294262 Tue Sep 30 13:38:52 -0700 2003 4 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1613284 I went to a Russian Deli the other day and saw so many different varieties of Salami. I was so overwhelmed by looking at so many different kinds that I couldn't order anything. In stead of ordering everything from right to left, can anyone give me suggestion on how to pick salami? What I should look for and ask for? Terminology? Vocabulary? Anything! Tue Sep 30 13:38:52 -0700 2003 0 anko 1 1613294 That's really hard to answer. There are beef, pork and blood-based sausages cured in various ways. Do you have a preference? Do they speak English or offer any tastes? Most places will offer you a tasts if the salami is already sliced (as opposed to the smaller artisinal kinds that are sold whole). If you do end up trying by the left-to-right method, make sure you write the names down, especially if they are only written in cyrillic. That way you'll be able to keep track of what you did and didn't like. I have the same problem with a Polish deli that carries all kinds of eastern European salamis, kielbasas, etc -- English, Polish and Russian are spoken here. Much of the stuff is only written in Polish and I've never seen most of it before. I have bought and then made mistakes overcooking some of the kielbasas only to go back for for help on proper cooking techniques (some require very little in the way of heating or they get tough and dried out quickly) and to have them point out the better quality varieties. However, sometimes I do just point and click. Buy some mustard and enjoy! Tue Sep 30 14:23:44 -0700 2003 1613284 0 Ellen 2 1613321 Ellen! Thank you for your advice. Call me ignorant, but I didn't know there are beef, pork, and other kinds of salami... What is blood based sausages cured in various ways? Are they sausages or salamis? Are there beef & pork mixed salami as well? I am sorry for such a vague question. They do speak English and seem to offer tastes. I guess I will start ordering beef salami first, and move to next. Tue Sep 30 16:30:14 -0700 2003 1613294 0 anko 3 1613370 Here's the ever wonderful Cooks Thesaurus link with descriptions and pictures of many sausages and salami's. If the deli isn't answering your quesions, at the least get them to write down the name of the sausage or salami that you are trying and then google it on the web for a better explanation. Or better yet, post it on Chowhound. Seems like no matter how obscure the subject, someone on Chowhound has some expertice. Here's an online definition of salami. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salami Link: http://www.foodsubs.com/Meatcure.html Image: http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/bloodtonguesausage.jpg Wed Oct 01 00:07:33 -0700 2003 1613321 0 Stanley Stephan 1 1613307 Heck just try them ALL. Some that look the same, taste very different. Some with the same name but made by different companies taste very different. I am in the process of doing that with sausages, bacon, suelze and headcheeses at this great Russian deli on 108st in Queens. Tue Sep 30 15:33:20 -0700 2003 1613284 0 The Rogue