Schnitzelhaus ... a little bit of Austria in downtown Lethbridge

Team Schnitzelhaus - Devon and Omid

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Although the Schnitzelhaus is a relatively new business to downtown Lethbridge, fast-food schnitzel restaurants are quite common in Austria - catering to their love for this tasty dish. The Schnitzelhaus' owner, Omid, brought the idea to Canada from Austria, where he lived for 12 years.

Schnitzel is a traditional Austrian dish and is a popular part of Viennese and Austrian cuisine. Schnitzel consists of a thin slice of meat coated in flour, egg wash, breadcrumbs, which is then fried. Variants of this popular dish are common around the world. Sshhnit-tsel ... that’s all there is too it. No tricks. No silent letters. Surprisingly, it even sounds the way it's spelled.

In Austria, the dish called Wiener Schnitzel (Viennese Schnitzel), is traditionally served with a lemon slice, lingonberry jam and either potato salad or potatoes with parsley and butter. While the traditional Wiener Schnitzel is made of veal, it is now sometimes made with pork or chicken. When schnitzel is prepared using pork, it is often called Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein (Austria) to differentiate it from the original. In Austria, the term Wiener Schnitzel is protected by law, and any schnitzel called by that name has to be made from veal.

Omid has put his own 'Canadian' twist on the traditional Austrian schnitzel and offers it to his customers in a variety of different combinations using either pork or chicken cutlets - Cordon Bleu (with ham and cheese), Hawaiian Cordon Bleu (with ham, cheese and pineapple), Emmentaler (cheese schnitzel), Rio Grande Cordon Bleu (with double ham and cheese); the popular Puzsta Cordon Bleu (with salami, cheese and red peppers) and Bauern Cordon Bleu (with bacon, onion and cheese). Although you can order your schnitzel on a plate with traditional mashed potatoes and a lemon slice, you can also opt to have it on a bun with french fries or poutine.

The next time you're in downtown Lethbridge and your looking for something a little different, make sure to check out the Schnitzelhaus located next to the Pita Pit (across from beautiful Galt Gardens Park) - 303 - 6th Street South. The Schnitzelhaus also offers home delivery service - call (403) 942-1500.

'Tour the World' at Ten Thousand Villages in Downtown Lethbridge

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Ten Thousand Villages is located in the heart of downtown Lethbridge on historic 'Round Street', in a beautifully renovated space next door to one of downtown Lethbridge's most popular meeting spots - The Penny Coffee House.

The newly renovated space, completed in 2008, provides customers with a warm and inviting atmosphere that's ideal for showcasing their wide selection of products. Customers are treated to a store that is filled with the vibrant colors, scents and textures of fairly-traded, uniquely handcrafted products that their non-profit organization has gathered from around the world. Their friendly and knowledgable staff take great delight in taking customers on a 'tour of the world' and inform them about fair-trade products and how it positively affects the lives of their many artisans and producers.

A history of helping artisans - Ten Thousand Villages began in 1946 when Edna Ruth Byler, a Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) worker, visited volunteers in Puerto Rico who were teaching sewing classes in an effort to help improve the lives of women living in poverty.

From this trip, Edna brought several pieces of embroidery home to sell to friends and neighbours. The pieces became quite popular and she soon added cross-stitch needlework from Palestinian refugees and hand-carved Haitian woodenware to her inventory.

In the early 1970s, the flourishing project moved out of Byler’s basement and became Selfhelp Crafts, an official MCC program. Thousands of loyal customers and volunteers have helped to build this program into the strong alternative trading organization that, in 1996, became known as Ten Thousand Villages.

Commerce with a conscience - Men and women around the world have a simple dream – to earn an honest living, provide a home, food and education for their children, and to be gainfully employed in a job that brings dignity and joy. Ten Thousand Villages partners with thousands of talented artisans in a healthy business relationship.

Often referred to as ‘Fair Trade,' their philosophy of helping to build a sustainable future is based on the principle that trade should have a conscience. Through Fair Trade, artisans receive respect, dignity and hope from working hard and earning fair value for their work.

Ten Thousand Villages is a Fair Trade Organization (FTO). FTOs are non-governmental organizations designed to benefit artisans, not to maximize profits. They market products from handicraft and agricultural organizations based in low-income countries, providing consumers with products that have been fairly purchased from sustainable sources.

Their beliefs guide their business - Ten Thousand Villages is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), a global network of Fair Trade Organizations. WFTO’s mission is to improve the livelihood and well-being of disadvantaged producers by linking and promoting Fair Trade organizations and speaking out for greater justice in world trade. Over 270 FTOs in 60 countries form the basis of this network.

Ten Thousand Villages is located at 329 - 5th Street South. For more information, contact the store at (403) 327-8077 or visit them online at www.tenthousandvillages.ca.

Painted Cottage ... your first stop in downtown for unique giftware and home decor!

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Painted Cottage started out with a simple mission - to build and sell custom-made furniture pieces that incorporated vintage reclaimed wood, glass and hardware. Husband and wife, Neil and Sandra Hahn, opened their business in Lethbridge Centre in 2003. Although their custom designed furniture is still very popular with customers, their business has developed into much more than what they originally planned on. Today, the store is one of downtown Lethbridge's favorite destination locations, catering to discriminating shoppers looking for unique gifts and home decor.

They recently made the move from Lethbridge Centre to 320 - 6th Street South. Their new store offers great storefront visibility and it's spacious, open-design is ideal for showcasing their extensive selection of product lines such as Willow Tree sculpture, Bearington Baby Collection, Marie Collection, Espe, LUG, Gourmet Village, The Cocoa Room, World Traveler Bracelets, Gourmet Village and many, many more.

Next time you're in downtown Lethbridge make sure to stop in at Painted Cottage. Neil and Sandra pride themselves on offering exceptional customer service and one of the widest selections of gifts and home decor in southern Alberta. For more information, visit their website at www.paintedcottage.org or call them at (403) 394-1704. Painted Cottage - #320 - 6th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta