Matjes herrings

Reading Gary's post about herring in potato salad got me to sighing to myself in regret, and then thought maybe some of you might help me.

A couple of weeks ago while visiting in Sacramento I spent a couple of very happy hours in Koreana Plaza supermarket, a fabuluous store with everything anyone might want from Korea. And another somewhat odd line: there were many Georgian and Armenian goods there too, and, talking to one rep from each of these ethnicities in the check-out line, it appears that there's a large enough local population for the store to make a profit.

Cut to the chase: in the cooler were 3 or 4 varieties of tubbed herring, and I can read enough of that regional talk to see that one of the tubs contained matjes herring. I grabbed one, took it back to the hotel, and ate that sucker (so to say) down to the last scale on the tail.

It was NOT one of those waaay-over-vinegar'd herring we're used to. Very mildly preserved, fat and juicy and almost like, well, a real matjes like we'd find in the Oude countrie.

But I neglected to save the label, and now can't remember what it was called. Any hints, suggestions, commiserations?

These were certainly the best matjes I've ever had on this side of the Atlantic.

Duh. Can't believe I blew the opportunity so badly...

Geo

Hi,

There are some Swedish products that may have what you are seeking:


The can in the upper right is Matjes herring. Jars to the left are Swedish herring. The tubes below are creamed smoked roe. (Sorry for the bleary photo)


Salmon paste:


These products came from Hagen's Fish Market in Chicago. According to Bridgestone many of the same products can be obtained at IKEA, which might be in your vicinity.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Tnx C2--I've never tried the Swedish products [ABBA, indeed!] so I'll try IKEA this weekend.

But I'm doubtful--most of the tinned herring I've had were really processed. That's what was so great about this one--very lightly processed, almost like the real thing.

Geo

Kuhn's Delicatessen in Deerfield has some German ones.
I believe the brand was Richter and it was vacuum sealed rather than tinned.

Geo, I like IKEA for the food
The Abba products are great - see this post, the 'traditional' flavor herring I didn't care for too much - a touch too pickled, but the one in the cream sauce was great (pictured in post linked) and I can't put a finger on it but bizarrely I like the 'curry' flavor as well
I haven't tried the Abba 'Matjes' but will look next time I head in that direction. Thanks C2.

Cathy2 wrote:These products came from Hagen's Fish Market in Chicago. According to Bridgestone many of the same products can be obtained at IKEA, which might be in your vicinity.

Regards,

I have seen the salmon roe and anchovy paste at IKEA on several occasions. I do not remember seeing all of the herring.

I was at a consumer panel discussing pickled herring for VITA Foods and was surprised at the amount of passion for herring products. For us, it is a once a year experience.

I looooooove herring.

Just wanted to say.

leek, just glad to see that you won't be putting this exalted foodstuff on the "everyday foods I hate" list...

Geo

Hey, I also looooooove Rhubarb and Strawberries.

There, said that too.

And Pizza.

But I'm not sure herring is every day food.

Matjes are usually on offer at Fox & Obel.

For years I've been looking for *real* matjes herrings, served the way they're served in Germany and Holland: lightly salted, in oil, fresh, not canned. Haven't had any luck this side of the pond. Until I went to Zabar's this weekend! There they were, in the reefer box, in four versions, looking like this. They're packed in Lithuania, which makes me think that they *should* be available in Chicagoland, somewhere.

Haven't found anyone online who has them, but I'm still looking.

Bought pkg, sat down among the ivy on Broadway's median outside Zabar's and, right in the middle of the street fair, gobbled up the two filets. Only an LTHer, right?

Oh yum!

Geo

http://www.kuhnsdeli.com/BrowseProducts ... ategory=36

I must have missed something Jeff: I didn't see any matjes except the H & H. Which might be a possibility since they're neither tinned nor jarred, but rather bagged. But I didn't see the Vici listed.

Geo

I think these herring--or a similar brand--are carried at Fresh Farms in Niles, in their amazing three shelves or so of a cooler devoted to herring imported from Eastern Europe. These are separate from the smoked fish in the deli and the packaged smoked fish next to the bakery .

