Wild game sausage to buy in Chicago?

A friend stumped me with this question. He wants to buy an assortment of wild game sausage--the more exotic the variety, the better--and he prefers to avoid mail order. What are his best bets within city limits? (He lives in the Loop and does not have a car.)

I don't recall Paulina or Gene's carrying anything very special in terms of game, but I may be wrong. Chicago Game & Gourmet might be helpful, but I think the purchasing minimum for most items is more than my friend needs. (He just wants to do a more unusual charcuterie platter for a small potluck.) I think jimswside has endorsed Czimers, but that might not be an option because of its location.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

As far as I know, you just ran down every option that exists. He's going to have to accept whatever's imperfect about one of them.

Gepperth's Market has a venison salami that I've always liked, they may have more items. Despite the website listed below, you'll have to call as they haven't developed the site yet. Ask for Otto the owner, he's always been extremely nice to me and he may be able to order some things for you if he's doesn't carry them himself.

1964 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-3883
http://www.gepperthsmarket.com/

I guess if he cannot get out then have them shipped in. I have not purchased the game sausages from D'artagnan but years ago when I lived in NY I had some of their pates and they were quite good.
http://www.dartagnan.com/51461_1_2_1/Ar ... sages.html

Paulina sells some wild game sausages, though they are probably not what your friend wants. Look at the bottom of this page:
http://www.paulinameatmarket.com/?p=wildgame

These sausages are not made by Paulina, though. They are some other packaged brand. Most are a mixture of wild game plus some beef and/or pork.

You might want to try Columbus Meat Market in Chicago. I'm not sure if they still supply sausages to Hot Doug's, but I know they have in the past.

Columbus Meat Market
906 West Randolph Street, Chicago
312.829.2480

happy_stomach wrote:A friend stumped me with this question. He wants to buy an assortment of wild game sausage--the more exotic the variety, the better--....

It's not sausage, but the bottarga available (sometimes - call first) at JP Graziano would make for what some would certainly consider an exotic addition to a charcuterie plate. It's a fish roe sac that's been pressed, dried and cured. I recommend slicing it and serving on thin crostini with a squeze of lemon.

I know your friend does not drive, but, I am sure Czimer's at 159th and Bell Rd in Homer Glen would have or could get what he's looking for. Here's a link

http://www.czimers.com/2.html

I just scoped the place out briefly a couple of weeks ago, but there is a new-ish deli-type place in Lincoln Square that had some wild game items. I can't remember the name of the place, sadly, but it's just across the street from Selmarie on Lincoln Ave., just south of Lawrence. They told me they'd been open about 6 months. Sorry I can't provide more detail! They had a ton of interesting-looking things in there, both fresh deli items and imported packaged pantry goods.

ETA:

I think this is it:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/genes-sausage-s ... -chicago-2

(though the web link appears to relate to a different location)

Thank you for all of these suggestions. I've passed them along to my friend. Also, thanks, Kenny, for the bottarga reminder. I need to get some for myself.