Wisconsin's best bratwurst? Let's find out.

Some members of the Konop family work at the Kewaunee plant.  We often have their fantastic wieners as a fundraiser.  The middle of nowhere is not too far from the nuclear plant.

What are the Polish Delights?  A kielbasa?  You'll have to fill me in on the jerky technique.

Polish Delights were some similar to little smokey links and the mere mention of them might bring tears to the eyes of some of Milwaukee's older Polish residents. They were great and South Side Sausage sold nothing but superior product.

We were at a kermis last fall up north and Konop's filled the Nesco's; great coarse grind weiners.

Before Konops, I only made whole muscle jerky which I now never do.

If you head up that way, you should try Basil's II hamburgers, brats or pork chop sandwiches; my favorites in the state. They are related to the Krolls from Green Bay.

Add another one to the list.

Fat Sal is bringing the National Award Winning Bratwurst from Ream's Elburn Market (Elburn, IL).  What an embarrassment if the winner comes from South of the Border.  At least we won't have those ringers from Ohio here.

Speaking of Flatlander brats, does The Brat Stop make their own sausage?  Are their "World's Best Brats" worthy of entry?

Any butcher shop that makes Gutshofleberwurst should be in our little contest.
 
Brat Stop never did much for me but maybe my tastes have changed.
 
We just tried Schwai's garlic summer and it might be my new all time favorite. Funny, as cute as his old location was, the new one has 0 charm. I'm firing up the grill next and we're going to have his Hungarian brats for lunch.
No boiling
No simmering
Just low and slow today which feels like October.
 
Did you want us brat suppliers to be there with our thawed brats early or should I drop them off before the brat fry or just show up with them around 2. Whatever works for you.

Mike,

If you arrive by 2:00 with thawed brats, it will work out fine.  I'm serving the brats in heats, so some will start cooking later than others.

Jim

JRPfeff


Fat Sal is bringing the National Award Winning Bratwurst from Ream's Elburn Market (Elburn, IL).  What an embarrassment if the winner comes from South of the Border.  At least we won't have those ringers from Ohio here.

 I just might need to make things a little more interesting.  If I get an opportunity I'll pick up a pound or two from Schmeisser's Sausage Co. (they're the ones who made the lanjaeger I delivered to X1 when we all met at Fred's) in Niles.  This could turn into a Flatlander vs. Cheesehead cook-off...

Buddy

JRPfeff


At least we won't have those ringers from Ohio here.

http://www.carlesbrats.com/orderbrats.html
 
Go ahead and order. Send me the bill.

The Schwai's Hungarian brats had a perfect balance of meat to fat and a good paprika seasoning.
I'm no purist when it comes to flavored brats and these were very good.
Little if any shrinkage.
I think these simmered in water as a farm sausage would go great with eggs for a spicy breakfast.
Flavored brats bear no resemblance to "regular" pork brats so I have no idea Schwai's will do in the great cook-off. In my mind, I fully expect to enjoy Miesfelds most but I'm looking forward to being wrong.
 
On another note, they sold some tubs of basically unlabeled horseradish cheddar cheese spread.
Very creamy with none of the chemical preservative-type off tastes sometimes found in this type of product.
It had lots of shredded fresh horseradish in it and that alone might be enough to get me to return.
 
I'd rather we all chip in and fly Michael Hoffman here for the party. I volunteer to pick him up at the airport and I certify my car is ketchup free. It's a long drive to the party so I think we'd need to stop at Kopp's first for a frozen custard. That days flavor forecast is Mint Chip- A mint flavored custard with dark chocolate chunks and Pralines 'N Caramel 'N Cream-A pure creamy custard with pralines and swirls of caramel. MH?
 
http://www.schwaisbrats.com/beatmeat/index.htm
 
http://www.kopps.com/
 
 

Thanks anyway, but now that I no longer have to fly I don't do it, unless it's an aircraft I can pilot. As to custards, ice cream, candies, cakes and pies -- I can't stand 'em.

I have the Bertman Original in the refrigerator.  It is superb even on WI brats!

Pardon me while I hijack this thread with a public service announcement.
Our host outdid himself with redneck sushi and I'm betting at the veyy least he'll appreciate this fellows effort in creating a stuffed bacon roast. Ladies and Gents, I give you The Bacon Tube!
 
http://blog.bacn.com/2009/03/bacon-tube/ 
 
 
 
  
 

Mrs. CSD & I will be joining the brat fest. However, since some one else is bringing our brat from the Elburn Market, our entry will be ( Stricken D is going to love this)
"BIG WALLY" 1/2 pound of all pure beef pleasure!

