Hey, CT: Where do you buy your sausage?

[kattyeyes]

On a recent biscuits and gravy thread, a local poster mentioned buying breakfast sausage locally that he preferred to the frozen varieties, but my question as to WHERE was removed, so I'm trying again here. Let's not limit the discussion to breakfast sausage--ALL sausage is fair game.

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE
I use Jimmy Dean for biscuits and gravy. What do you use?
I also have breakfast sausage seasoning from Penzey's when I am inspired to make my own sausage.

CHICKEN SAUSAGE
I love the chicken sausage made at Stew Leonard's (I like both the plain and the chicken and apple) and am equally a fan of the chicken sausage Public Market in Middletown makes. Edit: And we're trying chicken sausage from Meadow Meat in Middletown tonight. I'll report back as to how it compares to the others. We had excellent pork ribs from Meadow Meat last week.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE
I recently bought some Longhini sausage (at Xpect Discounts in Cromwell, of all places!) and liked it a lot.

How about youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu?

[DonShirer]

Cliffs Quality Meats on Plains Rd. in Essex.

[jdgall]

Bliss Market in Wethersfield

[LAC06488]

I but civiletta (rope sausage) at Town Plot IGA in Waterbury..it is true rope sausage with spinach or provolone filling..great on the grill...Costco sells what they call rope sausage but it does not compare to IGA...

[MacshashRIP]

Noack's in Meriden

[jfood]

jfood just finished a few Fennel Sausages from A&S in Norwalk and they were oustanding. Ate them with some pasta and a little marinara and it was heaven.

Interesting but they can not sell in any other manner but prepackaged as a group of 5.

www.ctbites.com

[CTBOGRAD]

chicken apple sausage at Trader Joes is addicting. Healthy and my kids LOVE it!

[meinNYC]

The holy grail of sausage is Nodine's in Goshen. They smoke in Torrington, but the store is in Goshen. Many top Manhattan gourmet stores also carry them. Many types. Also smoke turkey and cheese.

[stuck in Hartford County]

Agreed. I've never been to the store in Goshen-sounds like a good road trip. They make more than sausages. I enjoyed their smoked duck breast I picked up at a farmer's market in West Simsbury, CT. The owner was really nice, and thanked me for buying our groceries there. Cool!

[kattyeyes]

Don't forget the bacon! They make jerky, too, if that sweetens the deal.

[stuck in Hartford County]

That applewood bacon is terrific! I buy it at the farmers market in Bloomfield, CT. Lyman Orchards sells it, also, but tends to overstock the garlic(or is it pepper? I can't remember the other style), while understocking the applewood. Bummer for you guys in Central CT. Hope you can find it in your neck of the woods.

[jfood]

Nice new Blog K...good luck with it.

Jfood buys his sausage in Zeytinia's in Wilton on Route 7 just above Walmart in the strip mall with Borders and Outback.

Next bet is A&S in either Norwalk or Stamford.

www.ctbites.com

[stuck in Hartford County]

Zeytinia's is one place I SERIOUSLY miss. Great food. Great prices. Great cold/hot food bar. Great cheese. Terrific fruit and veggies. Great meat. Waaaaaaaaah! Why can't they open another one in Central CT? I have to make up stupid excuses to drive all the way to Wilton..."Um, I have to visit my old Dr. in Wilton" "It's on the way to Westport " "The kids wanted to see the YMCA and remember where they went to camp" Kinda lame, I know.

P.S. They used to have this amazing eggplant dip, but the last couple of visits I haven't seen it. I tried my best to re-create it at home, but I'm just about ready to take my case to Bon Appetite's magazine section where people can ask for chef recipes. It's that good.

[jfood]

They also have great steaks when they have their "look what I found" specials. They are the only place around where jfood can find "hangar" steaks as well. Jfood's favorite, though, is they roast a whole ham shank and then carve it in the deli department. Great for ham and eggs on the wekend.

www.ctbites.com

[stuck in Hartford County]

Maybe the car needs service in Westport again, and since I "need" to take Route 7, I might as well stop into Zeytinia...

Doesn't Scott's Corner Market carry hangar steak? We used to go there when we lived in Ridgefield and Katonah. Bet they have a decent selection of sausage, too. Or the Market in Wilton Center -the one w/those odd carts I was sure were going to sever my fingers/crush my hand when they crash down. Our local "fancy" market chain, Highland Park, uses the same killer carts. *shudder*

[jfood]

Scotts Corner market is jfood's go to place and they turned himonto short ribs years ago. The carry great skrts, but no hangars. Jfood has had a few conversations with them on the sausages, they did not freeze well at all and has not tried in a while. Jfood passed the Wilton Market on the way to see Shutter island (no need to waste money on it) and put a memo to file to go back there in the near future.

www.ctbites.com

[stuck in Hartford County]

If Jfood can figure out what REALLY happened on Shutter Island, then Jfood can work the Wilton Market shopping carts!

