again we did not go in because the line was way too long) we headed to the Museo del Prado. This museum was established in 1819 and is the primary national art museum of Spain. While it houses a staggering amount of European art from the 12th-19th centuries, it is known for its Spanish art collection. 

The most famous collection of Spanish art features Fransisco de Goya. It was very exciting to see the masterpieces in person, including Goya's Saturn painting. However, (and without getting to political on art) Goya's Black Paintings are... well depressing. Other notable artists include: Rubens, Rembrandt, and Titian. After the museum, we headed across the street to relax with a bottle of wine. Service was relatively slow... I mean Spanish ... I mean slow. Though we didn't care because we were only interested in drinking wine. Eventually, the wait staff decided we were all so charming that they poured us shots on the house. These shots were more like digestifs, or digestive liquers served after the meal. They are usually taken straight (which they were) and typically include brandy, bitter liquers (which I received) or sweet liquers. I never had a chance to write down the brand names, but one was an apple liquer, the second taste like Jagermeister (bitter in taste, brown in color) and the third like chartruese (herbal in taste, yellow in color). I would definitely recommend the yellow disgetif. After our drinks, we took a quick stroll through Retiro Park and then headed back into the city center.

Most importantly, we stopped at the famous Chocolateria San Gines for hot chocolate and churros. This is the place for churros in Madrid. The hot chocolate is dark chocolate and served much thicker than anything available in the U.S. Similarly, the churros are different because they are not covered in cinnamon and sugar. This was the perfect snack after a day of touring. Though, I wouldn't have hated the addition of a little cinnamon to the hot chocolate or the churros.

That night we also headed to a great Paella restaurant, called La Barraca. There, we ordered some traditional paella and arroz negra (black rice). Both were excellent and this restaurant is worth visiting when in Madrid. 

And as usual, a discussion of food would not be complete without a discussion on wine. I wanted to briefly introduced the wine region that received the most attention during my visit to Spain - Rioja.

Rioja is one of Spain's major wine region. Specifically, it is the principal red-wine producing region. One of the most important grapes for rioja is tempranillo. Tempranillo is known for producing long-lived and complex wines. Another principle grape in rioja is garnacha. If you are looking for rioja, be sure to look the differences in the three major levels: (1) crianza - 2 years of aging, minimum 1 in oak barrels; (2) reserva - 3 years aging, minimum 1 in oak barrels; and (3) gran reserva - 5 to 7 years of aging, minimum 2 years in oral barrels. 

And those were some of the key highlights from our day in Madrid. It was a great trip full of awesome memories, wine and food. Until next time!

Cheers!

Happy Easter - Feliz Pascua - Frohe Ostern

Second post from Spain!

Happy Easter to those celebrating! In light of the holiday, today's post provides a general comparison of Easter celebrations (and typical treats) in the United States, Spain and Austria.

Easter in the United States.

 Specifically speaking, (and not trying to get too religious) Easter is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Personally however, most of my childhood memories from Easter involve waking up to an Easter basket filled with candy, the family gathering for an Easter lunch, and the ever important Easter egg hunt. While these are very found memories, in comparison, it seems that Easter celebrations in the United States (like basically every other holiday) bigger and more mass-consumerized compared to the celebrations of Europe. 

In the U.S., most secular Easter celebrations are centered around the children. American families purchase an excess of plastic eggs, baskets, fake grass, bunnies, toys and candy. In fact, I learned that Easter is the second best candy selling holiday - after Halloween. (My favorite are starburst jelly beans!). Other common American traditions include dying Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts (which start off inclusive as small children, but may morph into heated competitions as the siblings get older), Easter egg rolls (at the White House), and Easter parades. Overall, Americans still remember and celebrate the religious reasons behind Easter, however, whether or not one attends a religious ceremony rather than simply take a day off to spend with their family depends more on the individual family tradition.

Easter in Spain.

