The Viennese chocolate cake, Sachertorte, dates back to 1832, when Prince Wenzel von Metternich demanded his personal chef create a special dessert for several important guests. However, the chef fell ill and his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Franz Sacher, had to step in. The torte was born, though it was not immediately famous. Indeed, it was Franz Sacher’s son, Eduard, who further developed the recipe; the torte was first served to the public at the Demel bakery, where Eduard completed his training, and later at the Hotel Sacher, which was established by Eduard in 1876.
In the early 1900s, a massive legal battle developed between Hotel Sacher and the Demel Bakery over rights to use the Sachertorte name. Eventually, Hotel Sacher won the rights to the phrase The Original Sachertorte and Demel had the rights to decorate its tortes with a triangular seal saying Eduard-Sacher-Torte.
If you fancy trying a slice of the original cake it is still sold at the Hotel Sacher, and can even be ordered online. Needless to say, I felt duty bound to try the confection so I popped into the Cafe Sacher, along with many other chocolate-loving tourists. I have to say the service was surly and perfunctory, the atmosphere was cold and the cake was somewhat dry. I t certainly wasn’t the special taste or experience that I expected.
Various incarnations of the cake pop up all over Vienna, going under a variety of pseudonyms. When I popped into the Motto am Fluss Cafe on the Donau Canal for a break from my chilly canal-side walk, I just couldn’t resist the schlachertorte that beckoned from the cabinet. I am so glad I gave in to temptation; it was a rich, moist, firm chocolate cake with a hint of apricot and an attractive swoosh of gold on the shiny chocolate topping. The service was friendly and efficient and the place had a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
In my book, schlacher won over sacher.
Travel with Intent 
I’ve never seen a blue sachertorte before!
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You triumphed after the disappointment of the Hotel Sacher.
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Persistence in the search for cake!
Sent from my iPhone
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That looks delicious but sadly I like the taste of chocolate but it doesn’t like me, Interesting story about the origins of The Torte,
best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.
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Ummm! Time to buy myself a treat!
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you are torturing me!
ROG, ABCW
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Ummmm, Yummmm, the last one sounds divine. I wish I could go there and sample for myself.
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Mouth is watering for this chocoholic visitor.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
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I’ll have to try to remember the difference! But then anything dark chocolate would grab me!
Leslie
abcw team
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battle or not…whats in a name… its just delicious 😉
You know that “torte” is a german word i presume.
Melody (abc-w)
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Oh my gosh!
It was be sure easy to take a great big bite of that. The hint of apricot flavoring just sounds exquisite!
Thanks for a exceptionally yummy looking like for the letter E.
A+
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Drooooooooooool. I have yet to find the ultimate slice of chocolate cake that fits the one in my imagination. I wonder how close this would come. Maybe it’s the one. I need me some chocolate.
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Fascinating….my homemade brownies will have to do for me this evening♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/el-paso/
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Glad you were able to find one that you really liked! Looks good to me.
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Without reading I word…I felt as though I died and went to heaven. It looks scrumptious!!!!
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shame we don’t have tastervision!
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Now I think I have to go bake a chocolate cake!
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Wensel von Metternich … I love the sound of that name:):) A difficult choice would be Sacher Torte or Black Forest cake…(with the cherry filling in the middle)…
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I’m not a Black Forest fan so the choice was easy for me. You would have to have both – easy!
On Thu, Jun 18, 2015 at 1:13 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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sorry the weather is cold there – I don’t know what’s worse, cold or the 95 degr. that it has been here for past few days:)
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Oh my! that is hot! I’m off to Singapore in a few weeks so I’m going to have to cope with heat there. Not sure I’m going to enjoy it – I find teh heat harder to deal with as i get older!
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I can still remember eating my sachertorte at the Hotel Sacher. I think my experience was better than yours. The cake was sumptuous and the service was great.
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I tried it there also and found the same issues! That is so funny-the people who worked there were so snooty and it was dry. My Aunt made one for us and it was to die for!
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Mmmmm…..Sachertorte. I popped into the Sacher Cafe as well with friends when I was in Vienna and the waiter stared at us as if we were going to make off with the silverware. Ah, well — it makes for a great story now!
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Lots of calories but….tiny ones????
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I certainly hope so!
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Ah, Sachertorte!
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Just in time for brekkie 🙂
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Even I couldn’t do that – I don’t think…
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I sure could 🙂
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Maybe I’ll stick to Easter eggs. There have to be fewer calories, right? 🙂
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You’re probably right 🙂
On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 8:29 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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