Josef’s Italy

I said it before, I’ll say it again: Josef’s Genießerei is abnormal. The fact that such a place exists at the outskirts of Vienna, where no one but locals will ever find it, and is still doing quite well is a testimony to the owner’s enthusiasm, hard work and bravery. It looks like nothing – just a few tables and chairs in a hidden courtyard – but has a surprisingly extensive wine card, some craft beer that I’ve never seen elsewhere and three Brettljause-like dishes: Spanish tapas, Italian antipasti and Austrian, well, Brettljause.

It was the Italian dish that was the subject of my testing tonight, and like its Spain-inspired cousin, it was simple but convincingly authentic, tasty and thoroughly enjoyable – up to the glass of Italian wine that it was served with. The Prosciutto, Mortadella, Salami and Parmigiano were perfectly Italian and good, and went down very well with the dark olives, dried tomato and bread sticks. If you asked me to make an Italian-style Brettljause quickly, I would not have done better.