CSD

Great googly moogly, that is something to behold!  I'm referring of course to both of the above images.

Buddy

JRPfeff


I have the Bertman Original in the refrigerator.  It is superb even on WI brats!

I've got an extra bottle of Bertman's as well and could provide same if your one bottle is not enough.  Also, numerous ethnic mustards purchased at various Eastern European type groceries here in Chicago.  Let me know what you'll need.

Buddy

I have found it difficult to maintain a roster of all the players in this game ! Will one of you organizers please give us-

1. A list of confirmed participants.   (and)

2. A menu of the competing Brats (and other sausages).

3. A more detailed "game-plan" for the activity.

We are really looking forward to a photo-essay of the contest and it's participants.

You know Al, if you don't have anything better to do that weekend, YOU could be a participant!  Just throw Janet and The Boys into the car and hightail it north.  Sorry, Freddy's is closed on Sundays, so no precook-off snack.

I think most of The Contingent (whaddaya think of the name, Al?) are planning to be there.  From what I've read so far the only absolute no shows are quijote and irisarbor.  We haven't heard from Gyp or annpeeples yet, but other than that I think we're all accounted for.  The list, as near as I can figure at 2:30am, includes JRPfeff (our host), X1, MilwFoodlovers, chicagostyledog, stricken_detective, ChuckL50, Brad Olson, abe froeman, Mr. Maki, nocarolina, ChiTownDiner (we've got our fingers crossed), and BuddyRoadhouse (hey, that's me!).  If I left anyone off the list, feel free to humiliate me in public.  Naturally there will be significant others and/or friends accompanying most of these folks.  I believe JRPfeff has also invited some of his non-Roadfood pals over to help "remove" some brats.

I don't think you'll get an absolutely complete list of entrants until after the event.  Based on what I'm reading here, folks may walk in with a surprise entry or two from some little butcher shop out in the middle of nothing.

I'm not sure what JRP's methodology will be in judging the encased meats, but he's a pretty sharp guy and I know he's been thinking about this for a while.  Jim, care to share how we're going to do this?

Buddy

MilwFoodlovers


Pardon me while I hijack this thread with a public service announcement.
Our host outdid himself with redneck sushi and I'm betting at the veyy least he'll appreciate this fellows effort in creating a stuffed bacon roast. Ladies and Gents, I give you The Bacon Tube!
 
http://blog.bacn.com/2009/03/bacon-tube/ 
 
 
 
  
 

 
 I read the writeup. Thanks for posting it. My major question is - Did you have a problem with Flare-ups with all that melting Bacon Grease & how did you handle it?

Hey Mayor,

Please send your Baraboo daughter down here to join us.  All it will cost is a couple pounds of Baraboo's finest bratwurst.

You should be proud to know that I bought a Berkshire hog that was raised in Baraboo again this year and had it processed at the Baraboo Meat Market.

Jim

BuddyRoadhouse

JRPfeff


I have the Bertman Original in the refrigerator.  It is superb even on WI brats!

I've got an extra bottle of Bertman's as well and could provide same if your one bottle is not enough.  Also, numerous ethnic mustards purchased at various Eastern European type groceries here in Chicago.  Let me know what you'll need.

Buddy

It might be a good idea for folks to bring a mustard if they have an unusual favorite.  I'll have Bertman, Gulden's, and Koops' on hand.  I'll also get Bucky Badger Mustard (if I can find it), and may have some yellow stuff somewhere.

Other condiment choices will include chopped onion and sauerkraut, maybe fried onions if someone insists.  Am I missing something?  Neon green relish?

The party will be BYOK (or BYOC, if that's how you spell it).  We'll have a special section on the other side of the stream set up for those folks.

Jim

mayor al


I have found it difficult to maintain a roster of all the players in this game ! Will one of you organizers please give us-

1. A list of confirmed participants.   (and)

2. A menu of the competing Brats (and other sausages).

3. A more detailed "game-plan" for the activity.

We are really looking forward to a photo-essay of the contest and it's participants.