[jfood]

What really happened were the edit staff and Scocese lost focus and did not connect the dots from the beginning of the movie. Total silliness and not worth Scorcese's brilliant past and some outstanding acting by many.

[Ima Foodie]

or Fairfield for A&S as well. The broccoli Rabe sausage is really good.

[foleyd7]

I'll 2nd the A&S in Fairfield, too for dinner sausages (no breakfast however).
They do have hangar steak, too.

[stuck in Hartford County]

I went to what I call "the scary Shaws" (OK, sometimes I also refer to it as "the gross" Shaws) off of Prospect St. in Hartford yesterday, and they had a really good variety of sausages. It looked like all the sausages made in CT were represented, as well as other major brands. Of course they didn't have any "farm" type of locally produced sausage, but I was still surprised to note the variety of really good brands. So if you're nearby, check it out. Just don't touch anything and use the hand sanitizer on the way out.

[ratbuddy]

It's going to be turning into a Shoprite. Probably won't help the atmosphere much. Shame Edwards packed it in.

Check out the S&S just over the line on New Park. They have plenty of sausages, and a much nicer store.

[stuck in Hartford County]

That S&S is the best around! I do almost all my food shopping at that location. The problem is that I keep running into my old Hartford students there (w/their parents). So I can't just run in looking "un-teacher-like"... or hung-over...That's what the scary Shaws is good for. That, and a good selection of sausages.

[algct]

In Shelton CT on River Road near the Sunnyside School is a Polish Deli called POLONEZ.
Small storefront in a little strip of stores. Walk in there & see the dozen plus types of sausages hanging in back of the counter & you know you are in the right place.

There is also 3-4 types of kielbasa in the showcase & fresh bread baked in some European bakery somewhere.

Fairly priced. Just a little hole in the wall, been there for 3-4 years now.

Oh yes, whole smoked mackerel in the fridge from Brooklyn.

[cheereeo]

algct, do they sell pierogie too?

[bakinggirl]

CT Farm Fresh Express! www.ctffe.com
Awesome source for local meats of all varieties. We have a CSA with Cedar Meadow Farm in Ledyard during the summer and generally get our sausage from there; you can get their meat through Farm Fresh Express.
Note, though, that I haven't had the chance to try the goat meat sausage from Blue Slope Farm...one of these days it will definitely be part of my order.

[harrie]

If you're near New Haven, Blue Slope also sells at that farmers' market.

How does CTFFE work? Is it like Peapod but from local sources?

[bakinggirl]

That's exactly it! They sell only CT grown or made items and collect them from the producers and farms. It includes meat, dairy and produce, bakery items like bread and sweets, and locally made cleaning products and toiletries. There are also sources for honey and maple syrup.
I've been ordering from them for over a year and am never disappointed!
www.ctffe.com

[stuck in Hartford County]

Have you tried Four Mile River Farm in Old Saybrook? Someone served some "local" sausage at a party awhile ago, and I recall it being quite good. I think they bought it at the farm or mail-order...I'm not sure.

[kattyeyes]

Nope, sounds like it's worth looking for, though. I found this:
http://www.fourmileriverfarm.com/deli...

[stuck in Hartford County]

Roadtrip!

[harrie]

Four Mile River Farm (of OId Lyme) sells at the New Haven Farmers' Market - which may or may not be convenient for you. But they may do other markets closer to you, too. In any case, their stuff is very good - we're regular customers. I don't think FMRF does Italian sausage, but they do a nice kielbasa and great beef hot dogs. Next Saturday market is February 20, 10a-1p. If you're interested - http://www.cityseed.org/city_markets/markets/schedule.shtml

Here are the farmers' markets FMRF goes to - http://www.fourmileriverfarm.com/farm...

I'm not affiliated or related, just a very satisfied customer.

[stuck in Hartford County]

Thank you for that info! I have been planning a trip to New Haven and would like to pick up some of their products.

[foodwallguy]

Heading north toward Hartford on Franklin ave, pass DD market on your right( my grandfather is from Sicilly and insists DD are a bunch of "crooks". I bought a large tin of colavita extra virgin olive oil from there and I was almost disowned). About 2 blocks up is this little butcher shop on the right called DiMauro,s. Thats the best Italian sausage you're ever gonna have. He makes the sausage right there in the back! The place has been there for decades.

[foodwallguy]

I just found out that DiMauro's was sold. The owner is now somewhere in Wethersfield. I'm trying to find out exactly where he is because his italian sausage (with the wine) is the best!

