The Napoleon looks delicious! I loved them as a child when we got them from an Italian-American bakery but the ones I've had in later years from American bakeries haven't seemed nearly as good.
. @ Barb: Welcome! :-) I hope you will one day enjoy as many cups of coffee as you'd like to in Austria!
@ lakeviewer: *smile*
@ Feronia: I try to savour the good parts as much as I can get ahold of - life is short, you know. :-)
@ Barbara Martin: Thank you! :-)
@ Vicki Lane: Honestly, I don't like the Napoleons back in the States, way too heavy and sweet and soggy. I am nuts about Zauner's Cremeschnitte-Napoleon, though. They have one with strawberries - the mille-feuille alone is worth a sin, the many layers so tasty and flaky (they run out of them quickly, but bake them fresh more than once in the course of a day), the cream filling so light and airy, barely a hint of sugar, and the strawberries are melt-on-the tongue essence of whole goodness. ;-)
No one should be allowed to leave Bad Ischl without having tasted at least one!
@ Charles Gramlich: It is a way of life, Charles. I notice that here rarely ever do meet friends at their homes, but rather at a coffeehouse. Newspapers are read in the coffeehouse rather than having a subscription at home - true, you pay for the coffee, but you get to read several papers alongside, often German, Swiss, French, Italian, the International Herald Tribune, The Times, you name it. Rather a bargain, all you need is time management. I must confess that I have not yet learned to make time to sit and linger.
Besides, you don't need to like coffee, any drink will do. ;-) Coffee is just an excuse. .
Dear Merisi. I have been following your wonderful blog from time to time since 2 years ago. I am a blog-friend of Constance Muller and some other great people who you know also. I live in Vienna again, since one month ago. Would you care for meeting some day? It would be so nice to meet you in person. I live in the 22. district and my blog is www.bestla-erla.blogspot.com Take care. Erla
@ gaelikaa: It is a beautiful place with excellent coffee (you know the kind that has no bitterness at all, only the mellowness of well chosen and roasted coffee beans, expertly brewed, its perfume permeating the air as it arrives at your table). .
@ A Cuban in London: I strive to convey the atmosphere, more so than taking "only a good photo", partly because I think that is probably my strength (at least it is an endeavour of mine to achieve this), though it is always a balancing act between trying to capture the mood and not intruding in people's quiet enjoyment of a place. I have left many a great moment behind, hoping that it will pay in the long run when I try to avoid being a nuisance.
@ Shadow: Peacefulness, yes, that is what I love about Viennese and Austrian coffeehouses! I have become addicted to these quiet cathedrals where one can retire from the bustle of the world outside without entirely loosing contact. I also love the fact that no waiter ever approaches you, for however long you while away at your table with a small cup of coffee (I always try to remind my friends that the waiters are not lazy, but respectful of your privacy, it is the customer who calls for them, not vice versa - a cause of many misunderstandings). .
Zauner and Bad Ischl as the weather begins to cool (insert wishful sign here). I am already wondering when I will be able to come back. Until then I will have to live vicariously . . .
@ Cheryl: Yes, one would want to spend entire mornings or afternoon there, wouldn't one? I saw people reading books when I returned there in the late afternoon (sitting at tables at the outside terrace, with a white-green mountain river rushing by).
I love your comment that coffee is just an excuse. Its interesting that people meet for coffee at a coffee house and rarely at a persons home. Very different customm than here in California. The cafes always look so seerene and welcoming in your pictures. I could get used to reading the paper there.
These pictures are a perfect dream for me, the vanilla-millefeuilles Napoléon is my kind of favorite cakes, ah...to read a good book in this place...a sort of heaven!
Saturday Morning
"Café Esplanade Zauner"
The photos are delicious! I'd love to drink coffee in Austria. BTW, I just stumbled on your blog. It's great.
ReplyDeleteYes, I could get used to this.
ReplyDeleteYou do lead a lovely life, Merisi! Beautiful photos as always - thank you :)
ReplyDeleteSigh, I live for these posts on coffee shops in elegant places. Your photos are always filled with detail to delight the eye.
ReplyDeleteThe Napoleon looks delicious! I loved them as a child when we got them from an Italian-American bakery but the ones I've had in later years from American bakeries haven't seemed nearly as good.
ReplyDeleteSo much of a social thing. Drinking coffee. I've always kind of wanted to join in but I just don't like coffee that much.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDelete@ Barb:
Welcome! :-)
I hope you will one day enjoy as many cups of coffee as you'd like to in Austria!