Here are the answers, Al,

1. Buddy covered this above better than I could even try.

2. Traditional Bratwurst Competitors

• Usinger's
• RJ's Meats
• Kramarczuk's (from MSP courtesy of BuddyRoadhouse)
• Christman Meat (courtesy of Brad_Olson)
• Mystery Brats
• Klement's
• Hoelsy's (Courtesy of X1 & ChuckL)
  
• Ruef's (Courtesy of X1 & ChuckL)
• Sendik's Fine Foods
• Johnsonville
• J.L. Richards (courtesy of Brad_Olson)
• Jacobson Bros.  (courtesy of Brad_Olson)
• Spar's (from Buffalo courtesy of Quijote)
• Sorgs  (courtesy of Brad_Olson) 
• Gooseberry's Market
• Karl's Country Market
• Miesfeld's
• Glenn's Market
  
• Konop's
• Schwai's (courtesy of MFL) 
• Vienna Beef (courtesy of CSD)
• Ream's Elburn Market (from Elburn, IL courtesy of Fat Sal)

Poultry Brat Entries

• Karl's Country Market Turkey Brats
  
• Miesfeld's Chicken Brats
  
• Glenn's Market Turkey Brats
• RJ's Meats Chicken Brats

I doing the separate poultry category for some friends who do not eat beef or pork. 


3. I give the game plan in another post.

jrp

mayor al


I have found it difficult to maintain a roster of all the players in this game ! Will one of you organizers please give us-

3. A more detailed "game-plan" for the activity.

We are really looking forward to a photo-essay of the contest and it's participants.

The taste-off will be a blind tasting by my guests.  I will not participate in the judging. 

I have a bracket set up with three rounds of tastings broken into heats.  The first round will be 4 on 4, the second round 3 on 3, and the final will be between the two top choices from the previous rounds.

For each round I will cook 2 of each sausage.  The brats will be cut up into 16 pieces and 16 guests will be asked to sample each of the brats and vote of their favorite.  Top vote getters, including ties, will move on to the next round.  We will rotate judges to provide everyone an opportunity to judge.  I'd like the samples to be tasted plain, so that we judge the sausage makers' products as they produced them, and not the product adorned with condiments.

When the judging is complete, I will cook and serve the remaining sausages by request.  We are limited in quantity for some brats, so I may have to cut those up if one of those turns out to be popular.

Does that make any sort of sense?

I expect to have over 50 pounds of sausage.  I am taking any uncooked leftovers into work to cook for the team that has worked on my project all Summer.

Jim

I'll bring some butter for those guests that enjoy their brats Sheboygan-style.
No mustard or kidschup for me; raw onions suits me just fine and while I love sauerkraut, I
would never put any on a brat for myself. Just like folks not understanding kidschup on encased meats, I think kraut covers up the taste of the meat; I'd love some on the side though.

  Thanks for the update!  This get-together sounds like a really great time. You are to be congratulated for a super planning session to get this whole thing put together. I wish we could make it, but I am afraid we won't be on the road for a while. No big deal, just staying close to home for a month or so.

   I am sending a 'sorry I can't make it' for Ann Peeples also. She is off the internet for awhile, but sends her regards and best wishes for a great 'Tasting' !

Please get a good photo record of the event and ( am sure you will) a well-defined report of your findings.

Have Fun !

mayor al


I have found it difficult to maintain a roster of all the players in this game ! Will one of you organizers please give us-

1. A list of confirmed participants.   (and)

2. A menu of the competing Brats (and other sausages).

3. A more detailed "game-plan" for the activity.

We are really looking forward to a photo-essay of the contest and it's participants.

Are "other", non-brat sausages allowed to come? 

abe_froeman


Are "other", non-brat sausages allowed to come? 

Why you gotta go and make trouble?  Is that how I raised you?

Oh wait.  It is.

Sorry,

Buddy
(Dad)

I'm just wondering!  Al's the one that posted it! 

I just know of an excellent, non-brat sausage is all.

Abe -

We will cook and serve other sausage varieties, but they will not be included in the judging.

jrp

Hey, I included the question about the 'non-Brats' after seeing the photo of CSD and his "Big Wally" !  I wondered if the 'Weinies' were slipping in under the radar??

Good point Al.  Does the Big Wally meet the bratwurst criteria?  I'm not questioning its quality or flavor, only whether it meets the technical standard for bratwurst-dom.

Also, I just found out what abe froeman's plans are for the "other" sausage she wants to bring.  All I can say is, it might not qualify as a true bratwurst, but when the judging is over and the real eating begins, you will have a hard time keeping MilwFoodlovers away from abe's (note the carefully chosen word here) contribution.

'Nuff said!

Buddy

Yeah, the verbal descriptors can certainly affect the judging !!!  In my statement  about CSD and the Wienies, I had (at first) said they were "Slipping in the back door" !  But then decided that "Slipping in under the Radar" ! would be a less stress-provoking phrase to use !! 

"Big Wally" is a non-competitive offering. After all, who doesn't want a bigger wiener? 

CSD

CSD and I have reached an accommodation on Big Wally.  If Mark brings the sausage, I will eat it.  Big Wally will be not be in the taste-off, but will be served afterward.

