I’ve spoken here many times about my friend M, originally from Austria, who I bonded with in the corporate jungle over the subject of food. We both didn’t expect to become such fast and good friends, well actually I didn’t have any preconceptions but she recently told me that she didn’t think she and I would have anything in common when she first saw me, but food has a mysterious way of bonding people. And all the better for me, because she has introduced me to all things Austrian. When she sent me an email asking if I’d like to come with her and her boys to the Austrian Club for the Krampus and Nikolo Christmas event, I said yes (of course after googling what Krampus and Nikolo were as I had no idea what they were!).
Oompapa band Tyrolian Echo
For those of you that have never heard of it before, on December 5th, the chain wielding Devil figure (Krampus), comes running through the cities and country areas of Austria searching for naughty children that he beats with hazelnut branches (yes really, I’m not making this up!). He drags the chains and generally creates a lot of commotion. Then on December 6th Nikolo arrives, he is Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas as we know him, and he roams the street with Krampus giving out little gifts to children. According to Wikipedia: “The present day Krampus costume consists of wooden masks or Larve, sheep’s skin and horns. Considerable effort goes into the manufacture of the hand-crafted masks, as many younger adults in rural communities engage competitively in the Krampus events.” So you see why I just had to say yes. And do try image googling “Krampus”, you may think you’ve come across a bunch of Lordi fans.
At 8pm we buy our $12 admission tickets to the event (I break out my rusty High School German which actually seems to be a vague approximation of what I should say) and walk into the Austrian Hall. It’s full and there’s an Oompapa band, The Tyrolian Echoes, playing all of the oldies and goodies including Edelweiss (and is it bizarre I know all of the words to this?) coaxing the attendees onto the floor by playing their favourites.
Trophies and a tall Christmas tree
We’ve eaten a bit beforehand but a quick look at the night’s special menu convinces us to share one dish and have some desserts. They’re an organised and orderly lot these Austrians and the waitress lets us know that desserts will be served at 8.30pm as they’re made fresh and mains before then to help with serving the many guests here tonight.
There’s also Christmas Stollen available for purchase tonight.
Wiener Schwammerlrosbraten mit Salat und Bratkartoffel(Scotch Fillet with Mushroom sauce) $20.90
Our Scotch Fillet with mushroom sauce is medium rare, just as we ordered it it’s lovely and pink inside with a bit of chewiness. The mushrooms are not forest mushrooms (M asked the waitress to check with the chef as they should really be forest mushrooms) but still the meat is cooked just as we ordered and the sauce is tasty on top of it.
Marillenknodel mit Fruchtsauce (Apricot Dumplings) $6.50
The desserts of course are what get us excited and tonight we’ve ordered one of each of the desserts. The first one to arrive is the Marillenknodel mit Fruchtsauce (Apricot Dumplings). They’re served with ice cream but M says to try just the dumpling and apricot filling alone so we can savour the actual taste. It’s a slightly sweet heavy dumpling which I can imagine going down a treat in cold weather, the apricot slightly tangy. And like M thought, I do prefer it without the ice cream.
Blackforest cake $6.50
Let me see if I can drag up my rusty German here-Black Forest Cake or Schwarzwaldkirschtorte is one of those cakes I always thought was so exotic when I was little. After all it was a chocolate cake, had cherries in it and chocolate flakes or curls and whipped cream. Previously, I was always a little disappointed when I tasted it though, feeling let down. This Schwarzwaldkirschtorte isn’t bad though, I get plenty of kirsch and cherries inside which I do like although it isn’t as damp as I’ve had (sometimes it’s soaked in Kirsch).
Wiener Apfelstrudel mit Obers und vanilleeis (Vienna Apple Strudel with cream and ice Cream) $6.50
Most of the table orders the Vienna Apple Strudel with cream and ice cream and are rapturous over this. It smells delicious but we’ve already tried this before (and yes it was fantastic).
Coupe Danemark mit Schokoladensauce und Obers (Danish ice cream and chocolate sauce with wafers) $6.50
In is relieved when his Danish ice cream and chocolate sauce with wafers arrives. Adults received theirs in a martini glass but he receives his in an old fashioned ice cream glass. It’s sweet and creamy but I have to admit after the exoticness of the other desserts, I prefer those.
Nikolo arrives!
Krampus “beating” people (more tapping lightly in today’s world of lawsuits)
And at 9.15pm sharp, just as the club president had advised, Krampus and Nikolo arrive. Krampus has his customary branches and chains but thankfully doesn’t beat anyone with them, preferring to tap unsuspecting women with them and pretend that someone else has done it. And Nikolo gives bags of lollies to the women, girls and children to reward us for being good. Ok maybe we haven’t been exactly good but he gives it to us anyway.
