How I did it: Husband is actually originally from the Cleveland area and is a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain's.  So when Tony did an episode devoted to Cleveland, he was really excited to see where Tony went.  Of the places Tony went to eat or get food, we'd basically been to the West Side Market  - and he thinks he may have heard of Sokolowski's University Inn. 

But it's the Sausage Shoppe that's really caught his eye.  We've been getting into charcuterie ourselves and have been finding more local butchers and old-school type places in Columbus, so we're always inerested in anyone preserving the old-school ways of sausage making.  Let's face it - there's more to life than brats, vacuum-packed kielbasa and mass-produced bacon.  But a lot of the stuff is being lost to a history that's no longer being passed down.  This is a guy that you worry won't have children interested enough in learning the family trade to continue the business.

So we're determined to visit, but things are super busy for a while and then there's 8 months where stuff is up in the air job-wise for me.  Well - no more, dangit.  This weekend, we decide to visit 3 places on Tony's visit.  And you know what?  They're all within a 10 mile-circle.  Which just goes to show that you never know what's hiding in these neighborhoods in your city.

The Sausage Shoppe is first and we're fortunate enough to have the owner waiting on us - and we get a haul:



But even better than that were the explanations and his fantastic demeanor.  And the other customers that started to file in!  AND that he knew our guy at Thurn's in Columbus.  He offered samples of stuff we'd never tried and passed out maple bologna to everyone in the store.  In short, an amazing guy.  He even loved hearing that we were there because of the combo of hometown/Tony Bourdain.

It was awesome.  The haul includes smoked garlic brautwurst, smoked kielbasa, garlic raw kielbasa, head cheese, maple bologna, garlic bologna, blood sausage, leberwurst pate, italian sausage, cottage ham...and things I'm forgetting - but it all looks and smells wonderful.

I'm being required to highlight the following photo from the Westside Market - our loin lamb chops:



Yes, that's what we're having for dinner.  The market is fantastic.  We picked up short ribs, bread, lemons, parsley, fresh blackberries, fresh yogurt and meat sticks. 

And then we ended the day at Sokolowski's.  This is OLD-SCHOOL.  It's Eastern European cooking and it's done cafeteria style.  It.Is.Awesome.  It's really good we don't live up there - I'd want to eat there all the time. 

Lessons & tips:

• Ask questions - these old school guys love telling you what's what!
• Be adventurous.  No local shop survives by killing the locals, so you won't die from eating anything.
• Eat what you're offered.  You know what?  You'll be able to say, "you know what's good?  Maple-infused bologna!"
• Take a cooler.

Resources:

• The Travel Channel No Reservations Episode Guide.
• Mapquest & OnStar
• An Adventurous Attitude

---

Mar 14, 2010, 11:08AM PDT | 0 comments | 7 cheers