Al - Thank you for moderating your comments.  NTTAWWT

Add a couple pounds more from Thuringer Meats in Arlington Heights, Illinois to the list of entrants.

Possible further entries from Schmeisser's Meats if I get a chance to stop by there this week.

Buddy

WOW -

What a power line-up!  This is getting pretty damn interseting!  Weather forcast is clear and beautiful...This will be an event to remember! 

Looking forward to a fun day!

Go Cubbies!  Go Bears!

Don't worry, the Sausage King of Chicago won't let you down....

BuddyRoadhouse


...I just found out what abe froeman's plans are for the "other" sausage she wants to bring.  All I can say is, it might not qualify as a true bratwurst, but when the judging is over and the real eating begins, you will have a hard time keeping MilwFoodlovers away from abe's (note the carefully chosen word here) contribution......

OMG!
Someone's found a way to put Kopp's Frozen Custard in a casing!!!
Hallelujah  brothers and sister's and pass me some extra napkin's please.

Michael Hoffman

JRPfeff


At least we won't have those ringers from Ohio here.

http://www.carlesbrats.com/orderbrats.html
 
Go ahead and order. Send me the bill.

I called Carle's today and it was $55 for 2 pounds of brats delivered to Wisconsin.  I just could not spend that much money for sausage, even your money Michael.

Jim

Will there be SausageFest '09 t shirts available for purchase?

stricken_detective


Will there be SausageFest '09 t shirts available for purchase?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.  I hadn't thought about that.  So that would be a "No."

But I've got something even better for you Aimey and everyone else, too. 

Yeah....maybe we should call it "BratFest '09".  I'm not sure I'd be comfortable parading around in a T-shirt that says "SausageFest".  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Buddy

Buddy,

You could slip in the, er, under the radar with that one.

jrp

Hi all,
My wife & I would like to attend... can we still come?

This is John and Anita, we met some of you at Polonez last spring.

zOMG! Welcome to Roadfood!

Braumeister,

You are in.  I PM'd you my address.

I hope your member name has more than a hint of truth behind it.

jrp

chicagostyledog


Mrs. CSD & I will be joining the brat fest. However, since some one else is bringing our brat from the Elburn Market, our entry will be ( Stricken D is going to love this)
"BIG WALLY" 1/2 pound of all pure beef pleasure!

CSD

Reunited and it feels so good
Reunited cause we understood...

Add two more varieties to the list.  I managed to stop by Schmeisser's Homemade Sausages in Niles, Illinois today and picked up a pound of their standard brat, which they say compares to a Sheboygan, and a pound of their Hungarian version with a little more kick and a good shot of garlic.  Four links each.  Should be enough for an entry and maybe a couple more for the chow down after.

Buddy

Add one more guest, my boss will be joining us. What kind of dish should I ask her to bring?

Stricken D, for you I'll also bring along our newest entry to the world of encased meats, the jalapeno/cheddar dog, made with real Wisconsin cheddar.

CSD

stricken_detective


Add one more guest, my boss will be joining us. What kind of dish should I ask her to bring?

A dish with your raise and promotion in it!

I always say a homemade side dish or a adult beverage to share.  Any favorite of The Boss will be great.

Jim

CSD, you are too cool for school! Thank you so much!!!

JRPfeff

stricken_detective


Add one more guest, my boss will be joining us. What kind of dish should I ask her to bring?

A dish with your raise and promotion in it!

I always say a homemade side dish or a adult beverage to share.  Any favorite of The Boss will be great.

Jim

Haha! That did happen in July!

She makes a mean garlic mashed potato (skin on), and made KAJMAK for me this week. We will see what transpires.

(is mrsP making those root beer jello shots again? ahem)

Mmmmmm...kajmak (*drool*)

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse


Add two more varieties to the list.  I managed to stop by Schmeisser's Homemade Sausages in Niles, Illinois today and picked up a pound of their standard brat, which they say compares to a Sheboygan, and a pound of their Hungarian version with a little more kick and a good shot of garlic.  Four links each.  Should be enough for an entry and maybe a couple more for the chow down after.

Buddy

As a very interested Side Bar Observer who would love to be there, (Have you checked Airfare's lately), I thought the competition was for WISCONSIN BRATS ONLY. Since you've excluded Ohio Brats---- Shouldn't you also exclude Illinois Brats from the competition just to be fair?? You can serve them, they just should not be entered in the competition.

That's up to Jimm.

