You will pay an additional €0.25 deposit up front per bottle, which you can get back as a voucher when you return the empty bottle to a supermarket reverse-vending machine. However, you rarely need to buy bottled water in Vienna because the city’s tap water is high-quality, fresh mountain spring water piped directly from the Alps, and it is completely safe to drink. You can pack a reusable bottle and fill it up for free at any of the 1,800+ public drinking fountains scattered across Vienna. And if you go to a cafe and get a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, you will also usually be served a glass of tap water on the side, for no additional cost.
This week, one of my favorite things to eat was Apfelradl, which literally translates to “apple wheels” in German! These are essentially Austrian apple fritters: rings of apple dipped in a light, sweet batter, fried until golden and crispy, and usually served with powdered sugar and cinnamon. I had mine with creamy vanilla sauce and fresh berries, which made for a wonderful combination of warm, sweet and slightly tart flavors.
Apfelradl is a beloved comfort food in Austria, especially during autumn when people crave warm, cozy treats. It can be served as a dessert, a sweet main course, or even as a snack at a traditional Austrian wine tavern, called a Heuriger. The name “apple wheels” comes from their round shape: when an apple is sliced into rings, each piece looks like a tiny wheel!
The recipe is quite simple. First, apples are cored and sliced into thick rings.
