Karl's Sausage Kitchen Is Worth Road Trip for German Cooking Ingredients
Sometimes buying local is just not possible. That ingredient you need is just too specialized for nearby merchants, requiring a road trip to a shop that stocks your special suppliesf. To aid you in your search for those special food ingredients, we're going to visit some of the best local food shops outside our local area that we think are worth the trip.
Karl's Sausage Kitchen in Peabody is one of the best (only?) regional sources for German cooking ingredients, particularly German-style meat products. It is so well known amongst the local German community, that I learned about it from a work colleague in Germany who had lived in Cambridge years ago and would drive out to the North Shore regularly just to stock up on German favorites.
My first stop inside Karl's is always the meat counter where freshly made sausage, luncheon meats and smoked meats are on display. One important tip I need to share about Karl's fresh sausage and luncheon meat-like all things German, it is made on a fixed schedule and when it's gone, it is gone until the next scheduled production day. For example my favorite sausage, the Nürnberger, is always made on Wednesday morning. If I were to show-up on Saturday afternoon expecting to buy fresh Nürnberger sausages, I would probably have to settle for the backup Nürnbergers in the freezer case. Bottom line is that if you are expecting to purchase a particular item fresh, you need to call ahead to make sure they will be available when you visit.
In addition to my beloved Nürnberger sausages, I usually grab some fresh Liverwurst (fine grind) for sandwiches, one or more Bratwurst-style sausages and maybe a Landjäger for the road. They also have a number of other types of European-style fresh sausages and a New Orleans style Andouille which some Karl's fans say is the best they have ever tasted. Karl's also has a number of German and non-German homemade deli meats (where else are you going to find Bacon Horseradish Bologna or Fresh Head Cheese?). Before leaving the counter, I usually grab a tub of Karl's German potato salad for a side to serve with my sausage entrée. I usually skip the cheese section as I find the German/Swiss cheeses a little too strong for my American tastes.
In the grocery aisle I usually pick-up some of the various Knorr or Maggi mixes imported from Switzerland to add authentic German flavor to German cooking. For example, I always keep a package or two of the Maggi Schnitzel breading because Schnitzel just doesn't seem to have that authentic German taste without this imported breading. The grocery section also carries a number Swedish and northern European items including authentic rye breads, crackers and, of course, pickled herring. From the freezer I usually take home a package of the thin steak needed to make authentic beef rouladen.
If you time your visit close to lunchtime you can dine on authentic German food in the cafeteria at the back of the store. Clearly one of the attractions here is the large steins of imported German draft beer which are a perfect accompaniment to your sausage platter.
Unfortunately, Karl's does not sell bottled German beer in the store.
Karl's is conveniently located near the intersection of Route 1 and 128. We are not aware of any other German food stores in the New England region so it is unique and worth a visit if you want to sample authentic German and/or northern European food.
