I Ate at the World’s Oldest Restaurant

I Ate at the World’s Oldest Restaurant
Quizzed ESL Activities

Visiting the Oldest Restaurant in the World in Austria

After a Ryan Air flight and a drive through the mountains, we arrived in Austria, ready to explore the area where Mozart lived. Our first stop was the oldest restaurant in the world, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, which opened in 803 AD. We were excited to try some traditional Austrian dishes and drinks, including Wiener schnitzel and wine made from the typical Austrian white grape, Grüner Veltliner.

Exploring Salzburg and Trying Local Cuisine

Before visiting the restaurant, we took some time to explore Salzburg, visiting the Golden Cougal, near Mozart’s birthplace. We also stopped by a coffee shop and tried to find a “wiener,” which we later discovered might be a type of food, possibly a chicken schnitzel. We were confused by the high price of a Mozart-themed chocolate and amused by the idea of Mozart endorsing his own chocolate.

Dining at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium

At the restaurant, we were greeted by friendly and welcoming staff, who were passionate about the restaurant’s history and traditional Austrian cuisine. We ordered a traditional grape wine and a recommended dish, and were given a piece of paper with the restaurant’s history. Our meal included soup with a dumpling, crusty bread, and duck breast, which we found to be fancy and delicious. We also tried various other dishes, including parsley potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a soft, milky, and vanillary cake.

Trying Traditional Austrian Desserts

For dessert, we ordered a homemade apple strudel and a whipped cream dessert, which took 25 minutes to prepare. We explored the restaurant while waiting, including the “Mozart room,” which is used for events and hosts a Mozart dinner with a 5-course menu and live music. We also tried a famous dessert in Salzburg, which consists of three parts, representing the city’s three big mountains, and features cranberry cream and whipped egg yolks.

Conclusion

Our experience at the oldest restaurant in the world was worth the cost, despite not being cheap. We enjoyed three glasses of wine and a variety of traditional Austrian dishes and desserts. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant’s history and atmosphere made for a unique and memorable experience.

Key Takeaways:

  • St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is the oldest restaurant in the world, opening in 803 AD.
  • Traditional Austrian cuisine includes dishes such as Wiener schnitzel, roast beef with onions, and apple strudel.
  • The restaurant’s staff are passionate about the restaurant’s history and traditional Austrian cuisine.
  • The experience is worth the cost, despite not being cheap, and includes a variety of traditional Austrian dishes and desserts.

Key Vocabulary

Term Definition Example Usage
Wiener Schnitzel A traditional Austrian dish made from breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet. We ordered Wiener schnitzel as part of our traditional Austrian meal at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium.
Grüner Veltliner A type of white grape commonly used in Austrian wine production. We tried a wine made from Grüner Veltliner grapes at the restaurant.
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium The oldest restaurant in the world, located in Austria and established in 803 AD. We dined at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, where we experienced traditional Austrian cuisine and hospitality.
Apple Strudel A traditional Austrian dessert made with apples, sugar, cinnamon, and pastry dough. We ordered a homemade apple strudel for dessert at the restaurant.
Mozart Room A special room in St. Peter Stiftskulinarium used for events and hosting a Mozart-themed dinner with live music. We explored the Mozart Room while waiting for our dessert to be prepared.
Grüner Veltliner Wine A type of white wine made from Grüner Veltliner grapes, commonly produced in Austria. We enjoyed a glass of Grüner Veltliner wine with our meal at the restaurant.
Salzburg A city in Austria known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and connection to Mozart. We visited Salzburg and explored its historic sites, including the Golden Cougal and Mozart’s birthplace.
Austrian Cuisine The traditional cooking style and dishes of Austria, often featuring meat, bread, and pastries. We experienced traditional Austrian cuisine during our meal at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium.
Whipped Cream Dessert A type of dessert featuring whipped cream, often served with fruit or pastry. We ordered a whipped cream dessert, which took 25 minutes to prepare.

Watch The Video

I Ate at the World’s Oldest Restaurant

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does ‘Grüner Veltliner’ refer to in the context of the passage?

A) A type of traditional Austrian dish
B) A famous Austrian mountain
C) A typical Austrian white grape used for wine production
D) A Mozart-themed chocolate

2. What is ‘Wiener schnitzel’ in the context of the passage?

A) A type of Austrian wine
B) A type of traditional Austrian dessert
C) A type of chicken dish
D) A type of traditional Austrian dish made from breaded and fried meat

3. What is the significance of the ‘Mozart room’ in St. Peter Stiftskulinarium?

A) It is where Mozart was born
B) It is a room used for events and hosts a Mozart dinner with live music
C) It is a type of traditional Austrian cuisine
D) It is a famous mountain in Salzburg

4. What is ‘apple strudel’ in the context of the passage?

A) A type of Austrian wine
B) A type of traditional Austrian main course
C) A type of famous dessert in Salzburg
D) A type of traditional Austrian dessert

5. What is the unique feature of the dessert that represents Salzburg’s three big mountains?

A) It features three types of meat
B) It consists of three parts, representing the city’s three big mountains, and features cranberry cream and whipped egg yolks
C) It is made from traditional Austrian wine
D) It is a type of Mozart-themed chocolate

Answer Key:

1. C
2. D
3. B
4. D
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Ongoing Experiences

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. In the context of the provided text, this tense can be used to describe the ongoing experiences of the visitors, such as we have been exploring the area where Mozart lived, or we have been trying traditional Austrian dishes and drinks. For example, “We have been visiting the oldest restaurant in the world and trying local cuisine, which has been a unique experience.” This tense is suitable for CEFR C1 level learners as it requires an understanding of complex grammar structures and the ability to use them in context.

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

  1. By the time we arrived at the restaurant, we ____________________ through the mountains for hours.

    A) have been driving

    B) drive

    C) had driven

    D) were driving
  2. I ____________________ traditional Austrian cuisine since I arrived in Salzburg, and I love it.

    A) have been trying

    B) try

    C) was trying

    D) tried
  3. By next year, the restaurant ____________________ its traditional dishes for over 1,200 years.

    A) will have been serving

    B) serves

    C) has served

    D) served
  4. Since we started our trip, we ____________________ many traditional Austrian desserts, including apple strudel.

    A) have been eating

    B) eat

    C) were eating

    D) ate
  5. The staff at the restaurant ____________________ the restaurant’s history to visitors for years.

    A) have been explaining

    B) explain

    C) were explaining

    D) explained

Answer Key:

  1. A) have been driving
  2. A) have been trying
  3. A) will have been serving
  4. A) have been eating
  5. A) have been explaining