The Spanish population is approximately 73% Catholic and, as a result, Easter is the second most celebrated holiday after Christmas. Overall, it seems that their traditions are similar to those of the United States, which include parades, family gatherings, candy and Easter eggs. However, these Spanish celebrations seem (at least from the outside) more religious and less consumerized than those of the U.S.

For example, it seems that many Spanish stores still feature candy and chocolate eggs. See the pictures featured below, on the right, a common window front with chocolate eggs and cakes, on the left, a similar (but more high end window) complete with a large chocolate chicken and cute paper chicks. However, it seems less popular to spend time decorating the eggs.

Further, these displays are different from the United States because: (1) They were way more difficult to find (and not literally on every street corner and in every store), and (2) people did not seem to buy a lot of these goods. Similarly, (though I have yet to see one in Barcelona) in much of the south of Spain, night time processions/parades seem popular during the Holy Week. These processions involve incense, candles, drums and cloak covered penitents. Overall, it seems the Spanish focus is on family time and remembering the religion behind Easter. (Stay tuned for updates as I was invited to join a Spanish family for their Easter dinner and may provide updates on their traditional dishes).

UPDATE! Our stop in Zaragosa

Kelley and RH in a cool alley of shops and bars

In addition to the the adventures outlined in this post previously, our group also made a stop in Zaragoza on Easter Sunday. Zaragoza is the capital city of the province. The drive to and from was interesting for two key reasons. First, our vehicle of choice (to which I lovingly referred to as the party van) was basically the normal size of an American sedan. However, in Europe it is commonly used as a cargo van - but we all loved it. Second, while the drive started as mostly highway, once we left town the landscape quickly started to resemble an exotic nature reserve. The area is known for its varying landscapes, ranging from deserts to think forest, meadows and mountains. The area always seemed like it should be abandoned of all civilization, yet every couple miles I would see people hiking, biking or picnicking - it was definitely a great area. Finally, if you have the opportunity to drive through, look for the large wooden black bulls that line the highway. Apparently, these bulls were former advertisements for alcohol and now line the highway as a community cultural symbol. I counted 10 on my trip - I dare you to do better!

Once we finally arrived in Zaragoza, we stopped in for a visit with a local Spanish family. This opportunity to break bread with a local family was by far one of the most rewarding experiences of the trip. Most of us did not speak the same language, but it was a great learning experience and delicious meal. Speaking of meal! The meal we had for Easter lunch was crazy! This was not your average protein and two sides but and 5 course feast. We started with traditional Spanish noodle soup, then cabbage and chickpeas with olive oil. At this rate, most of the group was already completely full. But like the treatment we were used to from our grandmothers (x100) - it was impossible to say no because the hostess was constantly serving us food. The final courses included a meat course, which feature beef, chorizo and blood sausage, and the dessert course, featuring both fresh fruit and traditional pastry. 

After this delicious and extremely filling meal, we took to the local streets for a walk. This tour included a walk through downtown, viewing ancient roman ruins (like the roman bridge picture on the left) and the roman cathedral

Catedral de Salvador.

 If you visit the cathedral, note the two unexploded bombs on the wall - during the civil war they were dropped on the cathedral and the fact that neither exploded was deemed a miracle!

Easter in Austria.

 While Austria subscribes to the typical Easter icons/symbols including, flowers, eggs, chickens, and hares, Austrians practice some unique differences. One of may favorites was the Ostermarkt. I am unsure if these are common within every village or only the big cities, but I wish they were common in the United States. These markets pop up during the Easter season and are filled with local vendors selling snacks, candy, gifts and Easter eggs. Generally, while this seems similar to the U.S. focus on candy and eggs, there is definitely a higher quality to these goods in Austria. For example the Easter eggs are not plastic but are made with more craftsmanship than that of the U.S. (see the picture featured below on the right - those are hundreds of hand painted eggs). 