The Austrian Club
20 Gratten Crescent Frenchs Forest
Tel: +61 (02) 9452 3304
Bookings for Krampus and Nikolo advised
Restaurant open Friday/Saturday: from 6pm Sunday: from 12 noon to 8pm
Cash Only
Tuesdays open only for the Air Rifle club
http://www.austrianclubsydney.com/
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24 Comments | Add your own
How nice!! I love stollen . This year wish i ll try to make it
Mmm… apricot dumplings…:)
Yum those dumplings are awesome! I’m Hungarian so a lot of our foods are similar and we make those dumplings too. They more often have a whole plum inside or just plum jam though.
This looks like such fun! My heritage is German on my mother’s side, so I would love this. Krampus would have e running a mile!
nothing like a bit of oompapa to get you in the Christmas spirit – this looks like fun and I would be excited about the desserts too – they look wonderful
What a fun post. Also, a great way to get the kids to behave for Christmas!
What a great night celebrating tradition. I’m a big fan of community clubs – there’s always a sense of family and the homestyle cooking wins me right over.
just baked some swiss xmas cookies. am swiss by nationality thru marriage and the swiss celebrates dec 5 and 6th as well for St Nikolas.
I miss a good stolen ….
Oohh sounds like good fun! I love how you guys ordered one of each of the desserts hee hee ^^! Thats the Xmas spirit
Love it, when are we going??
Isn’t it Krammpus who has chain and beating branch? I think you mean Krampus tap unsuspecting women.
Seem it is enjoyable meals and dessert, not much different than Germany cuisines?
what fabulous cultural findings. Thank you for sharing!
Hi snookydoodle-I don’t think I’ve ever tried stollen, seems like a transgression that I haven’t! :O
Hi Annie-They were really good …
Hi Esz-Oooh yum I think they’d be delicious with a jam filling!
Hi Cakelaw-Some of the real ones overseas are so scary, I’d run too!
Hi Johanna-The Oompapa band playing Edeweiss really did set the mood. I was so excited when I saw the dessert menu!
Hi Barbara-Haha yes my friend’s two sons were quite well behaved that evening!
Hi Helen-Yes it was the first I’d heard of it! The Austrian club is very cute indeed and very authentic looking from what I hear.
Hi sha-Do you have anything like Krampus too? I really need to try stollen I think!
Hi FFichiban-Haha we’re just greedy
Actually there were 5 of us so 4 desserts wasn’t too bad….
Hi Teena-Unfortunately we’ll have to wait until next year!
Hi Lilia-Yes I’ll change that around now. It’s similar although I think they are some definitely differences, especially since Austrians are so proud of their cakes.
Hi Maria-You’re welcome. Who knew this sort of thing happened here?
The little devil guy scares me.
Looks like an awesome event!
Lorraine – I left you an award on my blog.
I love learning about new traditions! It’s so fun!
Hi Jeff-He was pretty friendly despite that! Waving like Mickey mouse at Disneyland (well except for the chains and sticks
)
Hi Barbara-Oooh thankyou so much! I’m so thrilled!
Hi Blond Duck-Me too, I love learning about different cultures and traditions
oompapa and krampus (what fun words!), cake and strudel. can we say good time? i think so.
Hi grace-I know, Oompapa is one of those catchy words you can’t get out of your head
Gotta love a good schnitzel. As soon as we hit Austria during our European holiday…schnitzel was the first thing we wanted!
Esz…we’re Slovenian with dad being born near the Hungarian border and mum near the Italian, so we have a wide variety of dishes to chose from. Mum also makes the large gnocchi/dumplings and put fried breadcrumbs and sugar on top. I get strange looks at work when I eat this lol
Hi Vanessa-I would be exactly the same
I love schnitzel! Those dumplings sound divine! Perhaps it’s looks of envy and salivation 
Wow! I just found your site – LOVE it! I’m Hungarian and make several varieties of scrumptious dumplings. Either filled (with either plums or apricots, or jam) and another dumpling made with a special imported mild cheese (or you can use well-blended cottage cheese). Once cooked, the dumplings are tossed with toasted bread crumbs mixed with sugar and cinnamon. Serve with jam and sour cream – sounds wierd, but sooo yummy! (even my American hubby loves them). Your site brought back memories of my childhood spent with many of the same traditions that you got to experience and described with such perfection. Thank you for the memories of home!
Hi Christina-Thankyou!
They sounds absolutely scrumptious. I’d love to have them when it gets really cold. And that doesn’t sound weird at all, it sounds amazing! 
You’re more than welcome, thanks for reading!
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