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Readers Corner is a bookstore that houses English reading material. YAY! For the many English speaking foreigners that have recently moved to Frankfurt this is great news! Literature and books that are published in english are few and far between in Frankfurt so Readers Corner conveniently fills the need for our particular niche.

They have a wide variety of books ranging from Business to Philosophy and anything else in between. They also have a wonderful display of magazines and journals that would surely hold your favourite. Christine Zeinz, one of the store's owners is happy to be able to provide Frankfurt's growing English Speaking Community, both native and second language, this venue, which is located right next door to the Turmpalast , the English Cinema Theater.

You can browse through the Reader's Corner collection and rest your feet while sitting on their comfortable yellow chairs while enjoying a cup of coffee. If you don't see what you want, you can always ask the ladies and they will do their best to deliver your request to you or you can pick it up at the bookstore.

Readers Corner welcomes businesses, events and organizations that would like to reach the English Speaking community of Frankfurt, to post their messages on a designated wall, just ask them first.

This is truly a special place for those people wishing to obtain reading material in English.

Readers Corner
Stiftstrasse 36
60313 Frankfurt

Tel: 069.36 60 59 34
Fax: 069.36 60 59 38
Email: Readers-Corner@gmx.de

What does Schreiber, Sausage and Die Kleinmarkthalle have in common? A Twenty-five year relationship with the City of Frankfurt! Tucked away along the entrance corridor of Frankfurt’s small market hall, on the right hand side, is a tiny stand at the end of a line of butcher shops. From 8 am until 6 pm at night the line of people in front of this tiny stand never ends. What are they lining up for?

Sausages! Schreiber is known for having the best sausages in Frankfurt and the long line-up of people should be proof enough. “Warme und Kalte” serving Krakauer, Fleischwurst, Gelbwurst and Rindswurst” with or without bun and mustard are the only things that the Schreider Stand sells. 100 grams of delicious sausage costs only 1,30 € with an extra 30 cents for a bun. Although the line tends to be quite long, twenty people at a time I counted, it moves remarkably fast. Judging from the many times I’ve participated in the line-up, no one in the line would dare to walk away no matter how much in a hurry they were. And once you’ve tasted the sausages at Schreiber, you wouldn’t either.

Frau Isle Schreiber has been manning the sausage stand at Die Kleinmarkthalle for over 25 years. She has faithfully opened up the stand early in the morning, preparing the sausages for the early morning crowd and then staying late to clean up. She has once told a reporter that she spends her entire day at the stand, having only Sundays to rest.

I’ve walked all over the market hall and there is not one stand that pulls the same amount of people as the Schreiber stand. It’s almost like a ritual or a rite of passage. If you’ve lived in Frankfurt long enough or have been privy to have stumbled upon one of Frankfurt’s little gems, the ritual line-up is a meditative experience. Imagine slowly walking up to the counter, where Frau Schreiber greets you with a warm smile asking you what it is you would like.

You then state your order and like clockwork or a well oiled machine, a small paper tray is placed on the counter, mustard is dabbed at a corner and a bun on a napkin is placed at its’ side (that’s if you ordered a bun). Then Frau Schreiber personally handles each sausage, taking it from the large steaming bin, cutting it, weighing it, peeling it (if that is your preference) and then wrapping the 100 gram sausage with a piece of wax paper. She then lays it out on the small paper tray for you to take after you pass over your money.

Frau Schreiber is often seen with a partner but there have been times when I had visited only to find her alone at the stand. If you love sausages or meat for that matter, a visit to Frau Schreiber’s stand is a must if you are in Frankfurt’s City Centre. Just ask where Die Kleinmarkthalle is, walk through the automatic doors and proceed directly forward until you see a long line of people in front of a tiny stand at the end of a line of butcher shops.

Ilse Schreiber
Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt am Main
A tiny stand in the line of butcher shops
Hasengasse 5-7
60311 Frankfurt am Main

Open:
Monday - Friday from 8 to 18 pm
Saturday 8 - 16 pm

I LOVE Italian Food. Houston, Tx is hardly a city that you’d think would have great Italian Food but it is.

I’ve been to some of the best Italian Restaurants in Houston and this is just one of them. It is not a 5 or 4 star restaurant but the food is amazing. The cook(s) are consistent, the service is great and the variety in the menu is just nuts!

I love a good antipasto plate and so far their antipasto plate is the best I’ve ever had. Mind you, these are the words of one who has NOT YET been to Italy. Until then, D’Amico’s is IT as far as antipasto plates go. (see photo with brown leather bear).

I would frequent this place that lies in the heart of Rice Village about 3 times a week. Parking sucks though because there are so many other restaurants, cafes and shopping places in that area that you might have to drive a few times in order to get a spot. Hey, it’s Houston.

