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It’s All Happening at the Fair!

The Wisconsin State Fair begins on Thursday August 4th thru August 14th. No trip to the Fair is complete without a brat or a hot dog from Usinger’s, Milwaukee’s oldest family run sausage shop. We are located in the air conditioned Wisconsin Products Pavilion where you will find the best food at the best price.

All of our sausages are served on hearty Miller Bakery Pretzel buns and are priced right at just $ 4.00. The service is fast, friendly and efficient.

Here is this year’s line up:

Quarter pound Bratwurst, served with Kraut

Quarter pound Italian, served with peppers & onions

Quarter pound Smoked Brat with Cheddar & Jalapeno

Jumbo All Beef Hot Dog

 

Stop in and enjoy some “wurst”.

See you at the Fair.

Fritz

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Get Ready, Here it Comes

German Fest begins July 29 – 31 at Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront.  What a great time to experience German food, culture, music and yes a little beer. It’s like an Octoberfest warm up party.

We are proud to be a long time sponsor of Milwaukee’s German Fest and provider of many different types of sausage and meats served during the three day run.

You may want to try a German Fest favorite, the over-sized, October Fest Bratwurst or the spicy Smoked Bratwurst.  Then there is the Bavarian Wiener, Knackwurst or the Pork Links that are served with the potato pancakes. Or maybe you want the Smoked Pork Chops (Kassler Rippchen) that are smoked over glowing hard wood embers in our two story brick smokehouses. Don’t forget the Sauerkraut…. We make that too.

Hope to see you at the opening ceremonies.  Bring your appetite and we will see you there!

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Mr. Baseball Brats

Now that Spring has finally arrived it’s time to fill the grill.  One thing that goes great with baseball season is Mr. Baseball Brats.  Enjoy Bob Uecker’s favorite brat and help out the Make-A-Wish kids too!  A portion of the proceeds from Mr. Baseball Brats goes to the Wisconsin Make-A-Wish Foundation.  But it’s not just a great cause, it’s also a great brat!

What is a Mr. Baseball Brat you ask ?   The Sausage Makers at Usinger’s created a special recipe that is seasoned just the way Bob likes his Brats.

You’ll find Mr. Baseball Brats on our website, in our retail store, and also at your local Sendik’s store.  Giv’em a try, you’ll be glad you did.

“Thanks for voting for us in the Wisconsin’s Best Brat Contest”, we need your support.

Fritz

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Spring Shipping Savings!

Spring is straight ahead. That means gatherings of family and friends for Easter celebrations. Count on Usinger’s for unique treats for your guests. Our Apple Wood Smoked Pit Ham has a one of a kind “camp fire” smoky aroma and taste.  These hams are smoked in our two story brick pit smokehouses over smoldering apple wood embers. Because this ham is boneless, they are easily carved with no waste. Another Easter season favorite is our Fresh Kielbasa. Made the traditional way with coarsely ground select cuts of pork, old world herbs & spices and lots of fresh garlic. Yes, only fresh garlic!

 

March also mean it’s time for Usinger’s  “$9.99” shipping sale on your deli favorites ! Watch your mailboxes and your inboxes for all the details. For a limited time we are offering a $9.99 shipping rate to most states on orders up to 20 pounds. This offer starts on March 21st, just enter the coupon code “spring16” when you checkout. Sorry, this offer does not apply to gift boxes or FedEx shipping. So, whether you’re planning an Easter celebration or an Opening Day tailgate party, now is the time to stock up.

 

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

Fritz

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Usinger’s Selected Milwaukee’s Best Brat!

Like “Ueck” says, “When you want the best, you want Usinger’s.  America’s finest sausage since 1880, and proven once again.  Milwaukee Magazine conducted a taste test for their October issue, to determine the best brat between Usinger’s, Johnsonville and Klements.  Managing editor Howie Magner fired up his grill and and cooked (no parboiling, it just masks the real flavor). When all was said and done, the winner was 135 year-old Usinger’s.  It stood out for balanced spices and considerable juice.  Are you surprised?

To read the story look for “The Sausage Taste Test” in Milwaukee Magazine’s October 2015 issue.  Courtesy of Milwaukee Magazine/photo by Adam Ryan Morris.

http://www.milwaukeemag.com/2015/09/28/50-reasons-to-love-milwaukee-teaser/

 

 

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Oktoberfest Time!

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest outdoor party.  It’s celebrated all over the world, including right here in Milwaukee, but the main event is in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The 16-day festival runs from late September to the first weekend in October. They’ve held it there since the early 1800’as and it’s an important part of the Bavarian culture.  Wiesn, as it’s referred to in Bavaria, is short for the grounds it’s held on.  Munich’s Oktoberfest averages about 6 million visitors per year!  Most other Oktoberfest celebrations are patterned after Munich’s, they’re just a little smaller.

