Vienna cooking classes with private dining let you dive into local life, make Viennese friends, and learn about Wiener habits and culture beyond the guide books. To show you what it's like, I joined a cooking class at a local foodie's home to prepare Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel. Just like her Omi (grandma) had shown her.
Unlike apple strudel shows for tourists at Schönbrunn Palace this private cooking class and dining session rolled out typical Viennese Cuisine in a private home. Along with joint mixing, beating, kneading and baking our lovely Viennese hosts opened the doors to local lifestyle that few visitors will ever experience.
How to Bake Apple Strudel
Along with our hosts and two friends of theirs we gathered around the dining room table turned chef's worktop in our white aprons:Â First we prepared our dessert - apple strudel, just like my mother had done it. Hostess Angelika and my daughter kneaded the dough and then carefully stretched the soft ball between their fingers until it became a thin rectangular sheet - a delicate exercise!
Meanwhile our host and I cut the apples and made them fragrant with cinnamon, sugar and lemon juice. Finally, we expertly rolled the strudel, brushed it with melted butter and sent it to bake. Altogether, the class included seven people and we were all happily busy.
Cooking Wiener Schnitzel
If apple strudel was fun team work, our group excelled even more preparing Wiener Schnitzel. We soon found the most dedicated Schnitzel beater in my son. Four of us each cut the Schnitzel on the sides, then coated them in flour, eggs and bread crumbs.
Definitely the most satisfying was frying the Schnitzels simultaneously in three sizzling pans.
What I loved about the whole concept of these cooking classes was the simple local experience. In fact, no trained food guide would be able to replicate that same informal exchange than a private individual.
Chatting about Vienna, food, children and everything that connected us was an integral part. In addition to recipes, tips and tricks we made individual contacts and felt we had truly arrived in Vienna.
I think whether you are a solo traveler, a couple or a group of friends, venturing beyond guide book attractions deeply enriches a travel experience.
Booking A Vienna Cooking Class
At present, Lena is arguably the uncrowned king of Vienna cooking classes and local food experiences. For a couple of years this passionate local chef has been connecting independent travelers with local cuisine. Besides, Lena lives in a cute typical Biedermeier house, in an apartment packed with vintage and antiquities. There you can look over her shoulder and be hands on when cooking Schnitzel and strudel side by side with Lena.
Alternatively, why not bake under the guidance of local grandmas and grandpas? For years, café Vollpension had been charming its guests with home made cakes and apple strudel. Now, the grandma and grandpa-run institution offers apple strudel baking classes in English language. Meaning your newly acquired apple strudel expertise will travel lightly all the way back with you. Book a class.
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