Best of Viennese Cuisine

People rave about Plachutta as having the best traditional Viennese cuisine. The chef is famous and I don't have a clue why. It doesn't hold a candle to Figlmüller.

Oh the tapfelspitz at Figlmuller is pure heaven when you get a piece of beef, pile a little potato on it and then smear it with the horseradish and applesauce - it's the perfect bite! But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me wipe the drool off :-)

Firstly there is the old, rustic and charming Figlmuller in the little alleyway near Stephansdom and that's the one to go to. The modern version around corner serves the same high caliber food, but the atmosphere is not so gumutlich (cozy). We got friendly, outstanding service and I forgot to mention, the potato salad here will haunt your taste buds for days to come.

No reservations are needed and lunch time is a fun time to go when it's loud and brimming with the locals. The dinner crowd consists of mainly tourists.

They don't serve colas, or tees, or cafes, just beer and wine. And their claim to fame is that they have the largest schnitzel in the world and which woman doesn't LOVE a LARGE schnitzel :-) Size does matter.

Guten appetite!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Figlmüller
Bäckerstraße 6
1010 Vienna
daily 12am-10pm
Tel. 01/512 17 60
http://www.figlmueller.at/index.php

Best of Fabric Stores

Komolka! Not the one in the first district, but the one at Mariahilferstrasse and Neubaugasse. It is 4 floors filled with all sorts of material from the cheap leopard print (great for Halloween costumes) to jute, felt, cotton, satin and the rest. The basement, marked Keller, has all sorts of fabulous stuff on sale. There are also trimmings, buttons and the rest.

Oh, but don't expect friendly service. The frump in the front pissed me off, but Catherine was with me and kept me smiling.

And if you get a chance there is the largest 1Euro store next door. All sorts of 1 Euro goodies to buy. Great present boxes upstairs of all sizes!

Enjoy!
Smiles,
Ruchika

http://www.komolka.at/
Mariahilfer Strasse 58
1070, Vienna
Tel: 01 523 71 84
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 18:00

Best of Christmas Decoration Stores

Ok, this is my favorite store for any and every occasion or just to browse. It ain't no ABC Carpet and Home in NYC, but oh I do feel all happy inside walking in and walking around. There are 3 floors of beautiful things for the home. And at Christmas you could not find a place better to invest time and money in.

It's not cheap. However, I wrap up everything and save it for next year and the year after etc. I just realized that I have yet to mention the name - BLAULICHT.

It's the perfect place to find the perfect something for someone special. And things move fast. I had wanted to get these wooden crates with NYC written on it for my NYC obsessed husband but I went back 2 weeks later and they were gone.

And if you like setting a beautiful table for dinner, then the napkin rings here are to die for and I love to mix and match them. Not sure what to get your husband for his birthday, you can't fail with their beautiful picture frames with you in it :-) I bought my husband a travel desk here and he raves about it to this day.

I haven't purchased this yet, but before I leave Vienna I will get one of their magnificent doll houses, more to fulfill my childhood fantasy than Aiyana's.

If classic is not your style and you prefer contemporary/modern, then across the street is BLAULICHT with a plethora of mod design furnishings.

And a big reminder - it's 3 floors of fun so don't forget to take the stairs up!

Enjoy!
Smiles,
Ruchika

Blaulicht
Marc Aurel Strasse 3
Vienna, 1010
01-532 41 36
Opening Times
Mo-Fr 10-19, Sat 10-18

Best of Christmas Activities for Kids

Christmas time is just my favorite time of year in Vienna. I don't even mind bundling up because the beauty of it all keeps me warm inside. I know, I'm totally cheesy, but Christmas time does that to me. I'm Hindu married to a Jew and I love decorating my home in Christmas decorations and getting the tree and singing carols.

I digress.

Back to Christmas activities for kids. Well, it is so simple and no one I know, knows about it. Right inside the Rathaus is the most awesome setup for kids. Just walk through the Christmas market and go into the Rathaus through the front steps and make a right. You'll see a small door and enter. Inside there is an information stand where you buy tickets. Euro 1.50 for baking cookies and Euro 3.50 for the other activities. The kids are taken into booths where two professionals help them with the activity. They paint candle stands, can make tissue boxes, decorate candles, paint picture frames, bake cookies and so much more. You can sit back on the benches and watch them with some punsch. The activities start for kids 4 and up.

