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History of Schnitzel

Schnitzel- the delicious, light, crispy delicacy is the main dish we serve here at the Metro. Many of our patrons are familiar with all the wonderful, tasty variations we serve, but what is a Schnitzel exactly? And what is the dish’s origins? The Eastern European dish has roots in Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Typically called wiener schnitzel, from its veal fillet style, at the Metro, we serve schnitzel in the traditional Czech style, where it’s called a rizek.

Possibly originating in Northern Italy (as cotoletta alla Milanese), the Schnitzel may have appeared in Vienna during the 15th or 16th century. It’s also believed that the Spaniards may have had an influence on the dish-the Spanish had seen the Moors prepare Schnitzel during the Moorish occupation, having brought the technique from Byzantine. According to yet another theory, it was introduced by Field Marshal Radetzky in 1857. The name “wiener schnitzel” was coined in 1900.

The Schnitzel is traditionally prepared from a thinly-sliced piece of pork tenderloin, which is further tenderized by pounding with a hammer, then successively dipped into, flour, eggs and breadcrumbs before being fried in oil. Sometimes the breadcrumbs are seasoned with freshly ground black pepper. This process, when done by hand, produces the most delicious Schnitzel. We make Schnitzel at the Metro from scratch, with the freshest ingredients, which is why it is worth the wait! It’s delicious with many side dishes and toppings, which is why we serve the variety we do-a mix of classic Czech sides, such as sauerkraut or red cabbage.

Originally a festive dish-in the 17th and 18th centuries, sometimes gold dust was mixed into the breadcrumbs to provide an extra golden, luxurious colour-it has become one of the most popular meals among Austrians and is now enjoyed at all kinds of occasions. There are many restaurants across the Czech Republic that serve mostly Schnitzel in the same way we do here at the Metro. No matter what Schnitzel you choose from our menu, we hope you truly enjoy this traditional dish as much as we enjoy serving it!

Schnitzel Is Our Specialty