Kielbasy!

Took a road trip from Harrisburg to Shenandoah and Kowalonek's plus two others in the immediate area as well. Was reading on another site that Kowalonek's was the end all, be all of Kielbasa and a must try. I am 2nd gen Polish American and grew up eating Grandpas' Kielbasa and later Kielbasa from Pulaski's Meat Products in Linden, NJ. Pulaski's is set in an old Polish neighborhood and the staff assumes customers speak Polish as their first language. There is no problem doing business in English either. The Kielbasa is plump, 40+mm casing, juicy with 3/8" course ground lean and fat, flecks of black pepper, hint of marjoram and an up front but balanced garlic flavor. All combined, a classic Kielbasa Wiejska (vee-AY-skah), rural or country style, with a bold flavor but you still know you are eating Pork. Note...Wiejska often includes veal but it is left out if cost prohibitive.

I too found the Shenandoah style to be light on garlic, more heavily smoked and a much drier style, most likely Kielbasa Weselna (vuh-SELL-nuh), different from what l grew up eating. l also never saw mustard seed in Kielbasa before. I found Kowalonek's to be good but not something l'd ever travel 1.5 hours for again.

The recipe Grandpa used was lost by the time l was into making sausage. By this time the older men of the family were either passed on or forgot. Dad did say, Fresh Garlic, Cure, a small amount of Marjoram, S & P, but could not remember how much. The recipe below is exactly like that l ate the last 54 years when you add 0.5g / Kg Marjoram. If you try it make plenty and hold out a few pounds for Biala Kielbasa. Biala or White Kielbasa is raw and must be cooked, usually simmered in water or with sauerkraut. lt can be grilled or pan fried but is never smoked...JJ

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/129813/kielbasa-start-to-finish-for-chef-jimmy

The Plymouth Keilbasa Festival is coming up. It's usually the second weekend of August. Have you guys ever gone? Plymouth is just outside of Wilkes-Barre. They have a vote for best fresh and best smoked keilbasa. Komensky's in Dallas (PA) is the one everybody goes crazy for.

hmm i have family that lives around there next time im in the US  ill have to stop by this pace and check it out. i love me some kielbasa im blessed  here in the Hamilton area to have a large polish eastern European community.  we have some great polish kielbasa  company's  here Beach Road Meats & Delicatessen  authentic  polish kielbasa and Staropolskie Delikatesy is a great one  you walk in and they have the big barrels of dill pickes right there