Your palate even rejoices at breakfast, when the sun shines in the cosy ‘Stube’ snug. Whether it is a 4-star hotel, rustic mountain inn or traditional guesthouse – the culinary pleasure-filled moments line up one after another during a holiday in Salzburger Sonnenterrasse, much like the loveliest mountain summits. A refreshment stop in one of the managed Alpine inns is just right after a hike out in the fresh mountain air. Alongside hearty snack platters and home-made pastries, you get to enjoy fantastic views to the impressive mountains. In the inns and restaurants in the valley you can enjoy delicious treats prepared with a great deal of care and attention. The selection ranges from traditional local fare, to Toque-awarded cuisine.
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Pongau cuisine has an abundance of top-class recipes that are prepared and consumed far beyond the region. Whether it is desserts with a light and creamy texture and heavenly flavours, or savoury, hearty specialities – there is no end to the temptations available for your taste buds in Salzburger Sonnenterrasse. Pongau cuisine has something unforgettable for every palate. Enjoy culinary indulgence in Salzburger Sonnenterrasse and discover specialities that represent the heart of Austria’s culinary art.
Precious enjoyment with one of the most noteworthy and exciting chefs in avant-garde Alpine cuisine.
Four-time Toque awarded chef Vitus Winkler is Salzburg’s figurehead and culinary ambassador. He elevates his homeland on the stage of great taste, which is as surprising as it is natural. His creations recount the region’s history in a manner that is beyond compare. He takes you with him on forays through forests, across lush pastures and up impressive mountain summits. He interweaves the rivers and the Alpine pastures of Pinzgau into his dishes and magics up works of art on your plate, that inspire and create unforgettable memories.
Alongside his wife Eva-Maria, he manages Gourmet Boutique Hotel Sonnhof by Vitus Winkler, which is in its fourth generation. Here 26 individually designed rooms, an Alpine spa and the four Toque awarded restaurant ‘Kräuterreich’, await.
A breath of fresh air in a traditional hotel. The Seehof is a place to linger. Surrounded by Pongau’s grass mountains and located at wonderful Goldegg Lake, in the Seehof you experience a mix of quality and fun, which is unique to the Sonnenterrasse. Felix Schellhorn, son of Susi and Sepp Schellhorn, who managed the hotel for 27 years, has now taken the reins. In the kitchen he is walking in his father’s footsteps. Whether it is lunch or the evening meal, the creative selection attracts all guests, who take a seat in the sunshine or in the old ‘Stube’ to enjoy culinary indulgence. See you soon in the Seehof!
BIERFÜHRER – NOTHING LESS
Since May 2021, Sepp Schellhorn has managed Gasthaus zum Bierführer, which is one of the tradition-filled gems in Austria’s inn culture. Here classic dishes await, from offal to schnitzel, all in the customary Schellhorn quality.
This speciality, typical of the region, which might even be known to a few of you as ‘Käsespätzle’, provides energy and warmth. ‘Spätzle’ dumplings are made from eggs and flour, along with onions, cubed cheese – a balanced blend of various types is recommended here, and a somewhat more intense mountain cheese from Pongau will finish off the dish nicely. Beef broth is stirred in until the cheeses melt and a crust forms on the edge of the pan. Fried onions definitely ought to feature.
This combination of hearty ingredients and traditional cooking is one example of how the simplest ingredients in Pongau cuisine can be transformed into a culinary masterpiece. Whether it is in a cosy inn, or freshly prepared in a mountain lodge after a long day on the piste, this dish is an absolute must for any visitor to Salzburger Sonnenterrasse. It embodies the authenticity and hospitality of the region and provides an irresistible flavour that you will remember for a long time to come.
What would variety-packed cuisine in Salzburger Land be without ‘Kaiserschmarrn’?
In preparation, ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ combines tradition and sophistication, with a light and airy mixture of eggs, flour, milk and sugar baked in a pan until golden brown, then cut into pieces. The addition of raisins might be a matter of taste, yet enhancing the dish with some icing sugar and apple puree or stewed roast plums is practically a must. ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ is not just a dessert, it is a piece of Austrian lifestyle and reflects the food culture of Pongau in all its variety and warmth. Whether as the crowning finale of a menu, or as a sweet main dish on a snowy winter day, this tasty treat is among the unforgettable culinary experiences in Salzburger Sonnenterrasse.
‘Kirschmus’ or ‘Kirschmuas’ is served as soon as cherries are in season. However this dessert is not in any way comparable with a mushy apple puree. Salt and milk are boiled together, then flour is stirred in to create a dry dough, which is then fried in hot butter until golden browned on both sides. This mix is then cut into little pieces and served in the pan with warmed cherries. This dish is a real experience during a gourmet holiday in Salzburg.
The combination of the caramelised crust of the dough and the natural sweetness of the cherries creates an experience that goes far beyond the simplicity of its ingredients. This dish provides an authentic connection to local culture and seasonality and is an example of how the simplest ingredients can magically become a feast for the palate. It is one indulgence that you will remember for a long time and is proof of the unadulterated and genuine culinary art that defines Pongau and Salzburger Sonnenterrasse. Those of you who would like to experience local cuisine in its purest form, ought not to miss this rustic, yet sophisticated, dish.
Of course you can hardly wait now to sample these and other Pongau specialities on your gourmet journeys through Austria. Various culinary events in the Alps emphasise wonderful food and fine wines. The three Sun Terrace town regularly dish up well at the following events, among others:
St. Veiter Erlebnistafel
The summery market square in St. Veit is not only the venue for this summer festival, it is also the venue for an entertaining coming together of delicious food & wine, along with crafts. The multi-day ‘Erlebnistafel’ event is peppered with highlights and happenings. Concerts, craft demonstrations and a programme of events for children provide the perfect setting for wine tasting, trans-regional cuisine and the traditional ‘Frühschoppen’. However the undisputed highlight of ‘Erlebnistafel’ is the 40 metre gourmet table on the market square. Fine food from Pongau and international delicacies made by genuine, top-class chefs make culinary dreams come true.
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