Herr Meier kindly lent his cabriolet to Andrea. Half an hour of beautiful countryside took us to "Gross Enzersdorf" in the Marchfeld where at "Ludl", a very pleasant, small restaurant, we lunched on "Sulz in Essig und Ol", "Schweinslungenbraten mit Eierschwammerl" and "Gebackener Cambembert mit Preiselbeeren". Don't worry about the wording. Take my word for it; it's a treat. Oh by the way, there are some dots over some of the words, but I'm damned if I know which ones.
So replenished, a short drive to a most picturesque spot was in order. "Orth an der Donau" is the perfect spot to discuss life in general. On a bench overlooking the stretch of river we sat talking of the complicated way we met. Andrea's blue eyes glinted in the sun and I had the first vague signs of the stirring of emotions. As a guest, one has to be careful of being too forward, but the Danube, the sunshine and the relaxed company made it easy to replace the food loving conversation into one that excluded food. Even though food was never too far from the mind.
Let me detail some of the subjects I mentioned before lunch. Try "Café Sacher" (by the way it's Chocolate cake is so well known, even Café Regina in Malta has them). Flanked by centuries old building, this is where you sightsee. From a well-padded armchair, the Palaces and churches provide an excellent backdrop for conversation.
Traditionally cooked meat at a "Plachutta" in Hietzing is a joy. No diet food here. The Beef has no equal and no excuses are made for the fat content. Drinking "G'spritzte" while being explained the condiments by my blue-eyed hostess is beyond pleasure. Horseradish is prevalent but unforgettable sauces, whose name I forget, bring out the flavour of the meat. Whisky and Nepalese food at "Yak & Yeti" in the 6th District mixed with conversation has to be experienced. Raj has been in Vienna since there was a land bridge dividing the Mediterranean and a multitude of small foods of wildly different flavours bring tears to the eye. If the chef were female, I would propose marriage. Except for the relatively uninspiring "Drei Husaren" Restaurant, Vienna is a magnificent city. I think someone said there is a river called the Danube somewhere around the joint.
E-mail to Ray Agius: Ramel@bigpond.com
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