After a while, we looked for some things to do as a group to build up team spirit and use that as a "pre X Mas celebration". We had a cooking course, drove Segways in the mountains and went on a Scavenger hunt. To come up with an idea that interests a group of more than 20 people is not so easy.
Frankfurt´s Bahnhofsviertel (Station area), the area that begins on the other side of Frankfurt Central Station - not including it - had a bad reputation for so many years. Drugs, Sex and Violence.
About 15 years ago, it started from the inside to build a better reputation. Business owners, Shop keepers tried to include the locals in revamping their turf. Now a lot of small shops, restaurants and bars are located here. The social workers helped the still going drug addicts with special rooms and medical help, the brothels tried to get the crime rate down.
Now a lot of hip joints with special food are located here. Some are of the "Speak easy" kind. Not much advertising or bling, just the understated way of presenting good food and drinks.
Eat the world tours help the local communities by touring with interested people and tourists though owner help properties and local shops. Some are so closed off the main routes, you would not find them on your own.
But not only food is the interest of Eat the World Tours, you get interesting information about the place and its history.
Now I know, the the Frankfurt Central Station has nothing to do with the Bahnhofsviertel. Before the Central Station was build in 1888, there were 3 small train stations just in that area. 3 different train lines ended there.
Now finally the food of our trip.
The first stop was a Speak Easy Pizza Joint: Pizzeria Montana - the name originates from Tony Montana (movie Scarface).
You will get only and only Pizza here. Neapolitan Style baked in a Stefano Ferrara oven.
Nearly as good as the pizza I ate in Naples.
Next stop was the Turkish bakery Central Pastanesi. They are famous for their Baklava with the best Turkish pistachios from the Antep region. It is in the hallway of a mosque.
Sticky sweet Baklava to taste.
Third place was an Iranian restaurant Babam. They are well known for their great Meze. We had some super tasty dips, warm bread and salad and lots of fresh herbs.
Next we went to a small Afghan supermarket. They sell all kinds of dried fruits and pulses, rice and tea directly imported from Afghanistan.
We tasted dried Mulberries, raisins, chickpeas, apricots and different nuts.
We went to the new redeveloped Kaiserpassage. A lot of Indian shops selling clothes, food and other stuff are in the passage. It is like a little trip to India without the cows.
A vegetarian pastry filled with potatoes, peas and onions with lots of cumin and fenugreek was served warm here. Very good. The market sells all kinds of Indian food items and you can buy packages and jars of food here.
When you stay out all night and get hungry, there was not a lot to go to. A former doorman of one of the man only walk in brothel houses wanted to make it easier to get some food after a long night.
He opened the Curry Wurst Taunus 25 shop just around the corner of his former work place.
He serves local produced sausages with lots of good sauces and great fries.
We tasted 4 different kind and some fries with mango chutney sauce on top.
We came to the end of our tour after more than 3 hours. The final stop was one of the best ice cream shops in the area.
Fontanella - I had a scoop of Fig and Walnut Ice Cream and did not take a picture.
I can highly recommend a tour like this, if you are interested in some local specialities outside the main stream.
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