Chocolates with style from Altmann & Kuehne

One of my favourite shops in Vienna isn't a grand department store or a trendy clothing emporium, but a teeny tiny little chocolate shop called Confiserie Altmann & Kuehne. In there you'll find the most beautifully packaged boxes of the most divinely diminutive hand-made chocolates - all very Alice in Wonderland.

Pick out the box you like (as well as the traditional box below, you could choose a heart-shaped box, a mini hat-box or - if feeling particularly decadent - a sewing-case which opens in tiered levels), the colour design of your choice and the lovely ladies will wrap it up carefully so it makes it home in one piece. And in case you don't plan to visit Vienna any time soon, you can even order online at the link above.

The only difficult part is trying to restrain yourself from eating the whole box in one go...

The outer layer


One layer in


The gorgeous Wiener Werkstaette design box


And the payoff

Food frenzy at the Vienna Naschmarkt

We visited Vienna, one of my favourite European cities, for a few days earlier this month. It might not be as fashionable as Paris or have a thriving underground scene like Berlin, but I still have a brilliant time and find something new to see or do everytime I go there. This time we happened to be staying near the famous Naschmarkt, an open air market which has been in existence more than 200 years and which now includes numerous restaurant and cafes where you'll surely find any international cuisine you're craving.

For some silly reason we chose to go directly after our big buffet breakfast in the hotel, but I'm already planning my next trip and you can be sure it will involve a visit here on an empty stomach. Just take a look to see why...

A flowering artichoke used as decoration


A rainbow of deliciousness stuffed with creamy cheese


Cheeses, hummous and stuffed vegetables - so pretty this could be an ice cream counter


A close-up of those stuffed vegetables


Spicy green chili peppers


... and some red ones too


Fresh vegetables as far as the eye could see


The most appetising looking olives


Every kind of spice you could possibly need


Some weirdly shaped little squash-type things


The Naschmarkt can be found at the Wienzeile, 1040 Vienna; take the U4 Kettenbrückengasse or U4, U2 Karlsplatz to get there. Open from Monday to Saturday, make sure to get there early on Saturday for the best brunch options in the many restaurants.