Halina Seidl - by Nigel A JAMES
Queen
of Hearts!
When
Halina Seidl set off on her journey through life it wasn't so much
a question of going somewhere special, it was more a case of leaving
behind times that were no longer hers. Her native socialist Poland
had become far too slow for her dreams - and the west to where she
was going had moved on - and was flying, and Halina wanted to take
off as well.
Upon
arriving in Vienna and being prepared to do all that it took, she
soon got a job helping out in a kitchen. The small Viennese
restaurant was only too happy to give her a job - and they were not
to be disappointed. Within just a very short period of time Halina
was not only able to prove what a good worker she was, but, something
else, too.
The
cook had fallen ill, and without stopping to think, Helena put on an
apron and took-over the stove. And her meals were every bit as good
as the cook's. It seems that luck was more on the side of the
restaurant than on Helena's.
But
then the cook came back, she had got better! Halina was once again
scrubbing the floors and washing the dishes! But, not to worry, she
was sure that something much better was coming! And, it came quicker
than expected.
Luck
was now on Halina's side. A friend told her of a friend who was
giving up his sausage stand in Vienna's amusement park, the Prata.
And, would she be interested? She needed no time to think, and just
three days later it was hers! With just two and a half years to her
credit in Vienna she had her own little business. From now on, there
would be no going back to the dishes and floors!
And
her little sausage stand worked. Halina was just right for the
business. Friendly, caring, and listening are the perfect words to
describe her. And her guest, no matter what, are always important.
And these are the qualities that stayed with her when she took over
the small restaurant where she is now!
It's
by the side of the railway in Hietzing, a suburb of Vienna. Here
Halina has managed to combine a traditional Viennese sausage-stand at
the front with a restaurant at the back with its own exclusive simple
and functional style. And its atmosphere is great! This little
unusual eatery with its excellent Viennese cuisine has become a
lunch-time Mecca for people from all walks of life. No matter who
you are, no matter what you do, you are welcome! Helena makes
everyone feel special. For her guests she is the Queen of their
Hearts! And all because, a long time ago, she said goodbye to a
time that was no longer hers!
**
Helena Seidl's restaurant is in Vienna's 13th district in
the Hietzingerhauptstrasse where the railway crosses the road at the
end of the 58 tram! **
