Sachertorte

Sachertorte IPA2|ˈzɑxərˌtɔrtə [cite book|title=Oxford English Dictionary|year=1989|url=http://www.oed.com/|edition=Second Edition] is a chocolate cake, invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria.cite news | first=Bethany |last= Bell |title= Happy Birthday, cake |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6598995.stm|format= STM |publisher=BBC News, Vienna |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2007-05-31 |quote= It was created by chance one day in 1832 when the chef to the chancellor, Prince Wensel Metternich, suddenly fell ill. His 16-year-old apprentice, Franz Sacher, was called in to create a dessert that would not disgrace the prince and the Sachertorte was born.] It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties.

Composition

The cake consists of two layers of dense, not overly sweet chocolate cake (traditionally a sponge cake) with a thin layer of apricot jam in the middle and dark chocolate icing with shreds of chocolate on the top and sides. It is traditionally served with whipped cream without any sugar in it (Standard German: "Schlagsahne", Austrian Standard German: "Schlagobers"), as most Viennese consider the Sachertorte too "dry" to be eaten on its own.

The trademark for the "Original Sachertorte" was registered by the Hotel Sacher, which was built in 1876 by the son of Franz Sacher. The recipe is a well-kept secret.Fact|date=October 2007 Until 1965, Hotel Sacher was involved in a long legal battle with the pastry shop Demel, who had also produced a cake called the "Original Sachertorte." Numerous tales have circulated to explain how Demel came by the recipe. The cake at Demel is now called "Demels Sachertorte" and differs from the "Original" in that there is no layer of apricot jam in the middle of the cake, but directly underneath the chocolate cover.

There are various recipes attempting to copy the "Original," and some may be found below. For example, at the cultural event "Graz-Kulturhauptstadt 2003", the "Sacher-Masoch-Torte" was presented (its name alluding to Leopold von Sacher-Masoch), a cake unique in that it uses redcurrant jam and marzipan.

Sachertorte references

On the children's TV show "Sesame Street", the Count calls the Countess "my little Sachertorte".

In the video game "", the player can create a Sachertorte using the item creation system.

In the video game "", the cake can be found in the portrait of the City of Haze in a hidden bakery, as well as later on, in the portrait of 13th Street in another hidden bakery. The two differ in that the player must pay for the cake when it is found in the City of Haze and reappears when it is consumed.

In the film "Persepolis", Marjane's father tells her to try the dessert while she studies in Vienna.

Sachertorte is the "chocolate cake in a bag" from the song The Ballad of John and Yoko [http://www.iamthebeatles.com/article1316.html]

External links

* [http://www.sacher.com/sacher/SacherTorte/index_en.jsp The Original Sacher-Torte Website]
* [http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/sachertorte,1686,RC.html "Sachertorte" - A recipe by Delia Smith] (English)
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6598995.stm BBC News | Happy Birthday, cake]
* [http://www.chocolatecakechurch.org/2008/06/13/is-sachertorte-the-ultimate-devotion/ Is Sachertorte the Ultimate Devotion?] , courtesy of the parody religion The Chocolate Cake Church

References