Where can one buy chitterlings?

Where can one buy chitterlings?

I need to procure some chitterlings, and I'd prefer to buy them in a relatively small quantity (like a pound). I'd appreciate any hints people might have for where to find them.

In times past, I know I could have bought them at Moo & Oink, but that mini-chain is no more.

Pretty sure Peoria Packing has them.

I believe I've seen them at Fresh Farms in Niles.

Coogles wrote:I believe I've seen them at Fresh Farms in Niles.

That kind of surprises me, but thanks for the tip.

Neither Peoria nor Fresh Farms has chitterlings.

Ultra Foods on Roosevelt has 'em.
I'm pretty sure the smallest amout you can buy is like 5 lbs though, they come to the store frozen and prepackaged.

Just called Ultra. $8.99 for 5 pounds. I'll take it! Thanks, man.

David, I would also check your regular big box Dominick's or Jewel, and if not local, check south and westside city locations. I also don't ever recall seeing smaller than 5 lb buckets/pails for sale when I was growing up.

Assuming these are to be consumed, and this isn't just some prank gift offering they do need to be cleaned before cooking. It's a bit onerous but I think I still recall how to do it. The 1st step is to open all of the windows for all but the most acquiring of noses. I bet I still like the smell of them dirty. Can't take the country out of me, even if I won't eat them anymore.

Ava, they're no joke; I'm making them for real. Question: do they require additional cleaning even if advertised as "Triple Washed"?

David Hammond wrote:Ava, they're no joke; I'm making them for real. Question: do they require additional cleaning even if advertised as "Triple Washed"?

Good Lord Yes! They never say dirty on the bucket.

http://health.state.ga.us/archives/chitterlings.asp

Even those chitterlings sold as "pre-cleaned" need more rinsing and cleaning at home before they are cooked. While raw chitterlings are being cleaned, bacteria can easily spread to refrigerators, sinks, counter tops, cooking utensils and other foods, either directly or from the hands of the person who is cleaning the chitterlings. Touching a baby bottle, pacifier, or toy while preparing the chitterlings can spread the bacteria to infants and children.

Fair Share on Roosevelt would prolly have em.
I'd be surprised if any Jewel or Dom in OP didn't have them, but one pound? Maybe not.
And yes, you will need to clean them no matter what the container says. Washing is not the issue, it's the little "things" you have to pick off of the "meat" that's the issue. I remember chitlin cleaning was done the night before cooking, and the ladies would do this. It was a pretty long process involving the whole kitchen sink being out of commission for a good three hours, and plenty of schnapps spiked tea and gossip flowed freely. I would watch the little tv in the kitchen until I was "asked to leave" after the ladies got buzzed and didn't feel like holding their tongues anymore. Sometimes they would let me pick the little nit-like things off of the chitlins, but after a while, they'd tire of my half assed workmanship.

I'm wondering if the Mexican tinged markets sell them by the lb in the deli sections. Never checked.
You'll want to cook them outdoors, maybe in the garage if your neighbors are persnickety about foul odors in the hood (after parking the cars on the street.) Chitlins cooking in the crock on the back or side porch brings fond memories of N. Woodbine and N Euclid ave for me. I'm sure the neighbors called us "ghetto" behind our backs during chitlin cooking times, and we probably interrupted their nice Thanksgiving or Xmas dinner with the eau du intestine wafting through their windows.

They stink, and they're wrinkly, and gray, but damn if a bottle of simple hot sauce and a plate of long stewed chitlins ain't some good eats.

Holy crap seebee! I never had any desire whatsoever to eat chitterlings but damn if now I don't wanna try 'em!

zoid wrote:Holy crap seebee! I never had any desire whatsoever to eat chitterlings but damn if now I don't wanna try 'em!

It's the only animal dish I wish they'd come up with a vegetarian version since I don't eat animals anymore.

My grandma would make sure we'd have them, sometimes stretched with chopped maw for breakfast with rice and greens and biscuits and hot spiced applesauce and eggs and sausage when we'd get there. She would usually cook them earlier and freeze them then defrost for our arrival and heat through in her cast iron skillet.

pairs4life wrote:

zoid wrote:Holy crap seebee! I never had any desire whatsoever to eat chitterlings but damn if now I don't wanna try 'em!

It's the only animal dish I wish they'd come up with a vegetarian version since I don't eat animals anymore.

My grandma would make sure we'd have them, sometimes stretched with chopped maw for breakfast with rice and greens and biscuits and hot spiced applesauce and eggs and sausage when we'd get there. She would usually cook them earlier and freeze them then defrost for our arrival and heat through in her cast iron skillet.

Wrinkles stretched with maw for breakfast?
That is hardcore soul, and I would have been all over it.

zoid wrote:Holy crap seebee! I never had any desire whatsoever to eat chitterlings but damn if now I don't wanna try 'em!

Then you should come to the LTH picnic. For I will bring them there.

I figure if I'm buying five pounds and have to rinse all that, might as well get some mileage out of them.

