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.