[Trnrbrnr]

McQuade's in Mystic make its own sausage, also smokes its own bacon.

[ElizabethK]

Hungarian Meat Market on Black Rock Turnpike.

[acervoni]

Angelo's Market in New Britain has really good sausage. Chicken sausage from Trader Joe's is also very tastey. The costco sausage was too fatty for my taste.

[bookwrm81]

Salem Prime Cuts makes an apple sausage (both pork and turkey I believe) that is delicious. They also do a spicy turkey sausage that is really good. Also a little off topic but they do their own corned beef. You cannot compare it to anything you buy in the grocery store- my husband is still talking about it!

[cheereeo]

If looking for European:
- Wozniak's Meat Products - New Haven
- Liscio's Meat Land - Bridgeport/Stratford line
- Hungarian Market (don't know new name; used to be Drotos Bros.) - 849 Kings Highway, Fairfield
(Sorry they aren't closer to you)

For Italian: I enjoy Premio Foods brand from my local grocery store--Luganiga is excellent!

[triggs73]

Premio is sold at Costco I believe and they are good.

[shaogo]

Hall's Market on Park Road in West Hartford has great breakfast sausage.

The Public Market in Middletown is fabulous for Italian sausage. So is Baretta's meats in East Berlin.

[philbkr]

Would you please give us the location of the Public Market in Middletown? Thanks.

[kattyeyes]

Public Market
480 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457

http://www.publicmarketcatering.com/

It's near Nikita's at the beginning of the North End (if you consider the North End as starting where Washington St.--Rt. 66--intersects Main). Bring change for the meters!

P.S. Thanks for the tip on Hall's, shaogo. ;)

[harrie]

Breakfast sausage from Summerton Farm at the farmers' market at Robert Treat Farm in Milford; or from Eaglewood Farms at the farmers' market in Orange.

Italian sausage from the same guys -- both do sweet and hot, and Eaglewood does both links and bulk.

Kielbasa and Kelli-dogs from Four Mile River Farm at the New Haven Farmers' (Saturday) Market.

I do fake sausage on occasion (and enjoy it), but these guys have got me back to being kind of hooked on meat.

[mels]

Italian: Longhini

Breakfast: Jones bulk 1 lb roll for biscuits/gravy, Jones links (Jones is all natural - ingredients are pork and spices) or I make it myself (pork shoulder + spices)

All others: Whole Foods has great English/Irish style bangers and other assorted flavors

[coldduck]

La Molisana in Waterbury for Italian sausage. It's literally a mom and pop business operating out of the first floor of a multi-story house in the city's Town Plot (Italian) part of town. Wonderful dry sausage (I think it 's on the menu up the street at La Tavola), other meats and homemade treats as well as a few exports. A real nice trip would be a late afternoon visit to La Molisana and nearby Avventura market/deli and then dinner at La Tavola. The only thing missing would be a pop-in for confession at Mt. Carmel Church.

[triggs73]

I love La Molisana. Andy's in East Haven used to carry them, but they are now closed. Do you know of someone else in the New haven area that carries them?

[coldduck]

No, but give them a call and I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you.

[mmalmad]

Andy's Closed? When did that happen?
Too bad after all the work they did fixing it up

[triggs73]

I guess last week. We went for fried dough on Wednesday and the windows were covered up with a sign saying "Closed for the Summer". I do not know if they are reopening again.

[Lamolisana]

La Molisana Sausage does not currently have a New Haven distributor but it can be purchased online at www.lamolisanasausage.com.

[ratbuddy]

Breakfast sausage - Gimme Lean fake sausage at the grocery store.

Chicken Sausage, Trader Joe's. Yum.

Italian Sausage, D&D Market on Franklin Ave. Double Yum.

[kattyeyes]

I'm with you on D&D--that's a great place in general. But I got a chuckle out of "Gimme Lean" (I thought it was a joke/takeoff on Jimmy Dean, which I suppose it is). Clearly, you aren't making biscuits and gravy if you're making such a health-conscious choice--or do you? I figure if I'm going to hell (dietarily speaking) for one meal, I may as well go all the way, y'know? :)

Oh, and as a P.S. to my original post, I really liked the Meadow Meat chicken sausage. They're on Eastern Drive in Middletown (over the railroad tracks, you'd go left to Harbor Park and Route 9, right to Meadow Meat.
http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=...

[philbkr]

Seconds on the chicken sausage at Trader Joe's--so flavorful. They offer many seasonings; the andouille has a real kick.

[ratbuddy]

I prefer my biscuits and gravy with a meatless gravy, just a basic milk gravy with lots of pepper. The fake sausage is great for forming into patties to put under or on top of the biscuits, along with some scrambled eggs. Mmmm.