I'm thinking about a Sout' Side Sausage cookoff in the spring

Spring? What? Why not now? You mean you guys don't cook outdoors all year round? Ah, one of the benefits of living in SoCal!

However, we don't have the great food, and good sausage is hard to come by out here...and when it does...yikes, $6/lb for my favorite italian sausage, from a place that is named and owned by relatives of the Sabatino family from Chicago. SImply the best sausage I've ever had.

That being said, I'm keeping a list of some of these places and look forward to trying them out sometime...I've already got mom heading to check out Morini's!

I am happy to report that Hungry Hill Sausage has FINALLY opened in Homewood.

Hungry Hill is owned by the son or the grandson (I've heard two different stories) of the owner of the former Specialty Shop in Chicago Heights. It is supposed to be the same recipe. I had some grilled sausage on Saturday at the Hungry Hill booth at Homewood Days, but wasn't sure if it tasted the same to me or not. The big test will be tonight or tomorrow, when we grill our fresh sausage on our own grill.

A former employee of my mother was standing behind me in line at the grocery store Monday evening. She told me she purchased sausage late Monday morning for dinner. By the time she arrived, they were out of everything except their fennel sausage. She thought it was outstanding and will definitely be back for more.

I'll report back when I've had a chance to get to the store and see what else they are selling.

Suzy

thick wrote:The owners of my two favorite sources of Italian Sausage have retired. Zanoni's in Maywood (after 76 years) and Cairo in Oak Park (after 44 years) are no more. I have not been overwhelmed by the new sources I've tried lately. If you have a go to place for Italian Sausage, I'd love to hear about it. I live in the Oak Park area, but I will travel for the good stuff. Thanks.

There's a place quite close to you that makes good sausage: D'Andrea & Sons in the plaza at Cermak and Harlem. Don't know if this is one of the "new" sources you've tried.

Well, last night we made it to Hungry Hill. They close at 6 on weeknights, and when we walked in it was about ten minutes to 6. We ordered a couple of pounds of sausage, the hot italian and the fennel. They offer 4 types of sausage daily: mild italian, hot italian, fennel and polish sausage. There is also a freezer in the corner with meatballs and sausage patties available. While we were there, about six more customers ran in the door to purchase from them before they closed for the evening. In addition to the sausage they have hamburger meat and a selection of italian deli meats. They also sell the Marconi bread that Rene G. didn't care for, and a selection LaBriola breads. Most of the shelves (and there aren't that many) were pretty bare -- there was a selection of giardinara and several types of canned tomatoes and some peppers, but that was about it. As I understand it, they are primarily selling their sausage to a number of other establishments and restaurants. I don't think they want to be in the Italian grocery business, as the Specialty Shop was.

So, on to the sausage. My hubby cooked it on the grill and it was terrific. The fennel was better than I remembered, and I had a few bits of the hot. It was really hot, but you could still taste the sausage and not just the pepper. We will have to try the mild and the polish another evening.

It was very disconcerting for me to go into what was once my family's business and not see one thing that looked familiar, as they gutted the building to the walls and absolutely nothing was the same. I should note that my family was not in a food related business, but it was very odd, nonetheless. I hope the space is as successful for Hungry Hill as my parent's store was for them.

Hungry Hill Sausage Co.
18217 S. Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL 60430

Suzy

Thanks for the report,Suzy. I'll be checking it out very soon. Here's an article today from the Southtown...

Feed appetites with Southland sausage
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/business/ ... Z2.article

RecentlyI had a side by side taste test of the fantastic sausage options in the South suburbs.
The entrants were Hungry Hill's Fennel and Mild,D&D's mild,and Dalsanto's mild.

The clear winner was Hungry Hill Fennel. Outstanding!! The best sausage I've ever had. Perfectly spiced with a strong flavor of fennel.

A really close second was D&D's which has a very strong presence of garlic and very spicy overall. This is the only sausage they sell on a daily basis but the counter woman informed me that they would make special blends, 5# minimum,but on the weekends they would sell a lesser quantities.

3rd place went to Hungry Hill's mild. Heavily spiced and extremely flavorful.

4th was DalSanto's mild,which compared to the other entrants, just wasn't as heavily spiced which is more to my liking. A good sausage overall,nonetheless.

As a comparison yardstick for the North siders my previous favorite Italian sausage was the Barese Sausage at Bari Foods.

