jnm123 wrote:Hagen's gone downhill?

Yeah, Hagen's isn't what it was a few years ago when I first met it, and from what I heard it wasn't then what it was a few years prior.

Still, it remains a place to pick up good smoked fish, and they still have some of the best hush puppies I've eaten.


Smoked whitefish from Hagen's

Best,
Michael

jnm123 wrote:Hagen's gone downhill?

I think I'd better make a quick trip to The Fish Keg on Howard, grab a pound of fried shrimp, fries, & an RC for quality-control purposes. Given the weather conditions, however, I will not be dining on the hood of my car.

The Fish Keg
2233 W Howard St
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 262-6603

The Fish Keg's not what it used to be, either. I'd pass on the fries; they use those awful molded whipped potatoes now instead of the terrific crinkle cuts they used to serve.

Just had my monthy fix of fried fish chips and fried smelt and it was the best.
This was Monday night with the blizzard and I thought that I might get old fish with the bad weather but both tasted great. Even snatched up 2 chubs as I don't see them there all the time.
No change in my mind - the same as it ever was.

herringhead wrote:No change in my mind - the same as it ever was.

Hagen's or the Fish Keg?

A little birdie alerted me to Hagen's Salmon Candy. I checked their web site, "Wild salmon fillet brined with syrup and brown sugar coated with honey and then smoked." Sounded nasty, better take one for the team.



Tasted quite tasty! The word candy is misleading, and off-putting to me. The sweeteners in this application were subtle and mellowed and rounded any smoke harshness. Check it out for yourself if I don't eat it all first!

-ramon

Ramon wrote:A little birdie alerted me to Hagen's Salmon Candy. I checked their web site, "Wild salmon fillet brined with syrup and brown sugar coated with honey and then smoked." Sounded nasty, better take one for the team.

I hadn't seen this post, but I randomly met a Hagen relative yesterday who told me about the salmon candy. The idea at once repulsed and excited me. (I have a very bad sugar addition and consequently a Pavlovian reaction to the word "candy.") I am looking forward to trying it; my plan is to stop at Hagen's for dinner tonight.

The word candy is misleading, and off-putting to me.

Salmon "candy" is a traditional curing/smoking method (sometimes referred to as Indian candy or Eskimo candy). It's not unique to Hagen's and describes a sweeter jerky-type salmon.

Must be an LTH vibe in the air, but driving past here the other day and I suddenly pulled into the parking lot, as I had last been about 2 years ago. Put together an impromptu lunch of some smoked shrimp, smoked sable, kidney bean salad and Finn Crisp crackers. Spotted the Salmon candy and couldn't resist a few of them too. Everything was delicious. I have never have had the fried seafood here, even going back to my long ago youth.

Ate here a couple weeks ago. Picked up some fried shrimp, smoked trout and salmon candy.

The trout and candy were extremely delicious. Some of the best I have had in recent memory. The shrimp were good but nothing exceptional about them IMO.

Since no one else has posted a photo of Hagen's beautiful sign:


Hagen's Fish Market by yooperann, on Flickr

As anyone who knows me might guess, I had them fry up some lake perch for me. Great delicate perch flavor, but the breading was a little heavier than I'd like. Certainly worth the stop.

Hagen's will be closed July 4 though 8 to replace flooring throughout the building. Re-open as of July 9 according to signs in the window.

When I was in the store last evening I looked down at the floor, which did need some sprucing up. Most recent references have been in other threads.

They have had yellow perch and walleye fillets pretty consistently in recent months. Their house-made crab cakes are usually available frozen if you ask. Having four of them in the freezer sounded like a good idea in light of the weather forecast for the next few days.

Edit to note that the prepackaged cakes in the freezer cabinet are not house-made and are krab. The house-made cakes use crab and do not have any bell peppers polluting them.

Called Kaufman's for smoked sturgeon. They were OUT. Dilemma!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to LTHF. Everyone loved Hagen's. So I tried it. Saved $ 13.00 per lb. vs Kaufman's.
NOT WORTH IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gave a piece to a friend who grew up in Brooklyn. I did not taste it prior to dropping it off.
What a mistake.
Kaufman's sturgeon has a delicate, firm texture. Great smoke taste. Hagen's outside smoke flesh is harder than rock candy.
Never again!!!!
BUT !!!!! Down the street is a wonderful Polish Deli, Montrose Deli, nice find.
The trip was not a total waste.

Wally Wade