If you happen to have, say, a second edition Mastering the Art of French Cooking lying around on your bookshelf, as I do, you quickly realize that Julia Child was into butter. “Everything’s better with butter,” is almost a Julia quote, but the sentiment is correct nonetheless. I love butter, too.

Growing up in the U.S. Midwest, the maiden was always in our refrigerator. Salted or unsalted. None of that fake oil spread, vegan-soy schmear crap that clogs up the modern grocery store shelves ever crossed our home’s threshold. Why the Indian maiden to sell butter? I have no idea. All I know is that the design was created in the 1950’s by an Ojibwe artist.
Here in Austria, buying butter is just not that simple. The other day at the grocery I paused as usual in the dairy section.  Decisions. First up, something called “Sommer Butter.” All I could learn is that Schärdinger cows eat fresh herbs and grasses, which contributes to a butter that is rich in vitamins and also more spreadable than conventional butter. This butter seems a little too complex for our morning toast.

Next to it, “Sonntags Butter” (Sunday Butter), made with sour cream and with a sharper taste.  I think it’s acceptable to enjoy any day of the week?

Another sour cream butter, but one that is particularly smooth owing to the maturation of the cream. I’m struggling to understand Austrian wines, and really do not have time for instruction in Austrian Butter. I am curious, though, when should one enjoy Fasslbutter? And, do Austrian people keep all these different butters in their itty-bitty refrigerators?

“Teebutter.” This is my Land O’Lakes. It has an Austro-Hungarian history (high-grade, sweet cream butter), and we all find it perfectly acceptable with toasted brown bread and marillen jam; as the basis for a fried or scrambled egg; or with roasted chicken and radish sandwiches for lunch. It is perfect.

Almost two years in and I’m still learning about my adopted country’s food. Though I have determined, be it Sommer, Sonntags, or Tee, “Everything’s better with butter.”