Your post, Geo, moves to me to try them next time; I always try to get something new each time I go to this store. I love herring.

EvA--thinly sliced red onion, a bit of parsley, a tiny tiny drop of exquisite vinegarette, and there you have it with fresh matjes! Enjoy!

Geo

Geo wrote:EvA--thinly sliced red onion, a bit of parsley, a tiny tiny drop of exquisite vinegarette, and there you have it with fresh matjes! Enjoy!

Geo

Sounds great. I've got everything on hand now but the herring. Will report back to you!

Geo wrote:They're packed in Lithuania, which makes me think that they *should* be available in Chicagoland, somewhere.

My grandmother loved salty fishy flavors, herring, anchovies, cans of smoked oysters and caviar, not the expensive balanced caviar, but over the top salty big tin for ten buck kind. She particularly liked matjes herring for which I searched high and low finally finding it at Three Sisters Delicatessen on Devon, a (mostly) Russian spot. I have not been to Three Sisters in a while, call before traveling a distance for matjes.

Eurostyle Deli in Skokie is a good bet for matjes as well, last time I was there they had schmaltz herring, I believe they stock matjes as well.

Not sure of the difference between matjes and schmaltz herring I 'asked the Internet' and came across this interesting article by Claudia Roden.

Enjoy,
Gary

Three Sisters Delicatessen
2854 West Devon Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659
773-973-1919

Eurostyle Deli
4861 W Oakton
Skokie, IL 60077
708-329-1430

Interesting article Gary. I'm beginning to see even more subtlety than I thought in this herring affair. A famous poster, seen on the corner herring stands all over Amsterdam (and in my office at UMKC!) shows how one eats fresh herring, to wit:



Taking the "nieuwe" seriously, I discovered this discussion, and then this article, which rewards some exploratory clicking with fun pictures of the herring arriving in barrels from the boats.

So, here's what I can say: matjes herring are lightly salted and require some soaking. Nieuwe maatjesharing are not salted, and are eaten raw and beautifully oily and rich, with some onion and lemon. And it's THIS one, the nieuwe, that I had been seeking, and finally, have found in the carton from Lithuania, stocked by Zabar's.

Quest ended, satisfaction—both intellectual and gustatory, reigns.

Let me know how it goes, questing in Chicagoland!

Geo

Now that I've just returned to KCMO (Midwest Reasearch Institute) from Chicago. Where can I find these in KC?

There's a (slight) chance that they *might* be at the Russian store on 79th, just west of Metcalfe, in Overland Park. Funny, it never occurred to me to check there.

Other than that, I dunno... Well, there's that wurst and other German stuff shop, Werner's, 5736 Johnson Drive in Mission. Hmmm, interesting thought: if Werner or the Russians don't have the VICI herring, maybe they could be persuaded to get an order in.

DANG! Obviously I've not been using the magic words for google. Here's the product, and here's the distributor, in Romeoville IL, not far from Chicago. And, LTHers beware, they list Caputo's as one of their new accounts.

Now we're getting somewhere!

Geo

I miss Delicatessen Meyer (now reincarnated as Gene's Sausage Shop). For lots of reasons, not least of which was their herring selection. They usually had matjes herring, brat herring, rollmops, creamed herring, pickled herring as well as beet and herring salad (I do not miss their herring in aspic—ugh!). All were available in bulk, spooned out by those efficient white-aproned ladies who'd tally your order with pencil and paper (then double check their calculations).

These days in Chicago, Ted's on Devon has a pretty good packaged herring selection (though I think some of the delis in Niles and Skokie might have even more choices). Take a gander:



Lower shelf from left to right. Four types of Vici matjes herring (packed in Lithuania): pink, Atlantic, traditional and lightly salted. Zigmas brand, either smoked or salted, both packed in oil. Esva (Lithuania) matjes herring, lightly salted, in oil. Koko brand, also from Lithuania, lightly salted in oil, either butterflied or filleted. The can contains herring in spiced brine. To the right are two more Koko brand herrings, either Lithuanian or Latvian style. Finally, matjes herring packed by Richter in Germany and what appears to be one packaged in house. There's still more herring at Ted's, mostly smoked.

