What was this German not-sausage?
January 14, 2009 10:46 AM Subscribe
Trying to find a specific kind of German sausage...
Although I'm not sure sausage is what you'd call it, hence my problem.
A few years ago I got this amazing stuff from a German gourmet deli in the UK. I'm having trouble finding it again because I'm not sure how to refer to it. It definitely wasn't bratwurst or knockwurst or anything like that, because it wasn't soft. It was dry-cured ( I think) and more like a salami in style but it didn't taste like any salami I'd ever had...it was very thin, very hard, about an inch diameter if not less, and really dark- almost black.
Does this ring any bells? There are so many different ways of referring to these and I'm certainly not looking to find the exact same one again- it's more that I'd like to find out what the type is called so I know what to ask for.
Thanks!
Although I'm not sure sausage is what you'd call it, hence my problem.
A few years ago I got this amazing stuff from a German gourmet deli in the UK. I'm having trouble finding it again because I'm not sure how to refer to it. It definitely wasn't bratwurst or knockwurst or anything like that, because it wasn't soft. It was dry-cured ( I think) and more like a salami in style but it didn't taste like any salami I'd ever had...it was very thin, very hard, about an inch diameter if not less, and really dark- almost black.
Does this ring any bells? There are so many different ways of referring to these and I'm certainly not looking to find the exact same one again- it's more that I'd like to find out what the type is called so I know what to ask for.
Thanks!
Best answer: If it is Landjäger, Chowhound recommends ordering online from Bavaria Sausage.
You could also make your own.
posted by unsupervised at 11:14 AM on January 14, 2009
You could also make your own.
posted by unsupervised at 11:14 AM on January 14, 2009
If you're planning on making any sausage at all, the links in this post at Chowhound probably have you covered.
posted by unsupervised at 11:25 AM on January 14, 2009
posted by unsupervised at 11:25 AM on January 14, 2009
Response by poster: Oh fantastic, I think that's it! The one I had was a lot darker though- I wonder if it was venison.
I'm not nearly ambitious enough to make my own, but thanks so much for identifying this. I'll definitely be ordering some, I've been craving it for ages. Thanks, guys-
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 11:51 AM on January 14, 2009
I'm not nearly ambitious enough to make my own, but thanks so much for identifying this. I'll definitely be ordering some, I've been craving it for ages. Thanks, guys-
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 11:51 AM on January 14, 2009
Agreed that it was probably landjager. Sometimes you can find it at European delis or butcher shops in general.
posted by Gneisskate at 11:52 AM on January 14, 2009
posted by Gneisskate at 11:52 AM on January 14, 2009
It could also be Berliner Schinkenknacker, though I don't know if it's any darker...
posted by kolophon at 12:12 PM on January 14, 2009
posted by kolophon at 12:12 PM on January 14, 2009
I don't know where you are in the country/world, but you might try Dittmers Wurst-Haus in Mountain View, CA. They claim to not ship, but they will entertain specialty orders.
posted by plinth at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2009
posted by plinth at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2009
Response by poster: Crap, the Schinkenknacker also looks very similar. Is there a collective name for these, that would encompass both the things you guys have mentioned and other things like them? Looking through those might be my best bet.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 12:37 PM on January 14, 2009
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 12:37 PM on January 14, 2009
Best answer: My recommendation is this:
You are in zip code 10012. Go to Penn Station in NYC, take a train that'll take you to Secaucus Junction. From there, transfer to the New Jersey Transit Bergen County Line and go to the Radburn station. When you get off at Radburn, walk towards the Rite Aid you'll see, past it, and to the next major road (Plaza Road). Diagonally across the intersection of Plaza Road and Fair Lawn Avenue is a strip mall. Cross them both, and walk along the strip mall until you see the Swiss Pork Store.
They make all sorts of stuff. If you describe it to the men who work there, they will be able to set you up with it. It's not a long trip out of NYC.
You can also get all sorts of stuff (I recommend the frankfurters, the kielbase and the German Bologna. And the veal loaf, which you should microwave for about 30 seconds when you get it home for best taste. And they've got the only liverwurst I can actually eat.)
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/nj-dining-the-swiss-pork-store/ is a review of the place. My late grandmother lived in Radburn, and before she passed on I used to go over there a few times a week to help her and my uncle out, and I'd always stop and get something there to have for lunch, and it was so very good.
posted by mephron at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2009
You are in zip code 10012. Go to Penn Station in NYC, take a train that'll take you to Secaucus Junction. From there, transfer to the New Jersey Transit Bergen County Line and go to the Radburn station. When you get off at Radburn, walk towards the Rite Aid you'll see, past it, and to the next major road (Plaza Road). Diagonally across the intersection of Plaza Road and Fair Lawn Avenue is a strip mall. Cross them both, and walk along the strip mall until you see the Swiss Pork Store.
They make all sorts of stuff. If you describe it to the men who work there, they will be able to set you up with it. It's not a long trip out of NYC.
You can also get all sorts of stuff (I recommend the frankfurters, the kielbase and the German Bologna. And the veal loaf, which you should microwave for about 30 seconds when you get it home for best taste. And they've got the only liverwurst I can actually eat.)
http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/nj-dining-the-swiss-pork-store/ is a review of the place. My late grandmother lived in Radburn, and before she passed on I used to go over there a few times a week to help her and my uncle out, and I'd always stop and get something there to have for lunch, and it was so very good.
posted by mephron at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2009
Was the sausage round or rectangular shaped? Landjager is traditionally pressed into a long rectangle.
posted by TungstenChef at 1:05 PM on January 14, 2009
posted by TungstenChef at 1:05 PM on January 14, 2009
Best answer: Call the wonderful folks at Usinger's Sausage in Milwaukee. They will almost certainly be able to determine what kind of meat you are thinking about (and sell you some as well). As their website says, they've been around for a long time and make some wonderful food.
I'm not affiliated with them other than being from Milwaukee.
posted by yellowbkpk at 2:10 PM on January 14, 2009
I'm not affiliated with them other than being from Milwaukee.
posted by yellowbkpk at 2:10 PM on January 14, 2009
Response by poster: I will do that. Thanks to all of you! I will eventually have a meat feast in your honor.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 3:32 PM on January 14, 2009
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 3:32 PM on January 14, 2009
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posted by thatbrunette at 10:59 AM on January 14, 2009