50 World Foods to Try Before You Die
© iStock / Getty Images Plus / Angelika Heine
Kaiserschmarrn - Austria-Hungary
Austria might be best known for its apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastry, but another beloved dessert worth trying is kaiserschmarrn. Known for its fluffy, shredded pancake-like texture, it's made from flour, eggs, sugar and milk and fried in a pan with butter until a golden crust forms on the bottom. Two forks or a spatula are used to tear apart the pancake as it cooks. To serve, it's typically sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied by a fruit sauce or compote, such as lingonberry, plum or apple. Legend has it the dessert was named after Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, who was a big fan of the dish.
Where to eat: Locals compare the kaiserschmarrn at Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl in Vienna to their grandmothers' recipes, so you know they must be doing something right. You can choose from different versions of the dish, which come in satisfyingly large portions.
Past Contests
RECALL: 57 Tons of Frozen Food...
International Team