The prices are above average but it’s worth it. I also have their Mussels with white wine, butter and garlic sauce along with the antipasto plate. You also get fresh Italian bread served with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkles of Parmesan Cheese. Easy on the bread though, you wouldn’t want to get too full before the REAL meal sits in front of you.

In the restaurant is a little market as well where you can get anything Italian. Fresh pasta, Parmesan, Meats, canned goods, biscotti etc … All their items are directly imported from Italy. I asked.

Ciao!

Taco Milagro is one of those pretentious places where all the rich people of Houston go to get Mexican Food. It’s really NOT Mexican Food but they make a good attempt at serving their dishes all pretty and colourful and just because they have a HUGE selection of sauces .. does NOT a Mexican Make.

I prefer their Tortilla Soup. The bowl is large and you can also fill yourself up with their FREE side orders of baked Tortilla Chips by the front counter. You also have a selection of like .. I dunno, 20 sauces?? I could be over dramatic again, but I really do think that there are 20 sauces.

The huge white umbrellas outside all surround this pseudo blue water area making you think you are sitting outside a patio in Cabo San Lucas. Then you hear the honking of the cars and loud trucks passing by on Westheimer and Kirby and that’s enough to snap you out of your day dream.

I like this place. Lots of my Mexican friends do not. My other American friends LOVE this place … go figure. It’s also a great place to watch attractive people. You know.. it IS Houston. Also, it is dog friendly so go ahead and bring your pooch. Just keep him out of the pool thingy in the middle.

The name says it all. The Dessert Gallery truly is a gallery of desserts. It the candy store for adults but of course, kids are always welcome. Their selection of muffins is crazy. Every imaginable colour and flavor with every imaginable topping. You can even choose what icing you want with what topping.

The toppings range from licorice, smarties, M & M’s, Banana slices, you name it they have it. They also serve coffee and refreshments of course.

I like going there just to take photos of the desserts. If I find more of my photos then I’ll upload them but for now, these will have to do.

Oh, you might miss the place. It is located at the back of Bed Bath and Beyond. There is ample parking so make sure you go behind and around until you see the sign and entrance. You wouldn’t want to miss THIS place.

Parlau is right. For any visitor coming to Frankfurt, riding the Ebbelwei Express is a MUST.

Fortunately for me, the group I went with didn’t have to pay, per se. We went with the AUGE Computer Club and the Club paid so I don’t know how much it WOULD be.

I suppose this experience let’s people know that you can rent an Ebbelwei Express Train for a party of group or whatever. We didn’t get served any drink or pretzels though. In fact, we were allowed to bring our own drinks (alcohol) and food. They also play this really cool old German Music that made me wish I had a pint of beer in my hand so that I could sway it to and fro.

The departure for the train is at the back of the Main Train Station across the tracks. There’s a sign with the picture of the train anyway. The ride is a 2 hr ride. Ours started at 10:15am and ended at 12:15.

The train makes two bathroom stops. One at the Frankfurt Zoo for 10 minutes, I think and the other in Sachsenhausen near Louisa Park. You get to see a great deal of Frankfurt too. The neat thing about our group was that those that knew Frankfurt were allowed to take the microphone and act like a tour guide.

Okay, this review is strictly based on the Sunday Lunch Buffet of which I thought was pathetic. Why, because the selection sucked.

Mind you, I’m the Buffet Queen so I KNOW Buffets, especially Chinese Buffets. I grew up in Toronto for goodness sakes and my last 11 years was spent in Texas, Houston and BELIEVE YOU ME, Toronto and Houston surely know how to do Chinese/Mongolian or whatever else Asian Buffet.

So, I tried the Mongolian fare. I slapped on some pieces of lachs (Salmon), shrimp, etc .. and carefully chose the sauce and vegetables. When I got my plate it was just one big brown mash. They did not even plate it well. My green vegetables were unrecognizable too. I was really disappointed. On the positive side, most of the people that I was there with ordered the single serving meals and WOW, I should’ve gotten that instead. The portions were big and the way they plated the food was really beautiful. Everyone that did NOT have the buffet were really satisfied.

The place in itself is pretty big and the large tables have a “lazy susan” so you can put the food on the platform and twirl away.

I must say though, that they DID have a large selection of fresh meats and seafood for Mongolian Grilling, the sad thing is, it would all turn out brown and no matter what sauce you put, they still add whatever sauce they used for grilling :-(

I had to visit the 'motherland’ last November 2008. No, not Africa, but Philippines - Cebu, to be exact. I was there to attend my mother’s book launch and I was so stressed not having wifi that I nearly keeled over. We stayed at the Cebu Marriott and the AYALA Center was just over the walkway. The mall closed at 9pm and I really needed to get me some wifi AFTER 9pm. The concierge said to try out Bo’s Coffee.