JRP, correct me if I'm wrong, but, we have not excluded Ohio brats from the contest, only determined that it would be too expensive to ship them in.  Foodbme, if you scroll up toward the upper third of this page, you will see that JRPfeff made contact with Carle's Butcher Shop in Bucyrus, Ohio and found it would cost $55 dollars to have 2 lbs. of brats sent to Wisconsin.

Although Michael Hoffman generously offered to pay for the order, JRP did not feel right spending that much of Mr. Hoffman's money.  Mr. Hoffman has not posted a, "don't be silly, go ahead and spend the dough," reply, so there will be no Ohio brats unless someone else wants to foot the bill.

While it is true that this started out as a "Wisconsin only" event, it has evolved into much more than that.  If you check earlier listings in this thread, you will see that we already have some brats from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and from Elburn, Illinois entered into the contest.  Unless I'm mistaken we are accepting brats from all points that are willing to put themselves up against the Dairy State standard.

Which brings me to my next question: As "a very interested Side Bar Observer", who would love to be there but cannot afford the airfare (entirely understandable), do they make brats in your part of the world?  Would you like to send them in lieu of yourself to be represented at the cook-off?  You wouldn't even need to buy them a seat, just a square foot or so of cargo space underneath the plane would do.

I can vouch for JRPfeff as a fair and honest individual who would treat an Arizona bratwurst the same as he would one from  Wisconsin.  It would recieve equal time and care on the grill and would be judged in the same manner and with the same criteria as all the others entered.

Think about it.  The pride of the population of Arizona is at stake here...

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse

I think most of The Contingent (whaddaya think of the name, Al?) are planning to be there.  From what I've read so far the only absolute no shows are quijote and irisarbor.  We haven't heard from Gyp or annpeeples yet, but other than that I think we're all accounted for.  The 

Hey everybody. Count me in.
I'll be picking up some brats from Eden Meat Market. Unless it's already been listed but I didn't see it. I can also bring some beverage.

"Which brings me to my next question: As "a very interested Side Bar Observer", who would love to be there but cannot afford the airfare (entirely understandable), do they make brats in your part of the world?  Would you like to send them in lieu of yourself to be represented at the cook-off?  You wouldn't even need to buy them a seat, just a square foot or so of cargo space underneath the plane would do.

I can vouch for JRPfeff as a fair and honest individual who would treat an Arizona bratwurst the same as he would one from  Wisconsin.  It would recieve equal time and care on the grill and would be judged in the same manner and with the same criteria as all the others entered.

Think about it.  The pride of the population of Arizona is at stake here... "

Buddy

Thank You for the clarifications. There are a few places out here that make their own sausages, including Brats. One is "The Pork Shop" in Queen Creek AZ, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOtqcFXYdo
Another is "Midwestern Meats" in Mesa AZ (He's orginally from IA),  http://www.midwesternmeats.com/index.html
Two in Phoenix
"Schreiners Sausage" has been around for over 50 years http://www.schreinerssausage.com/products.asp
 
"Stanley's Sausage" also has been in business quite a while http://www.stanleys-sausage.com/home.html

I'm thinking about sending some. Refresh my memory-- What's the date of this Shindig and what's the address to ship to if I decide to do it?

Buddy,

Re- The shipping in of "Ringer's" (outside the area Sausage). I thought about sending in some of Green's Texas Czech Sausage from their little store and sausage factory just outside of Temple Texas (and a few Jalapeno/cheese Kolache to accompany the Brat-sized Sausages) but they don't recommend shipping in the summer monthes. (kinda like chocolate!!)

So do what ya can wit whatcha got !

Foodbme
  Thank You for the clarifications. There are a few places out here that make their own sausages, including Brats. One is "The Pork Shop" in Queen Creek AZ, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOtqcFXYdo
Another is "Midwestern Meats" in Mesa AZ (He's orginally from IA),  http://www.midwesternmeats.com/index.html
Two in Phoenix
"Schreiners Sausage" has been around for over 50 years http://www.schreinerssausage.com/products.asp
 
"Stanley's Sausage" also has been in business quite a while http://www.stanleys-sausage.com/home.html

I wonder if you got any of them from here: http://www.onmilwaukee.co...elmurphyspackbars.html In the heart of Chicago-St. Louis-Arizona Cardinal Country.

Foodbme, that's gonna be a tough schedule to meet.  The cook-off is this Sunday, September 6th.  You could overnight the brats, but at that point, it might be cheaper for you to buy a plane ticket and hand carry them.  At least that way you'd get to enjoy the fruits of your efforts.

Buddy

Question -

I don't deal with frozen brats, so  - when do I take them out of the freezer so they'll be fine in time for this shindig? Day before? Night before? Morning of?