Bauernbraten with freshly grated horseradish

Austria celebrates its National Holiday today and since you can't see me wearing my Dirndl or hear me yodeling, it is only appropriate to post something revolving around Austrian food... Every once in a while my local Waitrose makes me very happy by sourcing Austrian products that aren't normally accessible to me since living in the UK. Last summer, they were selling Bernerwuerstel (sausages stuffed with cheese and wrapped with pancetta) which are delicious on the barbecue - made by no other than a butcher from my hometown. Oh joy! Unfortunately, they've discontinued them, seems like they're not fit for the Britsh palate?
A couple of months ago I found some Austrian bacon on display next to the Parma ham. Handl are a Tyrolian cold meats producer and their lean bacon is sold all over the country - even though you can still get better bacon by going to small butchers and farmers in the country, their quality is very reasonable. Waitrose have now added a special baked ham, sold in wafer-thin slices, from the same company to their selection of deli items, and I bought it recently when Austria was playing England in the World Cup qualifier. I had been wandering down the high-street, seeing crowds of people heading for the pub to see the kick-off, all dressed up in their England shirts and such... and although I don't really care about whether Austria qualifies or not, no matter what the sport or who the opponent, I couldn't help a very subtle feeling of patriotism when I picked up that pack of ham. I wouldn't normally watch the game either, but I was a bit peckish, so I grated some fresh horseradish Angelika had brought me from Austria and devoured it with the ham and some rye bread, sitting in front of the television.
Although the game wasn't as embarrassing for Austria as I would have expected it to be, they did lose, of course, despite my display of support - so in the evening, we celebrated the winning team with some good old English chicken pie... isn't it great when you're so removed from it all that you can celebrate no matter who comes out on top?

Comments

[Pille]

Rye bread, ham and horseradish - I know this combo is delicious! That simple plateful of yours would be very much appreciated up here in Edinburgh:)

[Moira]

Well, if you can't make it all the way to Pille, how about just popping up to Peterborough? ;-) That combo would be very welcome here, too!

[johanna]

Well, maybe I should just pack my bags and head up north - peterborough first, then edinburgh... i'll have a ball I'm sure! I don't travel enough within the UK anyway! thanks for the invitation, i'll take you up on it one day, you know!