Our Grandmothers and Grandfathers

Our grandmothers and grandfathers are the sweetest ingredient of Vollpension. They bake, they talk, they bring generations together, right in the middle of the smell of freshly baked cake. Roughly half of our team is over 60: baking pros with heart, part of our service team, or grandmothers and grandfathers on duty. Each of them brings favourite recipes, life experience and a good portion of love.

 

This is how Vollpension makes visible every day what an intergenerational café and social business can achieve: more togetherness, less loneliness in old age, real encounters between the generations.

 

Here we introduce some of them to you. All the others can be found in a complete overview here.

Frau Marianne, granny on duty at Vollpension Vienna since 2016

Mrs. Marianne

born 1944 · joined 2016 · Granny on duty

For 40 years, Mrs. Marianne worked in the legal profession. Then came retirement, followed by another ten years working for a lawyer. On the side, she was a reading mentor at primary schools and read stories to children in bookshops. When Vollpension was looking for a granny who loves talking with guests in 2016, that was exactly the right thing for Mrs. Marianne, an enthusiastic amateur actress. She doesn’t bake, but she tells stories. In front of the camera, in the café, in interviews. Her heart now belongs to Vollpension.

 

My advice to my 20-year-old self

“Never bend yourself out of shape, stay true to yourself, be grateful and kind. That is the icing on life and it keeps the soul happy.”

Herr Bert, grandpa on duty at Vollpension Vienna since 2023

Mr. Bert

born 1951 · joined 2023 · Grandpa on duty

Mr. Bert is a native of Upper Austria and did his gastronomy training in Linz. His work took him far out into the world before he arrived back in Vienna. He found Vollpension himself, through his daughter, who studied here. Whenever he visited her, they would always come to us. “This is my kind of place,” he already knew back then.

 

Favourite cake: the Linzertorte. For Mr. Bert, it is the sweetest ambassador of his home town.

 

My advice to my 20-year-old self

“Don’t take things too seriously and take more risks. And don’t think too negatively, because otherwise you can’t really live positively.”

Frau Maria, baking grandmother at Vollpension Vienna since 2021

Mrs. Maria

born 1954 · joined 2016 · Baking grandmother

Mrs. Maria grew up in the countryside, and for her, Vienna was always the great freedom. She has worked in gastronomy her whole life, as a cook and as a waitress. At Vollpension, she can bake, try things out, exchange ideas. And she has met people here who have grown close to her heart. For Mrs. Maria, Vollpension means variety, skill and love for what she does.

 

Favourite recipes: Viennese pastries above all, in their full range.

 

My advice to my 20-year-old self

“Rely on your stamina and stay straightforward. That will carry you through life.”

Herr Johannes, baking grandfather at Vollpension Vienna since 2018

 

Mr. Johannes

born 1952 · joined 2018 · Baking grandfather

Mr. Johannes did his chef’s apprenticeship at a VIP restaurant on Vienna’s Höhenstraße, back when emperors, kings and world-famous celebrities were guests there. Afterwards he was a chef in Switzerland, in Spain and elsewhere, before spending the last years before retirement as executive chef in top Viennese hotels. On a walk to the Naschmarkt, he happened to come across Vollpension. Just wanted to have a quick look. That was eight years ago.

 

Favourite cake: the Sachertorte. You can find Mr. Johannes’ recipe here.

 

My advice to my 20-year-old self

“Think positive. You don’t need AI, you need brains and diligence on the job.”

Frau Kathrin, baking grandmother at Vollpension Vienna since 2017

Mrs. Kathrin

born 1957 · joined 2017 · Baking grandmother

Mrs. Kathrin is a certified nurse, comes from the countryside, and always had a great dream of travelling. She has fulfilled that dream many times over. Being part of Vollpension as a baking grandmother is something very special and extraordinary for her. No shift is like the other, and there are so many beautiful moments that you should actually write them down, so you can look back on them later.

 

Favourite cake: the Pariser Cremetorte.

 

My advice to my 20-year-old self

“Think positive. That is your greatest strength.”