Carinthian Cuisine — Kasnudeln, Reindling & More

The Carinthian cuisine is a melting pot of Alpine, Slovenian, and Italian influences — and has produced dishes that are found nowhere else. Hearty, honest, and with a craftsmanship reminiscent of Italy's Nonna cuisine. The most important dishes:

Carinthian Kasnudeln — The National Dish

The Carinthian Kasnudeln (also "Kasnudl") are the flagship of Carinthian cuisine and even have EU origin protection (g.t.S.). Pasta pockets made from noodle dough, filled with a mixture of Bröseltopfen (curd), potatoes, mint (!), and brown butter. The special feature: The edge is artfully "crimped" — formed into a decorative wave pattern with the fingers. Every Carinthian farmer's wife has her secret recipe.

They are served with melted butter and a salad — simple, but a taste experience. Found in every Carinthian inn and on every alpine hut, typically 10–14€ for 6 pieces. At the Benedictine Market in Klagenfurt, you can get them freshly prepared from 6€.

Reindling — The Carinthian Festive Cake

The Reindling is a yeast cake traditionally baked in a round form (the "Reindl"): Yeast dough filled with a spiral of brown butter, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, sweet-spicy, and absolutely addictive. Traditionally baked for Easter and church fairs, but now available year-round in bakeries and inns.

A whole Reindling in the bakery: 8–12€. A piece in the inn: 4–6€. Best served warm with butter. The best bakeries: Wienerroither (Pörtschach), Bäckerei Ronacher (Klagenfurt), Bäckerei Öfferl at the Benedictine Market.

Other Specialties

Frigga (Carinthian Church Day Soup) — A rich soup with nine different types of meat (beef, pork, chicken, sausage, etc.), vegetables, and spices. Traditionally for church day, now at folk festivals and in inns. 8–12€.

Hadnsterz — Buckwheat porridge with cracklings (Grammelschmalz), an ancient farmer's meal. Sounds simple, but tastes complex: nutty, crispy, hearty. In rustic inns from 9€.

Klachlsuppe — Pork knuckle soup with root vegetables and horseradish. Carinthia's answer to chicken soup — supposedly strengthens after long nights of partying. 7–10€.

Carinthian Laxn — Smoked lake trout from Carinthian lakes, thinly sliced like salmon. A delicacy found in the fish restaurants at Lake Millstatt and Lake Weißensee. As a starter 12–16€.

Wine & Beverages

Carinthia is not a classic wine region, but has surprises: At the Taggenbrunn Vineyard near St. Veit (tour + tasting: 18€), remarkable white wines are grown. The Most (apple and pear wine) from the Lavant Valley is excellent — tart, refreshing, 3–5€ per glass in inns. And the pine schnapps (distilled from the pines of the Nock Mountains) is the quintessential Carinthian souvenir — amber-colored, resinous-spicy, 2 cl at the hut 4€.