The beautiful beautiful beautiful city of Vienna, Austria – It is not only the musical birthplace of Mozart, Schubert and Strauss, but only the land of Schnitzels. If you know not what they are, Schnitzels are deep fried pork coated with breadcrumbs, similar to local pork cutlets or Singapore’s Hainanese Pork Chop.
When in Vienna, go nowhere else but Figlmüller for your largest and most popular piece of pork schnitzels (€12). It was huge! With a diameter of around 34 centimetres, it was bigger than my plate, twice the length of the fork and probably four times the side of my palm. Warning: Do not attempt to eat this alone.
Schnitzels are traditionally served with a lemon slice, lingonberry jam or cranberry sauce and either potato salad or potatoes with parsley and butter. Patrons had rated this restaurant’s signature dish as “best schnitzel in Vienna”, “compulsory to have”, and “best in the world”.
The Viennese would give the pork a good beating, literally, before it is fried. This is so that the meat will be really tender and easy on the bite. Cutting the meat apart, it would be about 3 to 4mm thick if I would have to use a ruler.
Only the “rose” part of the pig was used, as the loin would be less sinewy and tough and would not puff up when fried. The meat was mildly salty and no other sauces would be needed to mask any porky taste.
According to my tour guide, to test a good Schnitzel, the skin should not stick to the meat and would be able to fall off easily. This did! Also, the orangey breadcrumb coated skin was exceptionally crisp, light and fragrant.
The potato salad (€ 3,80) at Figlmuller was also a killer, meaning it had erased the taste memory of all the other potato salads I ever tasted in my life or those I felt embarrassed to have made during pot-lucks. Lightly coated with styrian pumpkin-seed oil, the soft potatoes would melt in your mouth to declare it a champion.
Figlmüller had been around since 1905. In its fourth generation of family business now, it was located very close to the famous Stephansplatz and Stephansdom cathedral, down a little alleyway, to a charming little cottage-like cellar.
I have came to realise for my pork chop, size does matters.
Figlmüller, 1 Wollzeile 5, A-1010 Vienna Tel: 01/512 61 77 01/512 61 77, Fax: 01/320 42 57 20
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Daily
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This is so interesting! I think it’s a good idea to talk about overseas food once in a while – makes me want to go on holiday…
I think it is a good way to inspire new dishes – wonder if anybody is game to try a thin, flat and broad Hainanese pork chop with delicious tomato sauce and potatoes on side.
wow that schnitzel is really huge! i wish i could visit vienna… haha i bet mozart’s potrait must have been everywhere!
slurp. must have if i ever get there.. haha.
Stargirl: You are right. Mozart’s cartoon image is everywhere -on chocholates, candies and people handling out concert brochures, even an M&M’s figurine.
Yahwee: Vienna is a must-go for classical music lovers. 🙂
I don’t want to be rude but traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made of veal, not pork.
Hi d. Thanks for sharing!