The secret of Sachertorte

April 05, 2007

Vienna's sweetest attraction and the icon of its coffee house culture, the Sachertorte, celebrates its 175th birthday this year. Invented by Franz Sacher, a 16-year old apprentice chef at the imperial and royal court, the chocolate cake has become synonimous with the city -- just like the Hofburg Imperial Palace, its famous opera house or its horse carriages. It's also serious business and a cause of bittersweet rivalry and a dispute between its producers.