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Published: October 16th 2010
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I was awake before 9 for a change without an alarm so was at breakfast at 9.30. It was already starting a little with the light rain. Altho Marienplatz was closer for the Ubahn, and likely thru heavier Sat. morning shopper traffic, decided on a slighty longer walk back past my previous Pension to the Ubahn station which I already know, in terms of end of line names etc, just in case times were tight. This was not the case and I was at Hauptbahnof at 11.00 for the 11.17 Railjet which was sitting there waiting. Started writing this there having been thru Salzburg already, next stop Linz.
NOW in Vienna and got to my hotel about 4.30pm. Mucked around posting last blog then finally out towards the Stephansdom and the Museum District. The main normal person's shopping street (as distinct from overpriced de-siiigner) is Mariahilfer Str. and I am in a side street off that. The usual run of shops and as rents are so high no restaurants other than kebab takeaways and Golden Arches and Star*ucks. So headed down a side street, then a bit further - and lo and behold another culinary discovery for dinner! Zum Roten
Vienna - Michaeler Platz
looks a bit Trevi Fountain Elefanten - if you don't get it in basic German the logo tells you its the Red Elephant.
A very limited menu - 4 entrees, mains and desserts and it seemed half vego as well - and small - about 20 seats out the front and a smaller out the back with another dozen or so. And I could not believe the size of the kitchen in between that 2 guys were working out of - about 9 x 6 feet or so! Anyway I started with the pumpkin quiche which was on very thin flaky crust - two small slices, with a rough pesto sauce with some crunchy roasted black pumpkin seeds in and around. Very nice tasty light starter. Portions not huge, but at about 6E who cares - you can eat 3 courses and not feel bloated. The beef dish listed was off, but they had instead a coq au vin, which later seemed fairly popular with others too. This was unlike the very good traditional one I had in San Fran on my last night at ?? /forget now. It was served with some potatoes and candied radicchio (so called candied things seem to be
a happy polar bear in porcelain
lots of galleries in the Museum district all the go at the mo) and still had the figs listed with the beef dish - two fresh ones roasted I think and on the side. The chicken was good and the radicchio tasty and as a combo quite good - but must give the trad. coq au vin in San Fran the gong here - the deep rich tasty sauce there was a winner.
I first had a glass of an Austrian white Gruner Veltliner - which I must admit was pretty anonymous. Wiki tells me it is the most planted variety in Austria. The only previous time I had it was in a resto in Helsinki last year - for a moment I thought they might grow wine grapes in Finland (rather unlikely). With the chicken the man brought me a glass of Bordeaux which I left to him. It appeared as Petit Moulin on the bill anyway and was reasonable. For dessert, cos it sounded so bizarre, had the rice pudding with chocolate sauce and candied orange. Sorry lads this did not cut it. As in the Turkish in Amsterdam, you tend to have your own concept of your perfect rice pudding - I like
trad. Viennese costumes for kids
if Munich was any guide these are rather expensive 'em a bit syrupy and sweet This was pretty solidly set with some OK choc sauce over the top and some marinated type orange pieces. I would have to say, not a success, for me anyway. But all up the bill was only 32.40E.
Wandered after that down towards the Museum Quarter - could certainly smell the Spanish stallions from the Lippizaner riding school, or where they had been! Found the Albertina museum by accident and that is certainly on my to do list - pretty over museums and galleries by now.
I don't have to rush out of bed for breakfast by 10 cos I am not paying for it (its 11E extra) and will just get something myself - depending what is open here on Sunday, cos the shops generally won't be.
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Huddo
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Red Elephants.
Hi Mike, Your description of the Red Elephant would have most people booking in for any courses! The viennese kids costumes were showcased, and well remember the stallions from their show, all those years ago. And a little bar with true continental billiards, no pockets! Love Huddo.