Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessan

So this past Saturday was quite a remarkably good one.  I woke up early, went for a Mani/Pedi at Blueberry Moon Aveda Salon in Lincoln Park (I highly recommend it), and then was going to head to the Farmer's Market to pick up some tasty treats for us to celebrate Joe passing his first CPA test and to enjoy while watching the Michigan State vs Wisconsin game.  Unfortunately, the weather had other plans, and I was caught in a torrential downpour.  So I had to quickly reevaluate the situation.  I decided that I would head towards Joe's, in Lincoln Square, but hop off the Brown Line at Western, and hit up some of the specialty shops over there.  I had yet to be in Gene's Sausage Shop over on Lincoln, and obviously this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.  The minute I walked in the store I was in heaven.  Smoked and dried meats as far as my eye could see were hanging up in the window, and dangling from above behind the counter of the deli.  Not only did this shop have a plethora of  deli style meats to choose from, but fresh pork, beef, and chicken, along with an array of smoked animal parts (aka pork shoulders, bacon slabs, beef briskets).  It was a bit overwhelming!  I walked into a shop that not only had my tastebuds dancing, but was tweaking my memory banks from holidays past.  Basically we were talking about a whole bunch of my cultural heritage/holidays all wrapped up in one store!

I grabbed a number, and as I waited I grabbed a free sample of what they simply called "Snack Sausage".  I then proceeded to grab another sample, and yet another (did I mention that I had yet to eat anything that day except for a grande Pumpkin Spiced Latte from Starbucks, but it was the epitome of Autumn deliciousness).  So finally I was up to the plate.  The woman behind the counter couldn't have been more helpful, and patient.  First I HAD to order some of the Snack Sausage, which you could either buy one-one foot link or two-one foot links, of course I opted for two, which ONLY cost me a whopping $ 3.72.  Of course since I got the Snack Sausage I had to get some sort of cheese to go with, and was informed by one of the butchers in the back (who popped his head out while I asked about their favorite cheeses in the case) and proclaimed that I NEEDed to get the smoked gouda.  Oh and was he right!  I then bought some smoked, peppered, bacon, which they cut to my liking (thick for wrapping).  I ordered two bone in pork chops (to be wrapped by the smoked, peppered, bacon).  And then I hit the jack pot, about 10 different kinds of fresh Bratwurst.  I had never been offered these kinds of options, so had to have the poor woman explain the differences between, Sheboygan, chicago, hungarian, german, apple, etc etc (just to name a few).  I decided on three links (1lb) of the Apple and three links (1lb) of the Sheboygan (apparently very garlicy).  Finally, I found the icing on the cake, homemade pierogi (the sauerkraut was my choice of the day).   I then was about to grab some polish rye to have with our smoked gouda and sausage feast, when low and behold I found snack style small pumpernickel rye breads (which are very much elusive).    After picking up some Apple Cider, mushrooms, onions, garlic, butter, sour cream, Polish Pickles, along with GOOD dijon mustard I thought I was good to go.  Until I ventured upstairs and was hit by the wonders of specialty beers, wine, and liquor.  This store truly had everything!  I decided on a large bottle of Allagash White and headed to the checkout.  You might be thinking that I broke the bank with the amount of meats that I ordered, but boy would you be wrong.  My bill was only $70 dollars, and I bought enough food for at least 3 different types of meals, and then some.  Needless to say, when I walked in Joe's door he was more than ecstatic once he found out what was in the bags.  I told him that each time he passed one of his tests (he has to take four total) I would up the Ante in terms of foods/meals that I would make.

That day we enjoyed the Snack Sausage, cheese, rye breads, mustard, and pickles.  And drank the Allagash  in celebration of  another Spartan Victory (5-0 baby!).  Sunday I made Joe the pork chops wrapped in bacon, topped with a mushroom and apple wine sauce, and on the side were the sauerkraut pierogi's cooked in butter and onions, and served with sourcream.

I can confidently say this was a humdinger of a weekend for friends, football, and especially FOOD!