Fruth, chocolaterie pâtisserie au marché

Today I feel like posting something really sweet. It is one of my favourite pâtisseries in Vienna and I'm really happy that it is right in my neighbourhood next to Naschmarkt. It opened already some years ago, so it's nothing new any more, but already a definite highlight of Viennese pastry shops. Actually the story of Eduard A. Fruth goes a long way back when he opened a Viennese pastry shop in Japan in the 80ies. Not only those "Fruth Shops" and two Gourmet temples named "Andersen" but also his seminars where he tought the art of pastry made him well known in Japan. Some years ago he opened a shop in his hometown Vienne which has since become one of my favourite shops in my neighbourhood. His little french tartes, mousse, eclairs, brownies and lots more have delighted a lot of my guests. And the shop itself is a little jewel as well. It feels totally french when you enter the little room with its antique display cabinets and 50ies sale desk. So, for those who haven't heard of it now it is about time to go there and enjoy.

photos by FRUTH

Fruth, Kettenbrückengasse 20, 1040 Vienna, Austria

Arsenal, tearing down and ripping out

First step at the apartment in Arsenal was to get rid of the loft in the livingroom and the cupboards the lined up in the entrance. It's good to have storage, but since the apartment now hosts only one person we can reduce that a bit. Especially if we get a great open entrance hall as the result. Once the loft was removed the livingroom as well opened up and there is even light shining all the way into the entrance hall now. What a change. Next step is painting the walls and a suprise treat for the entrance floor!

A little surprise awaited us after the cabinets were gone. The children had painted the walls about 25 years ago, before the cabinets were built. One little handprint will be preserved for the future and included in the design.

Naschmarkt, styles in the mix

Two years ago I moved to the wonderful neighborhood of Vienna's Naschmarkt. It is somehow traditional and very viennese, but at the same time a place for young people, with chic bars, great restaurants and very modern. So I decided that should be reflected by the style of my apartment, since that also reflects my personal style. 

It was great fun to mix my Biedermeier desk with a table from the sixties and add a contemporary interpreted Louis XV-style chair made in plastic by Philippe Starck. I was browsing through nearby second hand and antique stores for months. The bedroom is dominated by a fabric-covered wall that devides the room into sleeping and dressing area, accentuated with golden nailing in a traditional way. That wall is complimented by a headboard covered in a Toile de jouy, an old chinese wedding trunk and a modern butlers tray as bedstands. A fun touch is added by the antler-console. 

Spread around the apartment is a lot of art. Some is the work of friends, as the great photographs of Alexandra Thompson, some just things I found on fleamarkets as the bronze harlequin from the 30's. All in all my mission is completed now and I love to live in those rooms as well as hosting parties and dinners. Enjoy the photos.