The Ostermarkts also feature food stands that sell pretzels, chocolate, and warm drinks such as gluhvein. These markets differ from those in the U.S. because patrons are encouraged to buy a drink and stand at tables set up in the market and mingle with neighbors and friends. I really enjoyed how this tradition was more about gathering with neighbors than grabbing your snack and heading back to your car.

Overall, there are definitely common themes within the Easter celebrations in these three countries. However, it is very interesting which elements are focused on and how each culture interprets the common symbols. Happy Easter to you wherever you are!

Cheers!

Spain: Bienvenidos a Barcelona

First post from Spain - Hello from Barcelona!

 We have a limited time in Spain, so this post is packed with information. 

Today's topics: La Rambla, Antoni Gaudi, Cathedral de Barcelona, Mercat de la Boqueria, 

Scammers in Spain, Sangria and Spanish food.

Placa del Portal de la Pau viewed from the waterfront 

The first night in Barcelona we took to the streets and headed for La Rambla. Technically, it is merely a tree-lined street, pedestrian mall and tourist trap in Barcelona. However, it is still worth a trip to witness the architecture, feel the history and experience the crowd (all while keeping a very close eye on your valuables). Historically, La Rambla was not so attractive and originated as a sewage filled stream bed.  However, it was converted into a paved street during the 18th century and has remained a sight to see ever since. Personally, it was refreshing to be outside and near the water.

Casa Batlló

Next, if there is only one name to remember in connection with Barcelona - it is Antoni Gaudi. The man seriously left an impression on this town. Gaudi was a Spanish Catalan architect who lived from 1852-1926.

Gaudi is known for his gothic-inspired modern style. His works embraced romantic catenary curves (an engineering term for a curve that, like a hanging chain or cable, supports its own weight when supported at both ends)

, ceramic mosaics and extensive details. In fact, his most famous work, the Sagrada Familia, is filled with dramatic intricacies that remain unfinished because he died before its completion. All the works we witnessed were inspiring, beautiful and definitely a must see for Barcelona.

Casa Milà

After we toured the famous Gaudi Houses, we ventured in search of something different. In the historic district of Barcelona is seems that there is a church around every corner. One of the most spectacular churches is the Catedral de Barcelona (featured on left). Warning: Do not confuse this gothic masterpiece with Gaudi's Sagrada Familia - because they are different! The Barcelona Cathedral is the home of Archbishop of Spain and was built in mostly during the 14th century.

A common theme to remember when visiting Barcelona (and the reason there are no pictures of the inside of these structures) there is a line to get into practically every. single. structure. So come prepared.

Next, we visited the Mercat de la Boqueria. Historically, this market (known as la Boqueria for short) was first mentioned in 1217. Overtime, the market survived as a general and unofficial market for over 500 years. Then, in 1826 the market was legally recognized and the official structure you can see today was completed by 1914. On our visit today, it was intensely crowded (as with most tourists spots). However, I was a bit thankful for the crowd because I noticed most people were drinking small juices. I eventually learned that most vendors who sold fruits and vegetables also sold fresh squeezed juices. I chose pineapple coconut - and it was awesome! I highly recommend! The remainder of our visit consisted mainly of checking out the vendors, such as: (1) If I had more time I would definitely come here for meat products, and (2) The dried pepper stand was so beautiful (see photo below).

Pepper stand in La Boqueria

Last, but not least, the topics concerning general life in Spain. First things first ... scammers. Now, I considered myself fairly well-traveled. I have been to three continents, do my research before head out, try to blend in, and haggle, haggle, haggle. But, Barcelona may be the exception to my preparation. Initially, the taxi driver from the airport warned us about pick-pockets in La Rambla. Ok - that is easy enough to avoid and thus far we have experienced no problems. But the driver also warned us about other taxi drivers overcharging - no problem we thought - we are from New York. Well, at the end of our first night, we took a taxi home, and were totally scammed. The initial walk took about 30-40 minutes, but took at least 20 via taxi with little traffic and cost almost 13 euro. All in all - I recommend you keep an eye on your taxi driver in Barcelona.

