Bei ana Grüllarei san olle Leit dabei*

After Christmas, when the Christkindlmärkte packed up their wooden stands and disappeared from the city, I never thought I would find an Austrian activity to rival the Punschstände. But lo and behold, I just needed to wait a few months for the warmer weather, and with it, the beginning of grill season.

I can already hear my mother telling me, "But Keri, we grill things in America, too!" (Subtext: You can come home now). And that may be true. But a Grillabend seems especially compatible with so many elements of the Austrian character: enjoying nature, eating slowly, needing to include meat in every meal, not getting freaked out by bugs, etc.

A Grillabend is a potluck. The host provides the salads (cucumber salad and potato salad are required, others as one wishes) and rolls; each guest is responsible for bringing his or her own meat and beer. The first time I was invited to a Grillabend, I frantically texted my friend Marco, who loves food, asking what a person normally brings. His answer: "What you want to have grilled." It was only after replying, "Ok, fine, I'll just be stereotypical and bring hamburgers," that I got the real answer: You grill steak or Würstl (sausage). Würstl culture deserves its own post, but suffice it to say that there are many kinds and they are all delicious, so even without hamburgers and hot dogs, you are never at a loss for yummy things to eat.

The Donauinsel (island park in the middle of the Danube) is one of the most beloved grill spots in the city. Both sides offer wonderful views -- either of UNO-City and the Donauturm, or of the older part of the city.

The new city from a portable dock in the Donauinsel

I've been grilling on the Donauinsel twice, once with my floormates in Haus Niederösterreich, and once with a group of Americans (participating in the same study abroad program as my high school friend Sarah) to celebrate the 4th of July.

Eagerly anticipating my Käsekrainer

But grilling is way too much fun (and too delicious!) to limit to a few trips to the Donauinsel. I've also been to two other Grillfeste, one on the balcony of the apartment of one of my work colleagues, and one in Haus Salzburg, my dorm in winter semester and now again in July. The latter was a wonderful chance to enjoy the company of many of my friends and acquaintances for the dorm all at once. (There are still people around, but there are a lot of comings and goings, as people take a few days to visit home or go on vacation somewhere.)

Ethan (from Central College Abroad) and Michael will sell you beer, not Radler.

Meli helps herself to some potato salad. (Yes, the German kind.)

America has added something to Austrian grilling culture: Roasting marshmallows over the fire. (There were, unfortunately, no graham crackers and chocolate bars.)

* It's amazing how perfectly the Trackshittaz can encapsulate Austrian culture. Sometimes I think that their intelligence is underestimated.