On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans around the world mark Thanksgiving. This year the holiday falls on November 27th.
Around 9,500 American nationals live in Austria according to official figures, with roughly 4,500 living in Vienna.
Many people miss home around the holidays, longing to see their family and taste some traditional Thanksgiving food. It's not uncommon for US nationals living in the same part of Austria to meet up and hold a 'Friendsgiving' together, or invite their German and international friends to try things like sweet potato casserole.
Here are a few tips if you are planning a meal at home, or if you want to go out for it.
Where to find Thanksgiving ingredients
At this time of year, the fancy meat of choice for Austrians is goose – specifically Martinigansl, which is named after – and enjoyed – on St Martin's Day. It's traditionally served with cabbage and dumplings.
You may find it a little tricky to track down a whole turkey in Austria. You won't find rows of them at your local supermarket like you would in the US at this time.
But there are still options. Americans abroad report having some success finding frozen whole turkeys at large branches of supermarkets like Interspar and Billa Plus in Vienna.
You could also try visiting a local butcher to order one in advance – but be quick as time is running out!
An alternative is giving into Austria and settling for goose, or chicken. You could also pick up a cut of turkey. In Austria, turkey meat is called Pute.
Finding all the ingredients for accompanying dishes will be a struggle so you'll have to use your imagination and look for substitutes.
One of our previous American colleagues at The Local recommended Maisgrieß as a stand in for cornmeal to make cornbread. Cranberry sauce should be easier to find – Austrians love to have it with their fried cheese.
Don't forget to check out specialist American shops (or the US-inspired sections in bigger supermarkets) in your area. You might spot a few treats at Bobby's Food Store in Vienna (which also stocks British food), or the online Snack Shop, for popular items from both the US and UK.
READ ALSO: What you should know about supermarkets in Austria
Where to go out
If cooking your own meal feels like too much work, head out for food or get a take out.
Campaign group Democrats Abroad hosts its annual Thanksgiving dinner – with all the trimmings – on November 27th. It takes place at the Zoku hotel's rooftop restaurant overlooking the Prater in Vienna's 2nd district.
The group says: "The restaurant manager, Jared, and the chef preparing our traditional dinner, Liz, are fellow Americans – both from California! We love Zoku for its modern and homey atmosphere, a delicious spread and, of course, Liz's experience hosting Thanksgiving dinners for large groups. And even post-dinner live football in an adjacent room."
It costs €57 per adult and €22 for children aged 12 and under. There's also a minimum donation of $5 per adult and $1 per child to reserve a spot and receive raffle tickets.
Vienna-based pop-up 'A Familiar Feast', founded by American chef Chelsea Frischknecht, recently launched its Thanksgiving menu. You can order delicious items like roast turkey and gravy, cornbread and pecan pie in advance of your thanksgiving gathering. The order form is available through the pop-up's Instagram page or on their website. Pick up takes place on November 26th.
READ ALSO: 'Vienna is a special place': Why Americans move to Austria
The Hard Rock Cafe in Vienna's Rotenturmstraße is also offering a Thanksgiving menu where you can enjoy holiday classics in a rock 'n' roll surrounding. Make sure to reserve in advance – there were still a few spots left at the time of writing.
Looking for a slice of pumpkin pie? Keep an eye out at local bakeries (since Austrians are also huge fans of Kürbis at this time of year) or order from Vegan patisserie Chez Fritz in Vienna's 9th district.
Looking for more inspiration to celebrate the upcoming holidays while living abroad? Join the Americans in Vienna Facebook group to find out what else is going on in the community.
READ ALSO: Where to find international food in Austria at Christmas
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