Similarly, we may or may not have had our conversation invaded by a former staff writer for

High Times Magazine

. (Yes, the cannibas afficionados magazine for all you straight edges out there). What do I mean?!? Well, when abroad as an American, I have found that other Americans will frequently join in on the conversation, especially when they have been abroad for some time. Basically, the miss speaking English and want to brush up on their skills. This past evening, we were chatting and minding our own business, then an older gentleman clearly of the flower power/make love not war generation completely crashed the conversation. Generally, he was nice enough until he started asking us not what we wanted to do with our lives, but "what do you want to

do??

" (If you are confused, you are on the right page, because this guy would not take any of our professional goals as an acceptable answer - thus we all were confused). Moral of the story - become fluent in Spanish or speak quietly to avoid conversation crashers. 

Finally, some comments on sangria and Spanish food. In a word - awesome! The tapas style mediterranean fare is a welcome change to the heavy Austrian style food we ate last week. Specifically, the picture below (featured left) is that of a typical Basque tapas restaurant. There, consumers grab a table then head to a buffet of tapas sized snacks. Each has a toothpick holding it together and at the end of the meal the waiter counts the toothpicks and charges you per tapa. Great experience to share with friends!

Long story short, Spain is welcome change from Austria (primarily weather wise) and the group has really seen a lot across one short day of touring. We especially loved the view from Park Guell (see above right) also heavily designed by Gaudi.

Cheers!

Vienna: das Ende für Österreich

Last post from Vienna!

 All good things must come to an end, and with a heavy heart, the group said good-bye to Vienna. We will not miss the snow, cold, and more snow - but - we will miss the sites, food, drinks and friends. Today's topics: a sneak peek at the inside of the Belvedere Palace, Weissburgunder, and the weird and wonderful Austrian breakfast - featuring melange.

Last post, I introduced the Belvedere Palace and Prince Eugene's desire for a bigger and brighter palace that would easily have made it on

MTV Cribs

. (Full Disclosure - at first I could not even remember the full name of this show, so I had to google - the wikipedia description is somewhat humorous and provided for those can't remember either). What you did not get to see were some images from the inside! There are two reasons for this: (1) I had to take these pictures secret-agent style because we were not allowed to take pictures, even without flash, and, (2) The main rooms were so beautiful - they deserved their own separate post. 

Featured below is the grand staircase (left) and the main ballroom (right). Now, I have seen a few castles in my day... Versailles (twice), The Louvre, Neuschwanstein... just to name a few. But this summer residence of Eugene's still managed to show me something awesome and different - uniquely vaulted ceilings. If you look at the windows in the main ballroom, those were on the third floor and allowed visitors to look both down into the ballroom and out to the view of Vienna. Definitely a sight worth seeing.

Next, a topic for my most dedicated readers (and newbies who love fermented grapes) - wine! More specifically, what is weissburgunder? On our last day in Vienna, we stopped at a local wine store. Of course, I went straight to the

b

laufränkisch

 and grabbed a bottle. On my way there, I saw a bottle of weissburgunder, and thought: I have no idea which grape this is exactly, but it looks interesting, so why?! I had never seen this name on the label before and initially thought maybe it was a translation for white burgundy. But, I definitely had my doubts because I found it highly unlikely that anything French

and

wine-related would be in any other language besides French. With some research, I learned that weissburgunder is actually how the Germans/Austrians refer to

pinot blanc.

Pinot blanc is a white grape and produced in several countries (in order of estimated quantity): Alsace (France), Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary and others. Generally, pinot blanc has a medium-dry to dry taste and oak is not typically used during maturation. Its flavor profile includes: citrus, melon, pear, apricot and perhaps smoky/mineral undertones combined with high acidity.

Other synonyms for pinot blanc include: 

 pinot bianco (

Italy

), pinot branco, rulandsky bile (or Rulandské Bilé in the 

Czech Republic

), Rulandské Biele (

Slovakia

), and 

Feher burgundi (

Hungary

).

