Hotel Sacher

I tried the “original” Sahertorte and have to say it is NOT the best here. It was dry and the outside layer of chocolate was too sweet. There was not enough apricot jam. On the other hand, the BEST one was at the old Cafe Nashemarkt. It was perfect there.

I learned about the Hotel Sacher and Sachertorte long before I ever made it to Vienna. My dad is a chef, and somehow we learned about it. As I was wandering around Vienna one day, never thinking about the Hotel, I looked up and found myself right in front of it, and most delighted. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the Sachertorte to be that frightfully exciting.

On our tour of Europe in 1976, fellow tenor Kevin H. in the Oral Roberts University Concert Choir insisted that before heading to the gardens surrounding Schönbrunn Palace, he, Julie G., and I should go by the Hotel Sacher to buy Sachertorte for our proposed picnic. I had never heard of it; he was incredulous. We bought little individual ones. I am so happy he insisted. It is dark chocolate from core to surface, except for a layer of tart apricot jam inside. Eating one is a path to Transcendence in the religion I’m creating. It was a great idea to buy the tortchen, instead of a big one to divide amongst the 3 of us. Doing so obviated resentment over perceived imprecision in the equal sizing of slices, obviated as well our fighting over crumbs. Resentment and fighting over crumbs is not a path of Transcendence in the religion I’m creating.

(A photo of Julie G. in 18th c. Parisian drag appears at Brady Theater.)