Euro Deli

I just found out about Euro Deli from a colleague, who was eating a sandwich that smelled delicious. I couldn't resist trying this place, and I wasn't disappointed. I went in for a salami sandwich and walked out with the sandwich, two potato cutlets, some gypsy salami, Krowelski cheese, and a Russian soda called Baikal. It's kind of out of the way from where I live, but it was worth the trip. They have a whole case of different kinds of cured meats, so I'll definitely be back.

I'm so glad curiosity got the better of me and I finally stopped into Euro Deli today. This deli/grocery is chock full of Eastern European goodies that remind me of my grandmothers' cooking.

I went in looking for a jar of ajvar (a Balkan eggplant/red pepper sauce) and found it cheaper than it is at other specialty grocery stores like Sahara Mart. Likewise, the other stuff on the grocery shelves appeared to be items I've rarely seen elsewhere and that were a tad cheaper than at other stores.

The deli case, though, was the most pleasant surprise. Lots of different meats and cheeses from which  to create your own sandwich creations and a slew of traditional European salads and to-go foods like stuffed cabbage, Chicken Kiev, baba ganoush, dolmas, kugel, blintzes, meat pies, etc. sold by the pound to be heated up on the spot or taken home for reheating.

As a lover of all things eggplant, I was particularly drawn to the "French Eggplant" and was told upon inquiry that these little eggplant rolls contained carrots and sauteed onions. They also appeared to contain a super garlicky aioli and, man, were they delicious. A little oily, but I drained and patted off as much oil as I could and ate them cold. Not sure if they're intended to be heated first, but they were fine as-is. And at about $3.00-$3.50 for a half pound, one of the more reasonably priced take-home dinners I've had lately.

I was also excited to see traditional Eastern European pastries, in particular beigli/makowiec (poppy seed roll) that looked just like Grandma used to make. The next time I'm entertaining, I will definitely be giving that a shot. There was also a hearty selection of foreign candies that looked interesting.

The only disappointment I could list after this initial visit is that I was hoping to find some fresh handmade pierogi there. (Even Kroger's deli carries non-frozen pierogi so I figured it wouldn't be a stretch.) Alas, unless I missed something, it looked as if all of their pierogi was Kasia's and Alexandra's frozen pierogi. Now, Kasia's and Alexandra's are GREAT Chicago-based pierogi companies and Euro Deli appeared to carry every possible variety, including the rarely seen (in these parts anyhow) sweet varieties. Unfortunately, all of the pierogi in the freezer case were coated with ice and obviously freezer burnt inside the packaging. Were that not the case, I'd have definitely left with a few different varieties. There were also some frozen meat dumplings (brand unknown) that looked nice and weren't covered with frost, but I was in a vegetarian pierogi mood.

Freezer burn aside, I definitely plan to return when I'm craving a taste of food from my heritage (and beyond).

Euro Deli is a Eastern European deli/grocery store and also one of my favorite places to grab a quick lunch. They have fabulous sandwiches made with freshly baked bread and a nice selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. (I love having the option of putting gouda on my sandwich!). In the cold case you can find other options that can be bought by the pound...like potato salad, meat pies , etc. Everything can be heated up on site if you decide to have it for lunch.

The dessert case has some strange looking cakes and pastries, but half the fun of patronizing a international food place is to try something in which you have no idea of what it is.

The owners are really cheery and are very welcoming, parking is never a problem and there are some tables available for those who want to eat in.