David Hammond wrote:Question: do they require additional cleaning even if advertised as "Triple Washed"?

Mario's Butcher Shop (5817 W Madison) sells "the cleanest chitts in Chicago," as well as a couple other brands, presumably somewhat less pristine.



Pick up a raccoon or two while you're there.

pairs4life wrote:It's the only animal dish I wish they'd come up with a vegetarian version since I don't eat animals anymore.

Be careful what you wish for (see lower right).



That's an old photo from Hong Kong Market (2425 S Wallace).

David Hammond wrote:

zoid wrote:Holy crap seebee! I never had any desire whatsoever to eat chitterlings but damn if now I don't wanna try 'em!

Then you should come to the LTH picnic. For I will bring them there.

I figure if I'm buying five pounds and have to rinse all that, might as well get some mileage out of them.

Bro. David, you, or someone, is doing way, way, more than rinsing those chitterlings prior to serving them at the picnic. Don't forget the hot sauce, preferably the bottle of pickled peppers.

Rene G wrote:

pairs4life wrote:It's the only animal dish I wish they'd come up with a vegetarian version since I don't eat animals anymore.

Be careful what you wish for (see lower right).



That's an old photo from Hong Kong Market (2425 S Wallace).

The veg shrimp, isn't bad, although I'm way past the point of needing it in a bowl,of udon, but may try them in a shrimp fried-rice later this week.

Thanks Rene, I'm going to look for them!

I see them at the Tony's on Fullerton and Central Park. Also at the Cermak Produce at North and California (ish).

Rene G wrote:Mario's Butcher Shop (5817 W Madison) sells "the cleanest chitts in Chicago," as well as a couple other brands, presumably somewhat less pristine.

I'll be darned - I never knew Mario's was there.
Is it any good?

Rene G wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Question: do they require additional cleaning even if advertised as "Triple Washed"?

Mario's Butcher Shop (5817 W Madison) sells "the cleanest chitts in Chicago," as well as a couple other brands, presumably somewhat less pristine.

Excellent, I can bike there, and I'd gladly pay premium for 100% hand cleaned...though the John Morrel is a helluva deal, if deal's are what one is after.

I saw them a couple weeks ago at the Meijer in Cermak Plaza in Berwyn.

zoid wrote:

Rene G wrote:Mario's Butcher Shop (5817 W Madison) sells "the cleanest chitts in Chicago," as well as a couple other brands, presumably somewhat less pristine.

I'll be darned - I never knew Mario's was there.
Is it any good?

Mario's Butcher Shop, "The Heart & Soul of the West Side for 40 Years," seems to be one of Chicago's better inexpensive full-service butchers. Have a look and see what you think.



Note that loose chitterlings by the pound are advertised on the storefront.



Mario's has been selling every part of the animal, as well as underappreciated species, decades before it became fashionable. That's Mario and one of the meat guys posing with a bagged raccoon ("Yes, we always have coons and rabbits."). They even offered to behead it for no extra charge.

Mario's Butcher Shop
5817 W Madison St
Chicago
773-379-7757

Coming back from the city we stopped and got a five pound box of the "cleanest chits." Thanks for the heads-up, Peter.

Hi Dave,
I'm a little late here, but both Fairplay and Pete's Fresh Market, both of them South Side chains, always have them frozen in rather large containers.

Evil Ronnie wrote:Hi Dave,
I'm a little late here, but both Fairplay and Pete's Fresh Market, both of them South Side chains, always have them frozen in rather large containers.

I was going to chime in and say they're always in the frozen section at Pete's.

And, yes, even if they're "clean," clean them some more. The one time I made chitterlings, I followed that advice with "washed" chitterlings, and I still wished I had washed them more. I'm a guy who loves his tripe, but chitterlings are another level of stink if you don't get them as clean as you can. Although at $15.99 for five pounds, I'm guessing that Mario probably does a damned good job.

Binko wrote:another level of stink

Probably too short for a banner quote, but love it.

Was reviewing some chitterling files, and came across this photo of andouillette I tasted earlier this year in Lyon:



Edouard Herriot, a former mayor of Lyon, has provided a pertinent quote: "Politics is like an andouillette – it should smell a little like shit, but not too much."

So here's how I plan to cook them:

1. Clean 5 lbs chitterlings by pulling off fat and nasty bits
2. Cover with water in crockpot
3. Add 1 tsp. red pepper, 1/3 cup vinegar and salt
4. Cook 4 hours on “high”

If you've made chitterlings before, what do you think of this approach?

[My results will be published here and in Sun-Times "What To Do With" column]

Your lovely wife is either
a) unbelievably understanding and tolerant (that is to say even more wonderfully understanding and incredibly tolerant than I know her to be now)
Or
B) out of town

I would suggest purchasing a long, long extension cord and moving that crock pot to the furthest spot on your property that you can. Then pray for neighbors with a strong sense of humor or no sense of smell.

Good luck!!