A Gourmet Jause

One day there will be cameras capable of capturing not only images but also smell and taste. Until then, you have to trust me that the plain and boring-looking Brettljause you see on the picture above is one of the best you can find in Lower Austria without spending hours tramping the endless hills of Mostviertel. It is so good, it justifies checking Google Maps for the location of Schöngrabern. (In fact, that village is not at all far, just about 6 kilometers north of Hollabrunn.)

The only unremarkable ingredient was the cheese, but it seems that the making of tasty cheeses had been forbidden in Lower Austria by some ancient law, and that law still holds. The greatest surprise came from the Liptauer: the spread was not only fresh and creamy, but had a rather spicy taste, creating a pleasant tingling sensation on the tongue. If you think that there is no duller spread than Liptauer, try the one at Greilinger – it will change your opinion.

As for the meats – of which there were plenty of different types – they tasted as if having come from a pig that had been enjoying its life tremendously. It is hard to explain how anything, especially Speck and Geselchtes, can have a “happy” taste, but “happy” sounds like the most appropriate description to me now that I am trying to recall my emotions.

Greilinger serves another type of Brettljause called “Feinschmecker Platte,” which is less varied than my Graberner Platte but appears to contain even more exclusive ingredients. It is certainly a perfect reason for me to return. Note that this Buschenschank is very popular, and if you want to make certain you get a table (in particular on the beautiful vineyards-facing terrace), a reservation is highly recommended.