National Wiener Schnitzel Day – September 9, 2022, history, quotes, tweet
National Wiener Schnitzel Day is served up every September 9. Contrary to what most Americans know, Wiener Schnitzel isn’t just a chain restaurant. In fact, a Wiener Schnitzel is a veal cutlet coated in bread and then pan-fried. This renowned dish is considered an Austrian delicacy in its beautiful capital, Vienna.
Wiener Schnitzel, (again, the dish, not the restaurant chain,) is so iconic that there are copycat recipes all over the world. For example, in America, there’s the ever-popular chicken-fried steak and in Japan, tonkatsu, a breaded and deep-friend pork cutlet. But you haven’t lived until you savor an authentic dish of Wiener Schnitzel. There are lots of pretenders to the throne but for the real deal, head to Austria. If you do a culinary tour of Europe, put this incredible dish — Wiener Schnitzel — at the top of your bucket list!
History of Wiener Schnitzel day
A breaded cutlet that is deep-fried in oil, Wiener Schnitzel is traditionally made from veal, but also can be made from pork. In Australia, it might even be found made out of chicken or beef.
This dish is actually named after the city where it was invented, as “Wien” is the way Vienna is written in German.
Wiener Schnitzel was first mentioned in 1831 in a cookbook where it was called eingebröselte Kalbsschnitzchen, and would find its way to Vienna in 1857. The dish continued to appear throughout the region, and one comment from 1887 said that it was “a gastronomic dream”, though the dish he describes is decidedly a complex affair, including slices of lemon peel, sardines, gherkins, capers, and an unknown array of other spices.
Today’s version of Wiener Schnitzel is also known by other names around the world. In the Midwest of the United States, it’s known as a “pork tenderloin” and is typically served on a bun as a sandwich. In Latin American, the dish is known as “Milanesa”, and in Czech Republic, it is called “Řízek”.
Wiener Schnitzel Day celebrates this dish and its place in that history!
CELEBRATING WITH WORLDTIMESHINDI RETWEET
NATIONAL WIENER SCHNITZEL DAY TIMELINE
Middle Ages
Arabs covered their meat in grated bread
Records of the Middle Ages show that Arab merchants would cover their meat in breadcrumbs before cooking it.
1134
The beginnings of Wiener Schnitzel
Romans left a record of a dish called Cotoletta a la Milanese, which was a dish made of veal, breadcrumbs, and lemon.
1862
The term “Wiener Schnitzel” is born
It’s said that an Italian from Milan coined the term we now know as “Wiener Schnitzel,” and it became popular in 1862.
1905
Figlmüller restaurant is founded
Figlmüller is a Viennese restaurant said to be the original home of the Wiener Schnitzel. The restaurant is extremely popular with both tourists and locals.
1961
Confusion!
Wienerschnitzel becomes a popular, new hot dog chain causing many Americans to associate the term, “Wienerschnitzel”, with hot dogs rather than the traditional dish with fried, breaded meat!
NATIONAL WIENER SCHNITZEL DAY ACTIVITIES
Go out for some
You might be fortunate to live in an area where there’s an Austrian restaurant. We bet they have Wiener Schnitzel on the menu and a simple Google search will help you find your nearest location.
Cook your own
Head to a specialty butcher shop or well-stocked grocery store for the loveliest piece of veal cutlet you can find. Pound the veal until it’s nice and thin, then, dip it in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Just be careful not to press the breadcrumbs against the veal. Pan-fry until golden brown and serve with the garnish or side dish of your choice.
Try a veggie version
Though this may sound counterintuitive, the popularity of vegetarian dishes means that you’ll be able to find a vegetarian Wiener Schnitzel somewhere. If not, you can always cook your own version using soy, seitan, or tempeh.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL WIENER SCHNITZEL DAY
A. Wiener Schnitzels are simple, but tasty!
Wiener Schnitzels are pan-fried and served with simple garnishes. But hey, what matters is that this fried combination of veal cutlets and breadcrumbs never disappoints.
Wiener Schnitzel is versatile
If you eat a Wiener Schnitzel in Austria or at an Austrian-style restaurant, chances are you will receive the traditional lemon and parsley garnishes. Some places may also serve it with a salad, mashed potatoes, or even fried vegetables such as mushrooms.
It can be either this or that
On National Wiener Schnitzel Day, pronounce it the traditional Austrian way as in “veener schnitzel” or the Americanized version with the w sound as in “weenerschnitzel.” Decide if you want to write it with one word or two. It’s National Wiener Schnitzel Day. Do what you like!
How to Celebrate Wiener Schnitzel Day
Enjoy the celebration of Wiener Schnitzel Day with these types of fun activities:
Learn Some Fun Facts About Wiener Schnitzel
Impress friends, family members and coworkers by sharing interesting facts and tidbits about the guest of honor on Wiener Schnitzel day:
Wiener Schnitzel is tenderized through the use of pounding on it to make it thinner and more comfortable to eat.
An American fast food chain named ‘Wienerschnitzel’ was founded in 1961. Strangely enough, they started by selling hot dogs, but have since expanded into other menu items. They’re located in at least 10 states and also in Guam.
In Finland, Wiener Schnitzel is called “Wieninleike” and is always made of pork. It became particularly popular toward the end of World War II. Here, it is typically served with mashed potatoes or french fries.
Garnishes for this food vary significantly based on the place where it is served. It may range from a simple lemon wedge to butter, from parsley to potato, from anchovy slices to capers and horseradish.
Visit Vienna for Traditional Wiener Schnitzel
A trip to Vienna is just the thing for experiencing the most authentic and tastiest Wiener Schnitzel found all over the globe. Enjoy visiting the palace where the Habsburg royal family would spend their summers, or view museums that house works of art by famous artists such as Gustav Klimt, Albrecht Dürer, or Hieronymus Bosch.
From the US, hopping on a flight to Austria can be fairly quick and easy, as Trans-Atlantic flights go. With several airlines that have direct flights from a few different American cities, a trip to Vienna can be made in around 8-9 hours from the east coast.
For enjoying the best of Vienna’s culinary delights, almost any traditional restaurant will serve a delicious schnitzel that’s probably bigger than your head! Squeeze a bit of lemon juice on that tender breaded meat and enjoy some potato salad on the side.
In between delicious meals, don’t forget to visit Vienna’s best attractions, including the Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace and Museum. And, of course, after meals, visiting a Viennese cafe for a delightful cup of Viennese coffee is the perfect treat.
Make Wiener Schnitzel at Home
Celebrating Wiener Schnitzel Day can be delightfully done by creating your own Wiener Schnitzel in your own home. While decidedly simpler than some of the dishes mentioned above, it’s still a fantastic foundation for just about any Schnitzel based dish anyone might wish to create!