Hungry Hill Sausage Co.
18217 S. Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL 60430

D & D Food Shop
1023 S Halsted St
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 755-1520

Dal Santo's Sausage & Catering
One-half mile west of IL 394
976 E. Steger Road
Crete, IL 60417
(708) 367-0070

Bari Foods
1120 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 666-0730
(312) 666-0730

I grew up in Chicago Heights and went to school with Guido Damiani who learned to make sausage from his father Derno the patriarch of D&D foods. Guido makes many fantastic types of sausage and has made a type for me for 30 yrs that is Italian but the Greeks also make a variety similar. Ask Guido to make the "No fennel - orange peel - garlic and chili pepper sausage , that johnny b , has him make " he can make it as "HOT" as you want ! I now live a few blocks from Bari foods on the west side and Frank & Ralph will also make you different varieties , try their Barese and cook on low heat ! I have to go back to the kitchen because I'm making lamb,pork,and pancetta sausage right now.

When you go to D&D's ask Guido for one of his marinated chickens that is wrapped in proscuitto. Roast that baby for 1 hour and prepare to make a killer sauce from the pan drippings because Guido stuffs that baby special.

If you are in the Melrose Park area, you should try Danny's Cafe and Deli (15th and Division). They have what people in the area would call "Foodtown sausage" (a local grocery store, since changed hands). The Deli has a managed to get the Foodtown owner (also owned Don's in Westmont), and they are producing the recipe. It is pretty good.

Article in today's Sun-Times lists restaurants that serve Hungry Hill Sausage.
I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with any of them.
Hungry Hill Sausage Co.
18217 S. Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL 60430

Country House, 5400 W. 127th, Alsip, (708) 389-4618

High Dive Bar and Grill, 1938 W. Chicago, (773) 235-3483

Tender Trap Bar and Grill, 109 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, (708) 755-1134

Skyline Restaurant, 1016 Dixie Hwy., Chicago Heights, (708) 755-1118

Francesca's Fortunato, 23 Kansas, Frankfort, (815) 464-1890

Lassen's Tap, 2131 W. 183rd, Homewood, (708) 957-2220

Mamma & Me Pizza, 18219 Dixie Hwy., Homewood (708) 799-7770

Shannon's Landing, 192nd and Burnham, Lansing, (708) 418-1467

Paul E's Place, 11116 Front, Mokena, (708) 479-2333

Jolt N' Joe's, 3215 Union, Steger, (708) 755-3330

Sandwiches Etc., 3314 Holman, Steger, (708) 754-3700
http://tinyurl.com/2qdn8m

I've dined at several: Country House, Lassen's (right across the street from my house), Mamma & Me and Skyline. Country House is a greek-owned coffee-shop type place, Lassen's is really a bar that serves food, Mamma & Me is a pizzaria (they are the landlord for Hungry Hill -- they bought the building from my parents!) and Skyline is another greek or italian owned breakfast and lunch place. PaulE's Place was recommended to me by a former co-worker and I think it is the most upscale dining of the bunch. We have not made it there yet. Shannon's Landing is the restaurant/bar at the Lansing Airport. The woman who cuts my husband's hair bartends there on Friday nights. She says it is good and I know they have live music most weekends.

The other night we grilled some tri-tip from Costco. Since my youngest does not really like to eat meat (something about the texture) but will eat sausage, my husband picked up some of the polish sausage for her from Hungry Hill. That was the only sausage they make that we had not yet tried. It was very good, nearly as good as the homemade stuff my friend Charlie's mom used to make and sell at their mom-and-pop grocery store in Dolton.

Suzy

PizzaHolic67 suggested George Nottolli which I assume is The Original Nottoli & Son on Belmont, which I have not tried but plan to do so soon. I have been going to Nottoli Italian Foods on N Harlem. What are some other recommendations for Italian sausage? It would be a plus to be able to order in bulk ( not in the casing, for pizza ).
Also looking for pepperoni sources.

how "bulk" are you talking ?

Paulina Market sells italian sausage without casing but I'm not particularly fond of it. I'm sure Bari would make some sans casing if you asked.

tem wrote:how "bulk" are you talking ?

Paulina Market sells italian sausage without casing but I'm not particularly fond of it. I'm sure Bari would make some sans casing if you asked.