For my third and final topic, Austrian breakfast. To some Americans (and other non-natives) breakfast in Austria may seem weird. Well, maybe not weird, but more like - lunch? It's true, if you have not been to Germany or Austria before, the breakfast spread includes: rolls, meat, cheese, yogurt, vegetables and other similar items Americans would rather see around noon. Personally, I think it is the best breakfast around and would back the movement to serve this style breakfast in the US tomorrow. There is one caveat though, today I saw a new breakfast item that was somewhat strange (and may not need to jump the pond) - tiny chocolate cakes/truffles. I grabbed a few (merely for experimental purposes), despite my sentiment that chocolate truffles are a bit too decadent for breakfast, and they were surprisingly good! The taste was no where near as sweet as a similar item in the states would be. So definitely worth a try for the adventurous breakfast lover.

Speaking of breakfast, this brings me to my last topic, melange. If you visit one of Vienna's many cafes, you will definitely see melange on the menu. I have ordered this traditional Viennese coffee drink on several occasions during my trip and it is always great. But, it also tastes similar to a cappuccino and I wondered what was the difference. From what I read (and if any of my European readers want to correct me - feel free!) classic melange differs from cappucino because the strength of the coffee brew is less pronounced and it may be served with whipped cream instead of frothed milk. All differences aside, melange is delicious and I will definitely miss it.

Other places to see in Vienna: 

Zum Schwarzen Kameel (high end food store/restaurant), Figlmuller (traditional schnitzel - the size of a plate), MuseumsQuartier, and basically any bakery.

And with that - stay tuned for new posts on my adventures in Spain!

Cheers!

Vienna: Engelszug

Fifth post from Vienna!

So the results are in and unfortunately my team did not advance to the next rounds. However, we are proud of our effort and definitely thankful for the the opportunity to participate. Our consolation prize = touring Vienna with new friends.

Cardozo vs. Silesia - and our arbitrators.

(Don't worry Silesia didn't get through either)

UChicago & Cardozo Joint Team Dinner <3 

It has been said all along (and its true) that one of the greatest benefits of participating in the Vis are the people that you meet. After the results, we met up with the lovely team from UChicago for a team dinner. We headed to an Austrian restaurant for local fare, complete with 

Blaufr

änkisch

. The mandatory food and drink photos are featured below. I was excited because we finally found an Austrian restaurant that served German-style dumplings known as 

spätzle. I was surprised how uncommon it is to find this dish on the menu. If you have not tried them before - you should... maybe right now! Regardless, the food and company were both excellent and it was a great way to end the competition.

Paprika chicken with dumplings;

Opposite picture = celebratory team drinks

to start of the night.

From the dinner, we headed out for our last night at the Vis Bar. While some of my group members may disagree, it was about time to say auf widersehen to Ost Club. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Ost Club can best be described in one word ... sweaty (Though I would use shady in the alternative). Additionally, one person can only spend so many nights in a row ... in the same club ... with the same people.

Now for liability reasons, I never take pictures in these establishments. You never know who, what, where, or why those pictures will come back to bite you later. But, I know that some of my readers are on the edge of their seats waiting for a description of what goes down at Ost Club, so I will give you a taste, gossip-girl style:

Cardozo team arrives at Ost Club and heads to the bar. This will likely be a crazy night - their goal... to stay out until morning. Spotted on the dance floor - Cardozo ladies teaching the Swiss a few moves, while the Germans are popin' & lockin' - funny yet impressive all at the same time. If you are wondering where the French are - check the smoking room. And did you see that they opened another back room? I am just thankful they played some hip hop songs tonight. xoxo KC

All jokes aside - the Ost Club was a fun scene and great place to unwind with fellow Mooties. But don't put us in the bar rat category just yet! We still got up the next morning to see some more sights in Vienna. First, we headed to the nachsmarkt. It is an open air street market with restaurants, food vendors and a few stores. We stopped to buy some dried fruit and stopped to have lunch at a Thai restaurant. The food was great and it was nice to be outside on a sunny day.

