kaiserschmarren

The favourite dessert of Emperor Franz Joseph I means the 'Emperor's Mess' and is still popular in Alto Adige as well as in other parts of the former Austro-Hungarian empire. A fluffy sweet pancake, often with raisins in the batter, is broken into pieces while being cooked, then topped with powdered sugar and served with fruit compote, traditionally plum, but there are hundreds of variations.

According to legend, it was first served to the Emperor and his wife Elizabeth, the famous diet obsessed Sissi, who requested only light desserts. But this was too rich for her tastes, the Franz Joseph liked it so much he ate her dessert, too.