A really particular café in Vienna is bridging the hole between generations, one cake at a time.
Vienna’s café tradition is so legendary, UNESCO added the town’s espresso homes to its Intangible Cultural Heritage record in 2011. Popping right into a café for a slice of strudel and an einspänner (Viennese espresso with whipped cream) isn’t simply one thing locals and guests alike have completed for hundreds of years – it’s the quintessential solution to expertise Austria’s capital.
While many vacationers make a beeline for Vienna’s well-known, conventional espresso homes, a rising variety of savvy caffiene-seekers are heading to Vollpension: a new-ish child on the block that’s including one other layer to the already wealthy culinary (and social) material of the town. And Intrepid travellers will get an opportunity to go to on our Highlights of Central Europe journey in 2023.
Baking for world peace
Vollpension (German for “full pension”) has taken off in a giant manner because it launched in 2012, and why wouldn’t it? Aiming to help seniors liable to old-age poverty and social isolation, the café offers employment, group and connection for a lot of of Vienna’s older residents. That’s proper – this healthful café with a goal is run by a workforce of sprightly seniors with supreme cake-baking expertise. Stepping into Vollpension is like receiving a heat hug (and slice of cake) out of your beloved granny or grandpa.
The workforce behind Vollpension consider {that a} cake baked with love by a granny has great energy. So a lot in order that it might doubtlessly save the world. If nothing else, sitting down for some cake and occasional is an prompt remedy for a day that’s gone pear-shaped. Catering for these in want of consolation and connection is what Vollpension does so effectively.
Co-Founder David Haller is delighted by the far-reaching impacts of Vollpension.
“It means the world to me. We never thought that our little idea would have such an impact. From the great life stories, awesome events and breathtaking encounters to the hundreds of thousands of cakes made with love, Vollpension is a project that comes from the heart and goes right back to the heart – not only mine, but to those of everyone involved,” he says.
All the world’s a stage
What started as a pop-up idea is now a little bit of a juggernaut, with a number of shops using a legion of cake-baking seniors who fortunately don their aprons within the identify of baking prime notch desserts that preserve prospects coming again time and time once more.
But the shoppers aren’t the one ones benefiting. Vollpension additionally allows older Austrians to spice up their earnings and helps seniors liable to social isolation to type new connections with folks of all ages.
At 77 years outdated, Frau Marianne is at present residing her finest life serving candy treats and sizzling drinks to Vollpension’s prospects. Having lived in Vienna all her life, she’s the right ambassador for the town that receives hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. She spent most of her working life as a secretary for a legislation agency (“Unofficially I was the head of the company, because I took care of almost everything”) and now enjoys utilizing all of the social expertise she’s acquired all through her lifetime to welcome prospects to the cafe.
“I’m now in my seventh year at Vollpension and I still love it every day. I found out about it through an advertisement. Since I’m very outgoing I immediately called, got an interview, and here I am, seven years later,” says Frau Marianne, who can be an novice actress in her free time.
“Vollpension is my stage, where I can perform and do what I do best: be communicative, laugh and learn new life stories,” she explains.
Life is sort of a field of goodies
As a spot the place folks from all walks of life come collectively to share friendship, information and laughs over a slice of sachertorte, glass of natural lemonade or mug of tea, many new relationships have shaped at Vollpension. Frau Marianne recollects a memorable second with a buyer:
“I had a very special encounter once, which still makes me smile. A very handsome man liked my cake serving skills and asked me to marry him. I was very flattered and said yes, but he then said that he had to ask his wife if it was okay with her. We never ended up getting married of course, but everyone in the coffeehouse was laughing and cheering us on.”
Seasoned travellers know nothing beats a neighborhood advice relating to discovering the perfect bites in a brand new metropolis. So what must you order whenever you go to Vollpension? For co-founder David, it’s all in regards to the cake.
“Every baking oldie has their own recipes and specialties. In a way, Vollpension is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’ll get.”
Header picture – Vollpension desserts © Mark Glassner