Kaiserschmarrn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaiserschmarrn (German "Kaiser", meaning "Emperor's", and Austrian German "Schmarrn", "Mishmash") is one of the best known Austrian desserts, popular in most of the former Austro-Hungarian lands, as well as in Bavaria.
It consists of pancakes, usually with raisins, that are shredded after preparation and served with various fruit compotes, including plum, lingonberry, strawberry and apple among others. It is usually sprinkled with powdered sugar. Normally the pancake is caramelised and made with more than the usual number of eggs, and often including raisins, chopped almonds, apple jam or small pieces of apple. The pancake is split into pieces while frying, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and is served hot with an apple or plum sauce.
Curiously, and as it is a quite filling meal, in addition to dessert, it can also be eaten for lunch at tourist places like mountainside restaurants and taverns in the Austrian alps.
The translation of Kaiserschmarrn has generated some etymological debate. While “Kaiser” is literally translatable as Emperor, the same cannot be said for “Schmarrn”. “Schmarrn” has been translated as a trifle, a nonsense or fluff or even as a mild expletive. However, “Schmarrn” in Austrian German is more accurately a concept and hence no single correct translation is possible. It is generally agreed that the dish was first prepared for the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph I (1830–1916). The genesis of its name is not agreed; there are several stories which all rank about Emperor Francis Joseph I. One story, likely apocryphal, involves the Emperor and his wife, Elisabeth of Bavaria, of the House of Wittelsbach. Obsessed with maintaining a minimal waistline, the Empress Elisabeth directed the royal chef to prepare only light desserts for her imperial palate, much to the consternation and annoyance of her notoriously austere husband. Upon being presented with the chef’s confection, she found it too rich and refused to eat it. The exasperated Francis Joseph quipped, “Now let me see what "Schmarrn" (read: "trifle?") our chef has cooked up”. It apparently met with his approval as he finished his and his wife’s serving. Thereafter, the dessert was called Kaiserschmarrn across the Empire.