View of Belvedere Palance from the courtyard

Then, we walked to the Belvedere Palace. This palace was originally built for Prince Eugene in the 18th century who believed the old palace was to small for his taste. Thus, he built the two building complex as a more extravagant summer residence. Today, it is now an art museum. The museum features a little bit of the essentials - medieval, 18th/19th century, impressionism and modern art. In fact, the title of this blog post was inspired by the title one of my favorites from today which, loosely translated, means "Angels flight." The crown jewel of the collection is the museum's Gustav Klimt collection - which was very impressive to view in person. This palace is worth the trip alone just to view the extensive grounds and architecture, but the fact that it doubles as a diverse art museum is an added bonus.

For my last photo - Prince Eugene must have been thinking right - check out the view from his front yard...

Cheers!

Vienna: Schnee und Eis

Fourth post from Vienna!

“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.”

  -Mozart

As much as I love Mozart - his hometown could use some sun! There is less than a week left of March and it is freezing here in Vienna! And I'm not talking light jacket with a cute scarf cold - I am talking leave the cute scarf at home and break out the parka because I need function over fashion cold. In fact, it has even snowed the last two days! I don't think Austria subscribes to the predictions of the disinterested groundhog known, not-so-lovingly, as punxatawney phil - but phil definitely blew it again this year by calling for an early spring. 

Not only must we brave the elements simply heading from point A to point B, but we also thought it would be a good idea to take a walking tour of Vienna at night in this weather. Do not get me wrong - it was a great activity! I learned a lot about the history of this beautiful city. But this was no ordinary walk in the park on a summer night. Frankly, we spent most of the day preparing for the walk by buying provisions. Since it was palm sunday, this meant we mostly walked around searching for any store that was open. But we ultimately stopped by the Easter market and purchased some hats and scarves from a local vendor (more on the market to come soon!).

Once bundled up, we headed out to meet the tour group. And the tour started off well - we learned about architecture, royals, plagues, art and culture. 

One of my favorite sites was the Hofburg Palace (seen below on the left). The former home to many monarchs,  including the Habsburg dynasty, this palace is now home to the President of Austria and several interesting museums. Also, the guide told us about interesting square with the statue see on the right. Criminal trials used to occur in that square - either publicly or before the church. Despite any

star chamber

 concerns, most Austrians actually preferred a trial before the church because it was private. All public trials occurred in the square where locals could throw rocks and spit on the accused. Given those options, I guess I would prefer a secret trial to public humiliation too.

Hofburg Palace

Statue representing the old trial space of the church - used to have three stones where defendants could wish for luck

The local fare des tages.

 Before we hit the walking tour we did have an awesome lunch and one of the more famous historical spots in Vienna -

Cafe Central

. (Check out the link for pictures that really show off the interior). It is a must see if you visit Vienna! Cafe Central is simply a coffeehouse that has been around since 1876. It is famous because it was the regular meeting spot for many intellectuals during the 19th/20th century. 

In January 1913 alone, 

Josip Broz Tito

, 

Sigmund Freud

, 

Adolf Hitler

, 

Vladimir Lenin

, and 

Leon Trotsky

 (the latter two being regulars) were patrons of the establishment. Now it is a popular tourist spot with great food. My lunch order seen below - I had square noodle with saurkraut and a yogurt sauce. It was different but I definitely recommend it!

Finally, and somewhat randomly, check out this interesting development in the wine industry. Heading to a local baseball stadium near you (well really only if you are a Mets fan because they are starting with Citi Field), a company called Zipz is introducing sealed single servings of wine. Check it out

here

. As much as I think serving wine in individual servings, like beer cans, is a brilliant idea (definitely shark tank worthy), I would almost guarantee the wine would be lacking in quality. Love to here your thoughts on this!

