Barbacoa

Traditional barbacoa involves digging a hole in the ground and placing some meat with a pot underneath it, so that the juices can make a hearty broth. It is then covered with maguey leaves and coal and set alight. The cooking process may take a few hours. In general the term can refer to the meat, the cooking procedure itself or to a ‘party’ that includes such food or methods of preparation.

Barbecue

The word barbecue is also used to refer to a social gathering where food is served, usually outdoors in the late afternoon or evening. Barbecuing has four or five distinct types of cooking techniques. The original technique is cooking using smoke at lower temperatures and significantly longer cooking times, known as ‘smoking’. Another technique is ‘baking’, utilizing a masonry oven or any other type of baking oven, which uses convection to cook meats and starches with moderate temperatures for an average cooking time. Yet another technique is ‘braising’, which combines direct dry heat charbroiling on a ribbed surface with a broth-filled pot for moist heat, cooking at various speeds throughout the duration (starting fast, slowing down, then speeding up again, lasting for a few hours). Finally, grilling is done over direct dry heat, usually over a hot fire for a short period of time. Grilling may be done over wood, charcoal, gas (natural gas or propane), or electricity. A fifth and emerging type of barbecue technique involves the use of the slow cooker. Slow cooking is untraditional in that it involves no smoking, however, since the flavor of the meat is remarkably similar to that of the other four styles, slow cooking is considered a legitimate technique.

In Austria you see many people taking out there ‘griller’ in the summer season, inviting friends and ‘grilling’ in the open air, mostly in their own garden. Due to the number of techniques ‘grilling’ is not that easy, that is why renowned brands of grills like for example ‘Weber’ have decided to develop their own ‘Grill courses’ which seem to be very popular. In Austria there are 2 types of grill courses, the ‘Basic Weber Grill Course’ and the ‘Expert Weber Grill Course’. Here you learn how to handle your grill, the types of techniques, how to grill a specific type of meat or fish, even vegetables and how you can turn your grill party into an event that your guests will never forget.

Lake’s – my lake hotel & spa and Weber have decided to cooperate and offer these courses also at Lake’s, starting from the beginning of August until mid September 2011. Here we were able to get the renowned ‘Party Cook’ Yulia Haybäck, as she calls herself. She introduces the participants in the ‘wonderful world of grilling’ and guarantees a great course in front of the scenery of Lake Wörthersee.

You can pick a package consisting of 2 nights accommodation in a Studio including breakfast (arrival Sunday-departure Tuesday), a welcome cocktail and a ‘BASIC Grill Course’ by the ‘Weber Grill Academy’ (duration about 4 hours) for EUR 260,00 per person or just the single course which does cost EUR 89,00 per person. Click here for the “Weber Grillakademie Original” Package.

No need to take your grill accessoires with you, all is arranged, and with this course we guarantee you that grilling a T-bone steak is just that easy as boiling an egg …

It all started in 1294 with the “December market” in Vienna, which is regarded by many as the forerunner to the present Christmas markets. Over the years, the city of Vienna and its authorities have worked on the historical and authentic image of a Christmas market, away from plagiarism. Now Vienna hosts around 25 markets, ranging from smaller to larger ones, offering a collection of wooden stalls on a square, open space or a defined number of smaller streets. At almost all markets one finds a unique selection of stands selling traditional and typical Austrian Christmas food and drinks, handmade clothing, art and handcrafted items, handmade toys, candy and so on.

What is so special about a Christmas market in Vienna? Is it the combination of snow, crispy winter air, the lighting, the aromas flying through the air, the products one can buy, the crowd or just the complete atmosphere? Yes, and you should definitely go there when it is dark to get the best experience.

The Christmas Market season 2009 starts on Saturday, November 14^th as the Advent season descends upon Vienna once more, whereas a few markets start one week later. Most of them until December 21^st, 24^th or even 26^th, 2009. During the time of Advent Vienna is a lighting city full of nostalgia, elegance and romance, numerous concerts, beautiful decorated shop displays, x-ordinary lightings and not to forget, the traditional Christmas markets. Classical ones include the Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace, the Christmas market in front of the City Hall, the traditional Viennese Christmas market on Freyung, the markets in the various streets at Spittelberg, Am Hof and in front of the church of St. Charles Borromeo (Karlskirche). A special one is the Christmas market at the museum Belvedere.

The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel, is of course following the festive season, especially with its lighting curtain out of 50.000 LED lights that highlights the complete front of the hotel, the numerous special rates for all festive weekends, Christmas and New Years Eve but also the package “Christmas in Vienna @ The Ring” and the large selection of menus at the hotel restaurant At Eight.

The X-Mas season in Vienna is not only romantic and elegant; with roaring log fires and charming Christmas markets … it is also trendy and “hot” with winter DJ sounds, winter sport opportunities like ice skating and curling and perfect shopping locations. But no matter what you prefer, Christmas in Vienna above all can be one thing: an unforgettable experience @ The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel.

Curious and thinking of visiting? Check out the following websites:

www.theringhotel.com
www.christmasmarkets.com
www.christmas-markets.at
www.vienna4u.at/christmasmarket.html