Farther south in Chicago, I remember a good packaged herring selection at Ukrainian Village Grocery (2204 W Chicago) but unfortunately it closed recently (not too many Ukrainians left in their old neighborhood). Also, Grand Duke's Deli, the fine Lithuanian shop at the southwest edge of the city, has a solid herring department. Anyone know how the herring situation is in Andersonville these days?

Ted's Fruit Market
2840 W Devon Av
Chicago
773-743-6799

Grand Duke's Deli
6312 S Harlem Av
Summit IL
708-924-9990

I spotted at least one packaged version of matjes herring like those described above at Gene's today as well as several house made versions of pickled herring.

EvA wrote:I think these herring--or a similar brand--are carried at Fresh Farms in Niles, in their amazing three shelves or so of a cooler devoted to herring imported from Eastern Europe. These are separate from the smoked fish in the deli and the packaged smoked fish next to the bakery .

Snapped a couple of pictures of Fresh Farms cured/salted/smoked fish selection. There are two separate areas, one in the deli counter and one against the wall opposite the deli counter, just down from the tofu.

Fresh Farm's, Niles

What an amazing array of stuff! But I don't seem to see 'em in there anywhere, at least not the Vici packs. Did you note them Gary?

Geo

There is another section, near the dairy, that has herring galore. Perhaps I can get a picture up soon...

Geo and all. Thank you for this thread!

I love herring but have only tried the matjes available in small jars from Finland. I saw in Geo's post that Angelo Caputo's has the Vici brand, but they are a bit far for me. I tried Joe Caputo's in Palatine two days ago and found Vavel matjes herring from Poland. One kilo packages were $6.99, and I thought either they would be wonderful or the dogs we going to have a heck of a treat. Next to the Vavel product were 500g packages of herring labeled in Russian, which I don't read. The paper sticker on the back of the package told, in English, of the contents being herring, lightly salted. I may try that one later.



These are magnificent! Both the salt and vegetable oil are light, and the herring fillets themselves are firm, meaty and full of flavor. Very fresh in taste. We'll finish off this kilo in no time.

My father in law grew up in Amsterdam. Sometime after I married his daughter she and I went off to visit the aunts & uncles & cousins & cousin's off spring scattered thru the Netherlands. At my FIL's advice, we made a bee line to the herring kiosk near Westerkerk, where I enjoyed my first green herring. And also as instructed by my FIL, then across the street to the tavern to wash it down with an Amstel.

Well, we have visited Holland several times, and some of the relatives have visited us over the years. It is quite a nice exchange.

Tell me, Geo, do you recognize this shop?





As this fresh product is seasonal, I expect that I will need to enjoy it while it is being caught. Can any of you matjes lovers confirm this for me, or are they available year 'round thru some preservation process I don't know about? (or imported seasonally from southern ocean fisheries?)

Green herring in Amsterdam, and fresh matjes herring available here in the midwest.

Ain't life just grand!

I have been searching high and low for fresh matjes herring in Rochester NY. It used to be sold at the Wegmans flagship in Pittsford but, sadly, is no longer for sale there. I have called all the Jewish delis in town. Does anyone know of a place in Rochester that sells matjes herring or can you recommend a place to order from and have it shipped (not necessarily fresh, though)?
Thank you!!!

I'd bet these guys have it: http://www.polskachata.us/

If not, these guys almost certainly have it: http://www.europadeliny.com/

Go in, look for the plastic tub container like the one pictured upthread a msg or two. All the brands have similar packaging.

Let us know if you succeed!

Geo

THANK YOU, Geo, for the information!!!! Amazingly, Europadeliny is just down the street from me and I didn't know it till now. I'm heading there after work and will let you know how it goes.

Thank you!!!!!!
Kathy

Greetings, my name is Gary McCoy with North Sea Herring in Little Rock, Arkansas. We specialize in importing fresh frozen maatjes herrring from The Netherlands and we ship nationwide. Please go to http://www.northseaherring.com or call toll free
1-855-MAATJES or 855-622-8537 x 1.

Thanks you & Happy Holidays.

gary@northseaherring.com