- Duration
- 1 hour
- Product Type
- Lecture
- Venues
- Various local specialty shops and restaurants
Lecture Details
Photos & Highlights
- Presented by the same world-class experts as our walking tours, Context Lectures highlight must-see attractions, reveal hidden landmarks, and explore the best things to do during your trip so you don’t miss a thing.
Lecture Description
Vienna is described as the "capital of dessert" - and for good reason. No one is as obsessed with dessert as the Viennese. Sweet foods feature at breakfast, lunch may consist of little more than a Marillenknödel (an apricot dumpling), and supper of Kaiserschmarrn (a twice-cooked pancake). But no meal is as much a pean to the confectioner's art as the afternoon Jause (coffee break) when the capital's denizens retire to the dozens of Café Konditerei (pastry cafés) that dot the city to indulge in tortes, pastries, and other sweet snacks.
Meet Your Expert
Author Michael Krondl writes about food and history. He has penned several books, including The Taste of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of the Three Great Cities of Spices and Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert among others. He has edited and contributed to several Oxford University Press volumes on food and culture, including The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. He teaches at the New School and the City University of New York and has lectured at multiple venues including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and San Francisco’s Exploratorium.
This lecture examines the city's unparalleled culture of sweetness by delving into Vienna’s history and its place at the crossroads of Europe. Dynastic ties between the Spanish and Austrian Hapsburgs introduced chocolate early on. Battling the Turks brought cafe culture. Contacts with Italy popularized opera and ice cream. And, as the capital became a locus of intellectual ferment at the fin-de-siècle, when Freud, Mahler, and Klimt revolutionized their respective fields, pastry cooks did the same to confectionary, inventing hundreds of new cakes, cookies, and other sweet morsels. Pastry became so important that even as the Nazi tanks rolled into Austria, the country's supreme court was arguing over the merits of a decade long lawsuit (the so-called Tortenkrieg–cake war) about who could call their cake the "original" Sacher Torte.
Led by an expert on the history of sugar and dessert, Michael Krondl, this Conversation will explore the cultural impact of sweet foods on the Viennese. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of Vienna’s history, its charming cafes, and its acclaimed chefs.
How do I access the lecture?
Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to stream the lecture on the Context Travel website. You can also access your past purchases anytime under My Orders. Please ensure you are logged into your account to open the streaming page.
Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our lectures have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.
How long does each event last?
Our recorded lectures typically run for 60 minutes.
How can I share this lecture with friends or family?
You are welcome to watch together with friends or family but each person viewing on their own device will need to purchase the lecture individually.
How long does my access to the lecture last?
Once you purchase a lecture, you are welcome to view it as many times as you like and your access does not expire.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded lectures are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.
Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
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4 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Quite slow
Sofia
Dec 18, 2023
The information was good, and the map, especially, will be useful.
Sandy
Dec 2, 2023
I can't wait to return to Vienna to try what I learned in this Webinar!
Kris
Jul 19, 2021
