Austria and Croissants

I must clarify one thing before I begin:  The country listed in the title of this post is Austria. A horrifyingly popular belief among American citizens is that this is the land where kangaroos live. Oh wait, I said Austria, not Australia. This country with a rich history including Roman occupation, Napoleon's failed conquest of Graz, the birth of the Viennese coffee tradition, and the truth about Croissants is located in Europe. Austria neighbors Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy and the Czech Republic.


Popular belief has named the French as being the inventors of this deliciously delightful pastry filled with tender, melt in your mouth, buttery goodness, but the truth as far as we know it gives "croissant genius" credit to the Austrians. The legend of the croissant is one shrouded in mystery, with references to the Turks as possible originators, and Budapest is also included on the list. It is even said that monks around 1000 AD began making this lovely treat for the Easter celebrations, as the monasteries held the first bakeries. But the croissant that we know with its crescent shape most certainly found its birth place in Vienna.

This delightful pastry may have maneuvered its way into French hands via the lovely Marie Antoinette, the wife of Ludwig XVI, the king of France. Marie Antoinette was the daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, and being a good Austrian, she took her love of fine pastries to her new home in France. The French have a love for all culinary delights and wisely embraced the croissant, helping to bring the new rage worldwide. The next time you think you hear someone mention Australia, be sure to double check.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life abroad... so romantic. Or is it?

Image
Having just passed our one year anniversary of living in Austria, my perspective has been tilting along with the earth's axis, albeit in its own unique rhythm. I'd say we're just coming out of winter and into a warm, lovely spring, as far as my mood is concerned. One thing I have always valued in life is honesty. Nothing gets my goat more than when parents leave out the challenging portions of their youth through the retelling of stories to their children. If human kind suffers from feelings of inadequacy, then only telling people about the sunny days will make them wonder if the world as they know it is coming to an end every time a bit of a storm gathers overhead. I am speaking metaphorically, though my thoughts are drawn to the first images of hurricane Sandy's devastation in the Eastern portion of my country. They should be waking up in a few hours to see what kind of damage occurred during the night. The leaves are gathering in the courtyard behind our apartmen
Read more

High Ceilings and Oceans

Image
I am sitting inside of our old fashioned Graz apartment, with high ceilings and windows that overlook the street where the Stra β enbahns, or street cars, pass by every few minutes.  If I am feeling poetic enough they sound like waves crashing on the sea shore.  I can imagine seagulls flying overhead and a soft blue heaven with delicate clouds accentuating the scenery composed of sand, rocks, and gentle bluffs that embrace the foaming sea.   Our Austrian apartment is on what Americans would call the second floor, but what to a German speaking European is the “Erste Stock,” or first floor.  My favorite room is the living room, where I am sitting now, with its high ceiling, tall windows, and an old wooden floor that is perfect for reflecting the softened light from the sun as it sneaks past the tops of the many storied buildings and comes in through our windows.  The structures are all built together so that they look like one and the same building, or gigantic walls on either s
Read more

Finnley reflections (2020)

Image
I have not written much of anything in years, I suppose I just didn't have the heart to. I often wanted to write, and would get the computer out and open it up in order to begin, but then I just could not write. I don't really know that I would call it writer's block; I don't consider myself a writer and, in any  case, it was more like broken heart syndrome. Yesterday I watched the Netflix documentary on Shania Twain and honestly it spoke to me a great deal. I never realized who she was, really. Basically, a strong woman who speaks her mind and ended up living in Europe and divorced after having a kid and just kept having to pick up the pieces and keep going, many different times. This is not meant to be a blog about her story; rather it is a testimony to the power of stories and honesty. What it means when you hear a story about what someone went through and you can relate to that; there are no words to describe the way that that can change you forever. Here is an entr
Read more