And could you ask for a more perfect gift for the grandparents!!!! A picture frame painted by their grandchild with a picture inside.

My favorite is the baking cookies one because they get a cute hat (which they keep) and they get a delicious bag of warm cookies on the way out.

Here is the link. They do this every year. And the best part is that it's rarely crowded, there are clean indoor bathrooms and it's warm. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on most days.

Check here for more details!
http://www.christkindlmarkt.at/Christmas-Workshop.26+M52087573ab0.0.html

Smiles,
Ruchika

Best of Face Painter (Incredible)

Larissa is not just a face painter, she is a true artist. I was intent on doing a dinosaur theme for Zayne's birthday and I know he likes nothing better than immersing himself in a character. I contacted Larissa and told her I was doing a dino theme and she said to leave the rest up to her.

Well, to my delight she showed up in a Safari outfit and painted the most astounding dinosaur faces. She even had a book of dinosaur face illustrations that she did specifically for the party and the children were thrilled. I myself couldn't resist and sat down to a ferocious dino face.

I thought, how hard could this be and got myself a set of professional face paints. I did a butterfly on Aiyana's face and Zayne said "nice monster mama." Clearly there is significant skill involved here and Larissa is the master! I bow down to thee.

Check out her website!
http://schminkfee.de/

You can contact her via e-mail at info@schminkfee.de or by phone at +43-681-10762068

Best of Cooking Courses

I don't like to cook, at home that is. An afternoon of hand held cooking, where chopping is a sport and laughter and food the post game wrap up, I can do.

In fact I have and it was awesome. The courses are generally in German but they can organize English ones as well with groups of 8. They offer so many courses in some of the best restaurants in Vienna.

I did the Lui's Wok course and we made Thai food and it was to die for! It was so much fun. My husband got it for me as a gift so it was little 'ol me and 80 year olds, I mean geriatric, Viennese folk. They were just a riot!

When you sign up you get an apron and chef's hat with your name on it and after each course you get all the recipes and where to go for the shopping list. The main office is on the first floor of Liener on Mariahilfer Strasse.

I'm going to do the sushi course with the grand master at Unkai, in the Grand Hotel, which is rated the number one sushi restaurant in the city.

Grap a bunch of girlfriends, or make a fun date afternoon with your partner and head to one of the classes.

The site is in German but it's not that challenging to figure out what's what. Oh, and go on an empty stomach and book a date with a cross trainer the next day because you will gain 5 pounds!

It also make a great birthday gift! They have gift certificates (guteschien) for 125 Euros (the cost of one course) and then can be picked up at the office.

If you have any questions, just call them. Totally sweet!

Smiles,
Ruchika

Kochen in Wien

Mariahilferstraße 12 (in Liener) 1st floor 1070 Vienna Opening Times:
Tuesday - Friday 10 – 18:00 Tel. (01) 228 99 00 http://www.kochen-in-wien.at/frameset.php

Best of Thanksgiving TAKEOUT with all the trimmings!

You heard me right! Do you really want to bust butt to brine and bake a turkey? It is also ridiculously expensive to buy a turkey here unless you are sleeping with someone at the UN commissary and for the price of turkey in this town I have considered it.

Just head over to the Marriott on Park Ring, opposite Stadt Park and for 175 Euros they pack you a full turkey for 4 (and I had left overs), salad, stuffing, potatoes, beans, a bottle of red and dessert in two bags to go! I know for sure what I'm thankful for!

Ok, they don't do pumpkin pie, but given how easy one is to make I take on that singular chore and the rest is up to the Marriott Cook Gods. And really who remembers the beginning and middle when the finish is strong and self baked!?

If you don't want to do Thanksgiving at home then call Franks and book a table and they do it full on American style at their restaurant. Just make that call early because they get full early on. Either way, you don't have to miss home so much and with kids who had time to hunt down a turkey in this town!

So as the old joke goes - what are you going to make for dinner tonight? Reservations :-)

Smiles,
Ruchika

Vienna Marriott Hotel (go to the Sales Office
Parkring 12a
Vienna, 1010 Austria
Phone: 43 1 515180

Franks
Laurenzerberg 2
1010 Vienna
01/533 78 05
E-Mail: restaurant@franks.at
http://www.indochine.at/yohm_franks/home.nsf/frame_franks?OpenPage