Encased might be slightly more expensive than bulk but if you had to cut it out of the casings yourself, it wouldn't be that difficult. Just use the tip of a sharp knife to slit the casings and slide the sausage right out.

=R=

If you're ever up in the Northern Burbs Poeta's meat market can also satisfy your Italian sausage cravings in Highwood. They also have all kinds of incredible Italian specialties and great sandwiches as well.

Poeta's Market
520 Green Bay Rd
Highwood, IL 60040
(847) 432-3037

I also heartily endorse the earlier rec for Minelli's in Niles.

Hungry Hill is closed.

Suzy

Any word on if another local bought the recipe from Hungry Hill for the Specialty Shoppe's sausage? Have to find that particular sausage. I don't even care if I have to have it flown in from AZ. I just need some way to get it! lol

Sometimes life takes me to Da Heights and when it does I like to roll around and see whats still there. Last time I was way down south on Halsted I ran across D&D Foods which I was told I needed to hop on into by an associate of mine from around there. He knows I like to get to the old school Italian spots that still remain around and he's sent me to a few I've enjoyed so I made sure to pull into their lot and stop inside. It's also got it's own thread HERE.


Chicago Heights

Looked nice and old school from the outside and the sign displaying fresh sausage had me knowing I'd at least be leaving with some of that as I walked in. An old (I assume) husband and wife team were working there and very helpful with anything I needed. They have a pretty nice selection of Italian groceries and I got some San Pellegrino blood orange and grapefruit six packs to go (good mixers). They also have a bunch of imported cheese and deli meats incl. a homemade Italian roast beef. I opted for some sausage and got both their homemade link's and some patties too which they offer fresh alongside the links. It seemed like a no brainer what was for dinner the next day.

The Freddy Heads North


What you'll need

- Italian Sausage patties
- Loaf of French bread
- Bottle of marinara sauce, heated thru and warmed
- Slices of Mozzarella
- Bell peppers, sliced and sauteed
- garlic/butter/herbs mix for garlic bread (optional)
- Giardiniera or other hot pepper mix (optional)

Directions and making of the sandwich are pretty damn easy. Start off by baking the garlic bread until ready if your going to make it a "deluxe". Then grill the sausage patties until they're done. Set your broiler to high. Take the patties and place on an oven safe serving tray and then top them with the warm marinara sauce* followed by the strips of sauteed bell peppers and last but not least, the slices of cheese. Place the tray in the oven under the broiler and let it sit until cheese just starts to brown. Take it out, cut it accordingly and top with hot peppers if you like 'em on yours.

* I just used a bottle from the fridge which I threw into a pot where I sauteed some diced onion with butter in and then mixed it all together and warmed it thru.


Step by Step Picture Guide for those who cant read


Freddy Sandwich at home

Wow thanks for posting about Johnny G's. This place has escaped me entirely. Its got great reviews and is not far from me. I will have to try it.

Tops on my list right now:

1a)
Sausage by Rosario
8611 S. Pulaski
Chicago, IL.





from the grubseker:
http://grubseeker.blogspot.com/2012/03/ ... go-il.html


for the non-Chicagocentric:

1b)
CP Meat Market
1312 N. Cedar Road
New Lenox, IL.

a thread:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=34317&hilit=new+lennox

I can see a two-fer in my immediate future. A trip to Vito and Nick's, with a hop over to Rosario's after the pizza.

Ya know, I've literally passed by that Rosarios thousands of times (one of the greatest neon signs in Chicago) and have always wondered about their sausage, but somehow never got around to popping in. I seriously need to change that.

Not sure if Rosarios is still open. As I posted this past December the owners are retiring and have no plans to sell the business to anyone including family members.

viewtopic.php?p=399563#p399563

Phil wrote:Not sure if Rosarios is still open. As I posted this past December the owners are retiring and have no plans to sell the business to anyone including family members.

viewtopic.php?p=399563#p399563

Posted this on LTH and elsewhere(january openings/closings thread, the signage thread, & my blog linked upthread.)

When i talked to the owners they told me they were no longer closing.

still around, still my favorite:

I love the neon meat grinder sign!

Rosario's great Italian sausage and equally great neon sign are no secret (or at least they shouldn't be).





After being unavailable for many years, Rosario's T-shirts are back in stock, fairly priced at $10 for a good quality shirt.



Wear it proudly.

Rosario's Italian Sausage
8611 S Pulaski Rd
Chicago
773-585-0660