Cheers!

Vienna: Das Tigra

Third post from Vienna!

 As a resident of the great New York City, I get a lot of house guests. With every visitor I frequently hear the same question - "So what do you do for fun  on a typical weekend." Since I have been there for years and hit most of the typical museums, theaters and attractions, I am now proud to announce that my most common answer is... "um, go out to eat."

Fish Sandwich and Gerkensalat from a local fast food joint.

You may scoff at my choice of dining and wine over the cultural hustle and bustle that is New York City. But it is a passion of mine to research the best kept secrets, newest innovations and traditional favorites within the restaurant community. Which brings me to today's post! Naturally, this passion for restaurants doesn't stop with the five boroughs of NYC but follows me abroad, more specifically to Vienna. 

So our first stop was at a local fast food place that features fish (the name escapes me right now - but it was something Nordic if any Vis Mooties* want to check it out). I would describe it as a classier long john silver's - for those familiar with the seafood featuring fast food chains of the U.S. Be ware - the line moves swiftly - unless there are Americans trying to pay with their credit cards in front of you. But the food is affordable and tasty.

RH in front of CHAMPIONS - head there

 for overpriced "American" food

Then, I hit the town to explore with RH and we stumbled upon Champions - the "American Sports Bar and Restaurant." I always find these types of establishments comical. I wonder if the locals really like going there or if it is just a place for Americans to go when feeling nostalgic while abroad. Either way, I hope the locals come visit Philadelphia for a real Philly Cheese-steak (that is way cheaper that 16 euros they would pay at Champions) and the Americans hold out until their return and stick with the local fare. Unless they play Journey there - because that changes everything.

After a lot of exploring and a successful return to our neighborhood without looking at our map (all thanks to the expert - RH!) we headed to a local market for the essentials - candy and pastries. NYC has some great bakeries - but German/Austrian bakeries may ... (sorry I have to say it) ... take the cake! Everything is just better. Fresh bread, pastries, chocolates - the list goes on and everything just seems like a little more heart went into it than in most American supermarkets. No specific recommendations needed because everything is exceptional! Yes, even the haribo gummy bears that are available in the states are better here.

The essentials: apple turnover and gummiberkin

S

ome of you may be wondering - what is with the pizza? I can hear my younger sister pointing out, "C'mon K - I thought you only stuck to local fare when abroad." I know, I know - I blame the hotel concierge for this one. RH and I were in search of somewhere quick, cheap and good before we hit the Vis Bar. The hotel directed us to Vapiano. When he said the name, I thought - ok, Italian in Austria, this will be interesting. But, when I turned the corner I finally put two and two together - he sent us to

Vapiano

a chain Italian restaurant present in the U.S. where you are given a swipe card and order directly from the chef's station. 

To clarify, I am not hating on Vapiano. It is a great place to go with a large group, the food is affordable and tastes great. I just found it hilarious that I have been to the same chain restaurant (excluding typical fast food) in three large cities (NYC, D.C. and now Vienna).

I will end with a glimpse of what is to come in my next post. RH and I randomly walked by this restaurant, in basically an alley, with a line out the door (And its freezing and snowing in Vienna right now). I later learned that this was 

Figlmüller

, a famous Austrian schnitzel house that has been making this traditional dish since 1905. Get excited for this one folks!

The line for Figlmüller - a local hotspot that we plan to visit soon!

Cheers!

*Vis Mooties

- a colloquial term to describe student participants in the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, whose common characteristics include, but are not limited to, desire to be best friends with E.B. (Eric Bergsten that is); heard a law professor from Pittsburgh sing at least three songs on arbitration (yes ... songs); likely sang along with these songs, whether or not they will admit it; know honestly more than any normal person should know about witness statements, article 96 CISG, breach (whether fundamental or not), delay, avoidance and (of course) child labor; fierce competitors by day; people just searching for good times, a party or even (dare I say it) love around the corners of the Vis bar by night.