After walking what seemed like a mile in my heels I finally found the place and wouldn’t you know it, it was at the end of the walkway.

It was pretty quiet except for two or three other wifi freaks but I DID get access and I was happy. I asked what time they opened and they said 7am. WOW.

The next morning I returned and was surprised that at 7:30am it was nearly packed with people and their laptops! Heh! Who knew that Cebu had gone wireless. Seems to me the digital divide was closing in.

Well, I ordered a coffee. A regular coffee and not my usual Cappuccino. I didn’t expect anything from a coffee cup in the Philippines of all place but OH .. MY … GOD! I loved it.

I asked the girl at the counter what kind of coffee it was and she said, “Bo’s Coffee Mam.” Hahah, in the Philippines they either call you Sir or Mam. I’m not too sure I liked being called Mam but anyway. I rephrased my question and asked, “Where are the coffee beans from?” She looked at me really strange and said, “From the Philippines Mam.” Oh boy.

Then I asked her if I could see a bag of the coffee and she handed it out to me. YUP! It was coffee beans from the Philippines. After I freakd out I finally sat down and started googling the thing. Yup. Philippines produced their own coffee. HA! Who knew.

Seriously though, I love coffee and I have never tasted coffee like this before. I cannot explain it. It was strong but not strong. WOW, I’m really good.

It just seemed smooth to me, if you can call coffee being smooth. I wish I had gotten a bag to take back to Germany but when I went back the day before I left they said that they were all sold out!

Oh, and by the way, there are a LOT of Germans in Cebu. I thought that was kind of weird. So YES Virginia, Bo’s Coffee Club does have wifi. And outlets too! YAY!

So .. if you’re ever in the neighbourhoood of the South Pacific, stop by the Island of Cebu, find a Bo’s location (they are all over the Philippines) and have yourself a good cup of coffee and then tell me what you think.

Starbuck’s, Eat Your Heart Out!

The food here is really good. Isabel (Isabella, Ysabel), the owner really sees to it that everything is done well (when she’s around of course). She owns all the venues in this courtyard area. She also designs all the wedding gowns. I should be a paparazzi of some kind since I managed to sneak downstairs inside the Wedding Gown Boutique and snap a few photos. I’m sure Isabelle wouldn’t mind. Hey, it’s publicity.

Honestly though, when I first stepped into the little wedding boutique, it was like entering a fairy tale dream. But it’s a girl’s thing.

The gift shop I think, is really awesome. It has a great selection of little gifts, trinkets and cards. I love all the gift wrapping paraphenalia too.

Unfortunately, the place has no wifi but there is an outlet at the corner where the little wooden child’s table is. I usually sit there with my laptop to work.

However, I do NOT recommend going there to work just after the lunch crowd has cleared. Why? Well, because that is when they do the dishes and I kid you not, the dishwasher must be right behind that wall facing the entrance because after lunch all you hear is the loud clanging of the dishes when the staff is loading, unloading and putting away. It is really very annoying and I got a headache that time.

It does get packed for lunch since it seems to be a fave place for many of the office people that work around the Leipziger area.

Oh, and they also have a picture framing service. Alejandra is the lady to see if you want a picture framed. She often has student interns there so ask for Alejandra. You can’t miss her. She is this petite, dark-haired, dark-eyed, beautiful Italian girl.

Isabelle, the owner, is a large set lady. I tried making friends with her but that didn’t roll over to well. For one, I didn’t know German and she didn’t really know English and plus, the cafe was really busy and she was in a bit of a mood. I’d say a tad hormonal.

The next time I went there I tried making small talk. I ordered EXPRESSO and she glared at me and yelled, (to me it was a yell), “eSpresso”.

Man, she surely taught me never to say eXpresso again.

Oh, and another thing. The Cappuccino there sucks. It’s too watery and it seems as if you get more foam more than anything. It is also rather pricey for just mostly sipping foam. My opinion. The food is good though and if you love Chilli Con Carne like parlau and I do, then DO order yourself a bowl.

OMG! You just have to see this place. The view, the food, the view, the food …. well, you get the picture.

Imagine sitting enclosed in a glass patio overlooking a luscious vineyard where off to the distance lies the Rhein River! This place is really beautiful. The food is gorgeous and delicious too. It is pricey but it’s worth the whole experience.

I’m not too sure if the glass patio turns into an al fresco type thing when the weather gets warmer. I hope it does.

I’ve always thought that vineyards were romantic. I think it’s from the movie starring Keanu Reeves, “A Walk in the Clouds”. Keanu’s from Toronto by the way and my friend played hockey with him at Del LaSalle All Boys Catholic School :-)

Oh, and the wine is also very good. What do you expect when the vineyard is literally a few meters away!