From Asia to Europe
After being awarded the historically first certification in Japan, Vienna's Schweizerhaus also received the Czech Specials award. The ceremony took place in Prater during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the restaurant's cooperation with the brewery Budějovický Budvar. The certification was symbolically received by one of the most famous gastronomic establishments in the Austrian capital, which has long been linking the Czech beer tradition with the Viennese gastronomic scene. The event was attended by the Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig, the Czech Ambassador in Vienna Jiří Šitler, representatives of Budějovický Budvar, the chambers of commerce of both countries and guests from the gastronomy, media and tourism sectors.
"Schweizerhaus is a place where excellent Central European gastronomy, emphasis on quality ingredients and friendly service meet – i.e. the values on which the Czech Specials project is based. This unmistakable atmosphere connects Czech and Austrian culture through gastronomy, hospitality and shared experiences," says Director of the CzechTourism Representation for Austria and Switzerland Markéta Valenta.
The place where Czech beer became domesticated
Schweizerhaus is one of the gastronomic symbols of Vienna. It is famous for its large garden under the chestnut trees, lively atmosphere, legendary speed of service and its menu of traditional Austrian and Central European specialties. For generations, Viennese and visitors alike have been coming here for the famous roast knee „Stelze“, schnitzels and other pub classics, which are inherently accompanied by Budweiser Budvar beer.
Budweiser Budvar has been on tap here continuously since 1926 and the restaurant's partnership with the Czech brewery is now one of the longest running gastronomic collaborations in Central Europe. This year, the round anniversary was commemorated with a special anniversary series of beers and an accompanying programme on the premises of the Prater.
"Czech cuisine is very popular in Vienna, just as Czech beer has been part of our identity for many decades. The Czech Specials certification is a great award for us and confirms that we have been offering our guests an authentic gastronomic experience in the spirit of Czech beer and culinary tradition for a long time," says co-owner and managing director of the restaurant Karl Jan Kolarik.
Czech Specials spreads Czech cuisine to the world
Czech Specials is a joint project of CzechTourism and the Association of Chefs and Confectioners of the Czech Republic. The certification is open to restaurants and pastry shops that offer quality Czech cuisine, both in traditional and modern form. The aim is to support excellent Czech businesses and at the same time contribute to the development of Czech culinary culture.
"Each additional foreign certification confirms that Czech gastronomy has a strong name outside the country. We highly appreciate companies that work with Czech recipes and quality ingredients and at the same time are able to present authentic Czech hospitality to foreign guests in a modern and attractive way," summarizes Czech Specials project manager Lenka Nováková.
In Czechia today, approximately 70 restaurants and 18 confectioneries or cafés carry the Czech Specials brand. The gradual expansion of the project abroad strengthens the perception of Czechia as a destination with quality gastronomy, a strong beer culture and experiences worth tasting.