@ lakeviewer:
*smile*
@ Feronia:
I try to savour the good parts as much as I can get ahold of - life is short, you know. :-)
@ Barbara Martin:
Thank you! :-)
@ Vicki Lane:
Honestly, I don't like the Napoleons back in the States, way too heavy and sweet and soggy. I am nuts about Zauner's Cremeschnitte-Napoleon, though. They have one with strawberries - the mille-feuille alone is worth a sin, the many layers so tasty and flaky (they run out of them quickly, but bake them fresh more than once in the course of a day), the cream filling so light and airy, barely a hint of sugar, and the strawberries are melt-on-the tongue essence of whole goodness. ;-)
No one should be allowed to leave Bad Ischl without having tasted at least one!
@ Charles Gramlich:
It is a way of life, Charles. I notice that here rarely ever do meet friends at their homes, but rather at a coffeehouse. Newspapers are read in the coffeehouse rather than having a subscription at home - true, you pay for the coffee, but you get to read several papers alongside, often German, Swiss, French, Italian, the International Herald Tribune, The Times, you name it. Rather a bargain, all you need is time management. I must confess that I have not yet learned to make time to sit and linger.
Besides, you don't need to like coffee, any drink will do. ;-) Coffee is just an excuse.
.
Eifersucht is a terrible thing. I WANT that Vanilla Mille-Feuille Napoleon, that Espresso, to sit in that cafe. Sigh.
ReplyDelete@ Wurst Semmel:
ReplyDeleteI really really feel your p a i n !
Would love to be there myself.
NOW! :-)
.
Very evocative pictures!
ReplyDeleteDear Merisi.
ReplyDeleteI have been following your wonderful blog from time to time since 2 years ago.
I am a blog-friend of Constance Muller and some other great people who you know also.
I live in Vienna again, since one month ago.
Would you care for meeting some day?
It would be so nice to meet you in person.
I live in the 22. district and my blog is www.bestla-erla.blogspot.com
Take care.
Erla
That looks gorgeous! Especially the coffee and cake!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about your photos is not just the images as such but that you encapsulated the ceremonial atmosphere of coffee-drinking. Marvellous.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
the peacefulness reaches right through these pictures.
ReplyDelete@ Wandring Star:
ReplyDeleteThank you! :-)
@ Erla:
Welcome back! :-)
I left you a message.
@ gaelikaa:
It is a beautiful place with excellent coffee (you know the kind that has no bitterness at all, only the mellowness of well chosen and roasted coffee beans, expertly brewed, its perfume permeating the air as it arrives at your table).
.
@ A Cuban in London:
ReplyDeleteI strive to convey the atmosphere, more so than taking "only a good photo", partly because I think that is probably my strength (at least it is an endeavour of mine to achieve this), though it is always a balancing act between trying to capture the mood and not intruding in people's quiet enjoyment of a place. I have left many a great moment behind, hoping that it will pay in the long run when I try to avoid being a nuisance.
.
@ Shadow:
ReplyDeletePeacefulness, yes, that is what I love about Viennese and Austrian coffeehouses! I have become addicted to these quiet cathedrals where one can retire from the bustle of the world outside without entirely loosing contact. I also love the fact that no waiter ever approaches you, for however long you while away at your table with a small cup of coffee (I always try to remind my friends that the waiters are not lazy, but respectful of your privacy, it is the customer who calls for them, not vice versa - a cause of many misunderstandings).
.
Zauner and Bad Ischl as the weather begins to cool (insert wishful sign here). I am already wondering when I will be able to come back. Until then I will have to live vicariously . . .
ReplyDeleteHexe:
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you! :-)
More "cooler" images to come,
at least compared to your Floridian temperatures.
Such wonderful places to have coffee at... (and great looking cakes to boot)
ReplyDeleteI just wonder how many coffees you have in a day ;)
ReplyDelete@ spacedlaw:
ReplyDeleteHeaven, aren't they?
@ Andre Veloux said...
On that particular day I had three -
usually, one cup a day is all I need.
I am a tea drinker, by the potful. ;-)
.
What a beautiful place to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, and a beautiful Sunday morning!
ReplyDelete@ Cheryl:
ReplyDeleteYes, one would want to spend entire mornings or afternoon there, wouldn't one? I saw people reading books when I returned there in the late afternoon (sitting at tables at the outside terrace, with a white-green mountain river rushing by).
.
que agradables tu fotografías, como siempre un gusto pasar por tu blog y verlar.
ReplyDeleteI love your comment that coffee is just an excuse. Its interesting that people meet for coffee at a coffee house and rarely at a persons home. Very different customm than here in California. The cafes always look so seerene and welcoming in your pictures. I could get used to reading the paper there.
ReplyDeleteOh, is that taramisu? Yummy!
ReplyDeleteMerisi...your photos are always so crisp, and your composition flawless...I am ever in awe! ~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to look at your blog, love the cafe pictures and love the little sparrow...so lovely and beautifully captured!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are a perfect dream for me, the vanilla-millefeuilles Napoléon is my kind of favorite cakes, ah...to read a good book in this place...a sort of heaven!
ReplyDelete