I am in sausage nirvana

Thanks to:
Lalich Deli
4208 W. Lawrence
773-545-3642

L-R: Lovacka Kobasica (pork "hunter's" sausage, coarse-ground, very meaty, inedible casing), Sremska Liuta (pork, mild or spicy [I got the spicy] edible casing, very good and lingering flavor), and Goveda Kobasica (beef, dry, edible casing, somewhat like a pepperoni).



All made and smoked on-site.

The counterman patiently explained the virtues and features of each, and allowed as how everything was prepared "old country" style, preserved with no artificial preservatives, and smoked over a mixture of maple and other woods.

They all made it into my personal, um, if you'll permit me, top 20 list, with the Sremska Liuta in the top 5.

I made the mistake of taking the package to work, and into a crowded elevator. The aroma was so enticing that I was coerced into surrendering half of my meaty haul to strangers.

Cheers,
Wade

There's another Lalich's at 8133 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, 847-581-1120.

Granpa's Deli on Irving Park west of Forest Preserve also makes a very good Lovacka Kobasica in house.

I was driving up Milwaukee Ave. this afternoon when I spotted Lalich Deli. What a great place! The owner, Zoran, is knowledgeable and passionate about smoked meats and his home made sausage. I picked up some smoked pork butt, and several different salamis. Excellent quality and delicious. They also roast lambs and pigs, but as it was close to closing time on Sunday, the pickings were slim. I'll definitely be back.

Lalich Deli
8133 N. Milwaukee
Niles, IL
847.581.1120

Tue - Fri 10am-7pm
Sat 9am-6pm
Sun 9am-2pm

For the last week, I have been working my way through a couple of slabs of the Lalich family's wonderful smoky (and salty) bacon. It is amazing. They make it in an extra lean and a regular variety. Both styles are very good for different purposes. I just made a BLT from the lean bacon, and it was fantastic. I have used the more fatty style as an ingredient in several dishes including fried potatoes, chicken in wine and stuffed trout. In fact, I have been going a little overboard adding bacon to everything, but it makes most dishes so much better. Besides, I don't ever cook with butter, so I much rather get my saturated fat quota in the form of delicious pork belly.