Treats to Seek Out

I stopped in at Harvest Fresh the other day -- a primarily Eastern European ethnic grocery store near where I live -- and as usual, I spent a little time just looking at things that aren't familiar. In the meat section, I discovered Andy's Deli Duck Paté, which proved to be a treat. It's made in Chicago, and a search of LTHforum turns up an Andy's Deli that is good for kielbasa, so I'm betting they're connected. Anyway, for $3.50, I picked up a tube about the size of a regular liverwurst roll, and noted that the first three ingredients were duck, veal, and veal liver. That sounded promising, and for $3.50, I didn't figure I could go too far wrong. Well, it turned out to be delicious -- the sort of thing I'll want to always have in the fridge.

So aside from recommending the Andy's Deli Duck Paté, should you run across it, I thought I'd also ask what sorts of little surprise treats are folks finding in grocery stores. I'm not thinking of handmade delicacies from little butcher shops or patisseries where you have to be on site to make a purchase, but rather packaged goods that have a beyond-home distribution and may have made it to a variety of grocery stores in the area. What should I try if I see?

Just found something else worth recommending. Squasch. That's how it's spelled on the Cracovia jar. Cracovia brand is available at most stores that have multi-ethnic offerings, such as Garden Fresh, Mariano's, and Fresh Farms.

"Squasch" is a jar of pickled baby pattypan squashes. These are nice pickles, but not necessarily better than any major quality cucumber dill pickle brand. But the big hook is the appearance -- a whole jar of little yellow flying saucers. These have a bit of spice in them, so wouldn't be great for really little kids, but I'd imagine they'd have great appeal for slightly older kids -- or for anyone who likes trying different types of pickled vegetables. I'm enjoying them tremendously. Good flavor, bit of bite, and a much different texture than cucumber pickles.

Cracovia is a reliably good brand name. I am addicted to their buckwheat soup. But I've been buying that for years, and the Squasch was this week's discovery. Definitely worth trying, if you fancy a little bit of pickle now and then.

A treat that I am seeking out AND (bonus!) is delish with your treat of Andy's Duck Pate is Wickles.

I have had the combo and love it. Just as good, when you visit Andy's deli, pick up a pound of their duck loaf and some polish rye.

Lightly toasted polish rye, duck pate or duck loaf and some wickles makes a delish lunch.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wickles/179149402290

CM2772 wrote:A treat that I am seeking out AND (bonus!) is delish with your treat of Andy's Duck Pate is Wickles.

I have had the combo and love it. Just as good, when you visit Andy's deli, pick up a pound of their duck loaf and some polish rye.

Lightly toasted polish rye, duck pate or duck loaf and some wickles makes a delish lunch.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wickles/179149402290

If you can't find them locally, but they're a specialty of somewhere in the U.S., America's Market in Buffalo Grove could probably get them for you. They've run down stranger things than that for LTH members.

CM2772 wrote:A treat that I am seeking out AND (bonus!) is delish with your treat of Andy's Duck Pate is Wickles.

try cost plus world market - i saw some at the oak brook location the other day. i forget which products they carry, but i know i saw the relish and sandwich spread.

You can order Wickles online:
http://www.simsfoods.com/products

I used to have cases shipped to me in Chicago after discovering them at Widespread Panic shows in 1998 or so.