If you like to eat German food, Oktoberfest is a party you don’t want to miss.  Here’s a sample of what you can try, Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinsh axe (grilled ham hock), of course they’ll have plenty of Würst (sausages) along with Brezen (pretzel), Knödel (potato or bread dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), and Sauerkraut.  Several of these dishes may sound familiar because they are served at Milwaukee’s Germanfest.

 

Along with Bratwurst another popular wurst traditionally served at Octoberfest is Weisswurst  (a short, stubby link with a light, fluffy texture, white in color, speckled with fresh parsley and a hint of onion).

 

In Milwaukee, we too love an outdoor party. Host your own Octoberfest celebration with Usinger’s Weisswurst and Bratwurst.  Hand crafted in our sausage kitchen on Third St. in downtown Milwaukee, they are spiced perfectly and great on the grill.

 

Enjoy the season, Prost!

 

 

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Where Does Our Meat Come From?

In the era of “Bird Flu”, “Mad Cow”, and “Chronic Wasting”, people want to know where the food they’re eating comes from.

It’s a very good question, one that you should ask yourself, and one that I received recently.

Here at Usinger’s, we do not “harvest” animals, never have. We buy only the preferred cuts from USDA inspected packinghouses located in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states to make our sausages.

Because our suppliers are under continuous inspection by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS), they must comply with Federal Regulations related to animal welfare, animal health, proper sanitary conditions and that the entire process is conducted humanely. Federal Law requires that FSIS personnel be present during hours of operation at these establishments to validate compliance.

We have always believed in using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. We do not use imported frozen meat in any Usinger products. Fresh, Midwestern pork and beef that is delivered daily to our Third Street sausage kitchen is what you will find in our products. It’s the only way to make America’s finest sausage.

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The Thrill of the Grill

Now that grilling season has returned, it’s time for a little review of some of our favorite grilling links and ways to prepare them.  While they all taste great, there are subtle differences in the way you may want to prepare them.

 

Usinger Cooked Brat –  The white brat.  Bavarian style made with finely chopped Pork and Veal.  These are the type served all over Germany.  When grilled they actually swell and get plumper as they are cooked.  Grilling gives them a crispy outer skin and smooth flavorful center.

 

Usinger Fresh Brat – My method for grilling a fresh brat is “low and slow”.  It’s the opposite of grilling a steak, which you sear right away to seal in the juices and then cook them at a lower temperature.  With a fresh bratwurst it has to acclimate to the heat slowly.  Too much heat too quickly can cause the brat to swell so much that it will break the casing, which is what you are really trying to avoid.  If the casing breaks, all of the juices and spices wind up in your grill.

 

Usinger Natural Casing Beef Frankfurters – These are meaty, juicy and have more than a hint of fresh garlic.  Grilling enhances the “pop” when you bite into the natural casing.

 

Usinger Smoked Andouille Sausage – This is a great sausage with lots of complex flavors.  Spicy, smoky and tangy all at once.

 

Usinger Jalapeno Cheddar – A hardwood smoked, fully cooked bratwurst that is ready to heat and eat. Made from coarsely ground premium pork, Jalapeno peppers, cheddar cheese and our apple wood smoked bacon for extra smokiness. One of my favorites.

 

Additional tips – Personally, I’m not a fan of parboiling.  It can change the texture of the casing and dilute the flavor of a perfectly spiced sausage.  If you’re short on time, the pre-cooked are quick and don’t require the care of grilling fresh meat.

If you like Kraut, try our Festival style sauerkraut.  It’s pre-cooked also and may be the only condiment you need.

Enjoy!

 

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Fred Usinger Day February 23rd, 2015

February’s tastiest holiday is almost here!  Fred Usinger Day.

Mayor Tom Barrett proclaimed February 23rd as Fred Usinger Day in a special proclamation back in 2005.  This special proclamation recognized Usinger¹s as a locally family owned and operated business for four generations spanning over 125 years.  The City of Milwaukee salutes Fred Usinger, Inc. for it¹s long standing good corporate citizenship and commitment to the betterment of Metropolitan Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin area².  To commemorate this event, our friends at the Old German Beer Hall will be offering a free Usinger brat to patrons beginning at 11am until 8pm.  I will also be on hand at OGBH to tap a keg at 6pm and there will be free beer until the keg runs out.  Take a break from the cold and enjoy a hot juicy Usinger brat, maybe a pretzel and your favorite libation as we celebrate Milwaukee’s sausage heritage.

It¹s my favorite thing about February, hope you can join us for the party!

Fritz