edible notables
AUSTRIAN ADVENTURE
Way to Go marries food and travel in European trip.
WRITTEN BY HEIDI BETHEL
PHOTOS BY CANDICE NYANDO
Imagine waking on a brisk morning in September and stepping outside to take in the splendor of the Austrian Alps. Getting ready for the day, you go over the agenda in your head … Meet guide at the tram station for a brisk hike up the Patscherkofel. Stop at charming huts along the way, with their sunny outdoor terraces and flower boxes filled with brightly colored blossoms. Indulge in delicious strudel and schnapps. Return to the four-star Sporthotel in Igls to dine on Austrian specialties and local wine.
This is the typical visit that Alyson Lamprecht, owner of Way to Go Travel store in Reno, and her Austrian husband, Hannes, have experienced annually for the past 38 years.
“We always find unusual places to eat and entertain ourselves,” Lamprecht says. “We’d tell our friends about our travels and they kept asking us to create a group trip. This September will mark our fourth time offering it to others.”
Foodie Fun
With German, Hungarian, and Italian influences, Austria features a variety of cuisine.
“My favorites include the way they handle duck, red cabbage, and sauerkraut. And the cheeses and soups — Austrians really know how to do soup,” Lamprecht says.
She notes that there’s also a movement in Austria to eat local, farm-raised, organic foods. This is incorporated into the trip.
“We stay on Lake Faaker See, where one of the activities is to go mushroom hunting with a local expert,” Lamprecht explains. “We take the mushrooms back to our hotel, and the chef serves us delicious omelets with those very mushrooms.”
Traditional Technique
Austrians embrace culinary methods passed through the generations.
“I learned how to make apple strudel in my mother-in-law’s kitchen,” Lamprecht says. “We made it on a wood-burning stove that she still prefers to use.”
The strudel will make several cameos on the trip and in many shapes, flavors, and sizes. Lamprecht even is planning a cooking class with a chef outside the village of Rust to learn how to make the Austrian delight. And when the trip is over, the jetsetters will gather at Lamprecht’s Reno home, where they will reminisce about the trip with a homemade, apple-filled pastry.
Heidi Bethel has traveled to many places, enjoying the local food and flair. She would love to someday backpack the pristine European terrain and experience the culinary offerings of the countryside along the way.
Pack Your Bags
Austrian Tour: The Countryside, Cuisine, and Mountains
Sept. 6 – 20, 2014
Reservations required prior to May 1, 2014
$3,800 per person
For reservations, call Way to Go Travel store
538 W. Plumb Lane, Reno
775-824-0440, www.Waytogoreno.com
Learn to Pack
What should I pack? How is it all going to fit? What if I forget something? Way To Go’s savvy staff members offer free packing seminars that cover these questions and demonstrate packing systems. They also offer tips to alleviate the stress that comes with traveling.
The seminars, which include free coffee and pastries, run 9 – 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. Space is limited, so call for reservations. Also, upon request, seminars can be arranged for groups. For details, call 775-824-0440 or email Waytogoreno@live.com.
