Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

One of the world’s most elegant hotels to sit down for lunch, for business or pleasure, is Hotel Sacher in Wien. The luxurious Rote Restaurant Bar is rich in history and hospitality. It is renowned for its lap of luxury red velvet ambiance and walls covered with museum artwork that continue to keep it at the top of the bucket list as one of the most prestigious rooms of the world to dine in.

The hotel history of this property could fill volumes, for The Hotel Sacher was founded in 1876 by the restaurateur and purveyor to the court Eduard Sacher, born in 1843. His father was the confectioner Franz Sacher, born in 1816 who became famous for his Sacher Torte. In 1880 Franz married Anna Sacher née Fuchs, who became the hotel manager after his death. Under her rule, Hotel Sacher became one of the finest hotels in the world, where the aristocracy and diplomats would meet. Mrs. Sacher had serious financial problems and the hotel changed ownership in 1934. The property is currently owned by one of Austria’s top socialites and businesswomen, Elisabeth Gurtler, who also serves as the property’s Managing Director and has put her personal touch on the innovative new design of the property.

Located across the street from the Vienna State Opera, and as a Member of Leading Hotels of the World, Hotel Sacher continues today to attract great artists. Since its inception it has been visited by Emperor Franz Joseph, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly, President John F. Kennedy and many more.

The 149 exquisite suites of the Hotel Sacher Wien represent the ultimate in hotel design and comfort. The Sacher spa offers the latest in health and beauty treatments, including Clinique La Prairie in Montreaux in Switzerland, and yes they do have signature chocolate treatments. The hotel is known for their historic Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot filling, which is sold in their gift shop and savored in their dining rooms. There is also an outstanding art gallery in the hotel with works from the 19th century, and a room filled from floor to ceiling with photographs collected by Anna Sacher showcasing famous guests who have visited the hotel.

Both the Anna Sacher Restaurant and the Rote Restaurant Bar are helmed by renowned Executive Chef Werner Pichlmaier, holder of three Gault Millau Toques, who serves what has been described by experts as some of the most delicious and creative dishes in the world, paired perfectly with fine wines. The Hotel Sacher wine cellar boasts an outstanding international wine assortment, including a wide range of Austrian wines, particularly from the fine wine-growing areas of Vienna, and the surrounding region.

Chef Pichlmaier has won awards for his unique modern plates, but is the master of traditional Vienesse dishes. Chef’s iced pea soup with buttermilk and lobster over flowers and herbs was a perfect choice on a very warm day, and the (Sacher Tafelspitz mir Apfelkren, Schnittlauch sauce and Erdapfelschmarn wahlweise mit Semelkren) “Sacher” boiled beef with apple horseradish, chives sauce and Viennese potatoes served with creamed spinach was beyond amazing. Naturally, we savored our petit Sacher Torte with whipped cream dessert to the last bite.

I was completely drawn to the Blaue (Blue) Bar, a charming place to rendezvous for a champagne or cocktail before or after dinner or an opera, where blue brocade walls merged beautifully with lush velvet couches and sparkling hanging chandeliers offered an irresistibly enticing hue. Such a magical place that speaks of another time, perhaps a magical time when the Blue Danube waltz was revered by all.

If your budget won’t allow lunch or dinner at Hotel Sacher, do stop by at the Cafe Sacher and have a slice of Sacher Torte with coffee or tea before you leave Wien. Let yourself be one with the spirit of this beautiful history filled jewel-box hotel located in the heart of beloved Vienna. Liebesleben!

About Bonnie Carroll

Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since 1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll’s Life Bites News, does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle publications. Her first children’s book C.C. Charles was published in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact her at writebc@aol.com.

This lovely and colorful cocktail is ideal for the holiday season and I spent a little time testing and tasting to find a favorite to share in 2020, a year that would drive any sane person to drink.

During my search I spent time at Bevmo in Santa Barbara talking with a very helpful employees who recommended an economical way to provide this cocktail for visiting friends during the holiday season by using miniature bottles of Cointreau, a lovely French orange liquer, that helps keep the cost down on one-time creations. Some cocktail recipes call for Triple Sec, a sweet liquer, and I choose Bols from Amsterdam for my testing. Some recipes use both Cointreau and Triple Sec however, I found this much too sweet. My taste preference was the Cosmo with Cointreau only. Trader Joes has some great prices on Triple Sec and Vodka from around the world. I selected a Smirnoff for this tasting round of Cosmo's.

Ingredients of cranberry juice, bottled or freshly squeezed, and the most beautiful limes and oranges are always available at Bristol Farms new store in Santa Barbara, and note that this cocktail, based on several recipes, can be served with a lime or an orange twist adornment.

You will need a cocktail shaker, and they can be expensive, but I found a very suitable plastic cocktail shaker at a discount store that worked perfectly. You will also need an ounce shot glass and small strainer to pour the shaken cocktail through, both are available in most grocery stores.

Cocktail for One: Place all ingredients in shaker with ice, cover and shake. Pour through strainer into cocktail glass and add lime slice or orange twist and serve.

Historically a delightful way to remember family and friends during the holidays is Harry & David. I love their tower boxes filled with delicious goodies and just about everything they offer in their delightful gift baskets and wine and cheese options.

Check out the lovely gifts items at www.harryanddavid.com or if you live near Medford, Oregon visit their Flagship Store.

Lunch at Hotel Sacher Vienna

About Bonnie Carroll