Ms. Lillian Langseth-Christensen, Part III of IV

So the patina of vacation wore off and upon returning we dove back into rehearsals for The Merdjanoff Summer Spectacular! (which, of course, you no doubt saw and by which were no doubt blow away). During the post-show schmooze time, a dear friend handed me a deftly wrapped package that weighed roughly 75 lbs.

"No need to open it now," she informed, "but please know that it's not new."

My curiosity roused, unwrapping it was my first action upon returning home that evening and imagine my surprise when there in my very own lap lay the first edition of Gourmet's Old Vienna Cookbook, a Viennese Memoir by Ms. Lillian Langseth-Christensen! More surprising still was that my friend had no knowledge of my already months old relationship with Ms. Christensen and only knew of my trip to Vienna, nothing more.

In the category of "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To", this book, published in 1959, not only contains more than 500 pages of recipes and suggested menus with occasional full-color photographs but also dozens of stories and historical explanations on food and the Viennese way of life, to say nothing of the charming sketches gracing every page.

Thank you, Catherine, for a gift beyond perfection. Thank you, Ms. Lillian Langseth-Christensen for sharing your knowledge. Now, with 500 pages of recipes from which to choose...what shall I make?

To be continued...someday!

Ms. Lillian Langseth-Christensen, Part II of IV

I love to eat. And, like many New Yorkers, I love to eat good food. I am fully aware that there is a finite limit to the number of meals I will be able to consume during my lifetime and I do not want to squander any opportunity on a lousy one. Don't try to overwhelm me with fancy-schmancy bells and whistles either! I want good food that tastes good - plain and simple.

Well, I certainly got my fill of it on my recent trip to Vienna - encouraged, of course, by the writings of Ms. Langseth-Christensen - and from wine bars to wurstel stands, here are my "must-have" food experiences:

Plachutta (the "ch" is pronounced as if expunging a spit ball from one's mouth) to sample the Kaiser's favorite dish: tafelspitz (or anything else they have on the menu - it's all succulently delicious)

Wurstel stand am Hoher Markt (hang with all of Vienna from elegantly dressed patrons of the arts to students to ambulance drivers, everybody loves their wurst at any hour of the day)

Julius Meinl, the gourmet superstore, also has a wine bar with extensive offerings from the bountiful countryside around Vienna - yum.

But by far the most special evening was spent Zum Schwarzen Kameel...truly one of the best meals of my life: a Jugendstil dining room, a remarkably warm and knowledgeable staff and, five courses and eight glasses of wine later, a bill that didn't break the bank.

If you happen to be planning a trip to Vienna (and I hope you are!) here are a few helpful links:

Plachutta (watch out - there's music!)
Wurstel Stand am Hoher Markt
Julius Meinl
Zum Schwarzen Kameel

More on Ms. Langseth-Christensen to follow...

Ms. Lillian Langseth-Christensen, Part I of IV

While planning a trip to Vienna this spring, I happened to mention in a casual cocktail conversation that I had been conducting in-depth food research on all things Viennese. My cocktail companion suggested I check into the works of Lillian Langseth-Christensen who wrote for the now-defunct Gourmet magazine during the 50's and 60's and a Google search later that evening lead me to a treasure trove of her works.

It was through Ms. Chirstensen that myself and my traveling party received full explanations on the purpose and origins of the five daily meals of the Viennese (yes, there are really FIVE!). Ms. Christensen gave us full license to indulge in all five every day, in an attempt at a kind of cultural assimilation regardless of our stomachs' desire to participate. We're just living like true Viennese, we'd rationalize, just trying to keep up with social mores. Oh, sheer delight for any gourmand!

For those of you planning a trip to Vienna anytime soon, the full primer on eating like a Viennese can be found here. And for those of you not planning a trip to Vienna in the near future...well, I don't want to tell you how to live your life or anything but I will and you should!

Reasons why will follow in next post...to be continued!