Veggie revolution gathers pace in Schnitzel State
By James Gray
An increasing number of Austrians are shunning meat and dairy products in favour of a more sustainable way of life.
Interest in vegetarianism and veganism is gathering momentum in Austria, according to the Austrian Vegetarian Union (ÖVU) and the Vegan Society Austria (VGÖ). In a country better known for Wiener Schnitzel, tafelspitz and beef goulash than lentil flan or scrambled tofu, figures from the Austrian food report reveal that approximately 3% of Austrians (population 8.38 million) are now vegetarian. Estimates put the number of vegans at anything up to 10% of that figure. Read more
Wrenkh – Wiener-Kochsalon: pioneers of vegetarian cuisine in Vienna
By James Gray
The Viennese and vegetarianism do not always go hand in hand. My wife, who is strictly nil-meat-by-mouth, once ordered the vegetarian option at one Vienna restaurant and was horrified to be handed a bowl of cream of potato soup with chunks of bacon debris sloshing offensively on the surface.
Taking vegetarian cuisine to an entirely different level is the restaurant Wrenkh, located at Bauernmarkt in Vienna’s Innere Stadt or 1st district. Established in 1982 by Christian Wrenkh, 57, it was one of the first vegetarian restaurants in Vienna and has become synonymous with fine but simple vegetarian fare. Read more
Water of Life springs from Austrian Waldviertel
By James Gray
“Scotland Forever!” proclaims the St. Andrew Association diploma which hangs, almost strategically, you might think, above the master distiller’s left shoulder. He grins, recalling the sound of bagpipes which filled the distillery’s Celtic Fire and Water Garden during a Midsummer wedding ceremony last year.
And yet these are not the Highlands of Scotland. No less mythical and once populated by ancient Celtic tribes, this is the Austrian Waldviertel and home to the Waldviertler Roggenhof distillery and Whisky Experience World, which last year attracted 75,000 visitors – more than Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland. Read more