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There is another Papa G's in the area in Huntley on IL47. I ate there once or twice and cannot really remember much. They are one of the few restaurants in the area that offer duck and goose on occasion.

I worked for Waubonsee College just south down 47 from Blackberry Inn and had lunch there many times. While the burgers are outstanding, the pork tenderloin is my favorite! For a little place, they put out some great food and have some great specials!

I had passed a bake shop a couple of times on my way to Ream's. I stopped yesterday, and got some really good pecan rolls and a couple of eclairs. I was really tempted by a German Chocolate Cake, $14. A nice sweet addition to a run to Ream's.

Made From Scratch
2 South Main Street
Elburn

The soccer gods have been sending me out Elburn way, and I have gladly obliged with a stop at Reams a week ago, and have another planned for early this week.

Tried their Romanian Sausage, making a particularly bizarre and wonderful hodge podge - baby bok choy, xo sauce and romanian sausage were the main ingredients, with some chili oil and onions playing a supporting role. Quite tasty with rice.

On a whim I bought some of their mountain jerky, which seemed a pretty traditional jerky. Excellent, and I am not a great jerky fan. Garlic wieners were fine, but I prefer the knackwurst, with a very similar flavor profile but better texture and taste for me. Have some other things in the freezer - brats, corned beef, knackwurst, and I will stock up on some more jerky and a few other things this week.

Always a treat to stop by Reams.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

On a recent return trip to Reams, and a few more things to report.

The Blackberry Inn is currently closed, soon to open under new management, if one believes the signage. Did not look like there was a lot happening, but that means very little.

Bought a sampler of jerky, as I was so impressed by my first purchase. Mountain jerky is the best traditional version, and spicy Tex Mex with its crushed chile flakes is a very enjoyable, spicy variation. Midwestern and Jerk were also very good, but the seasoning was not as good for me.

I am not generally a bratwurst fan, but I broiled up a package of their beer brats, and I am a convert. Meaty, juicy, deftly seasoned to highlight the excellent flavor of the meat. Not sure if they were the best sausages I have ever had, but they are the best ones I remember.

Also bought some summer sausage snack sticks. Quite tasty, with an almost vinegary tang in addition to the meat and garlic. Could be addictive.

Lastly, bought a variation on liverwurst, whose name I do not quite recall "Gobfel..." something. Package said it was liver and fresh onions, though the ingredients also featured pork pretty high on the list. It is a smooth pork sausage, without a lot of seasoning or liver flavor. Pleasant enough, but with so many other stellar possibilities, I can't recommend it. Served it with onions and chopped egg on crackers and pumpernickel and it made a fine snack.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

Oh, great.

Now there's something ELSE at Ream's that I can't do without. I tried the smoked pulled pork today, and honestly, it was like pork candy. Tender, juicy, flavorful, nice subtle smoke. OMG. At $7.99 a pound, it's another must have.

I really won't willingly have ham from anywhere else. Ever try cream chipped beef? Well, get their National Award winning dried beef, and that's all you'll want.

The bacon is great. The roasties (Wisconsin-style (I think) hotdogs) are the best. Try the flatlander sauce. Oh, yeah.

So, great!

I tried a couple of new items from the charcuterie selection. Elburner salami and Westphalian Ham. The ham was awesome. Sliced really thin, melt in your mouth awesomeness.

I'm also addicted to the in-house smoked cheddar. I brought 2 pounds to a party on Saturday and the plate was picked clean in a matter of a couple of hours.

I thought that I would try a ham from the Elburn Market for the holidays. I called in my order and told them that I would be out today around noon for the pickup. Apparently several hundred other folks had the same idea. The store was jammed. I mean shoulder to shoulder, impossible to move in any direction jammed inside, with an ever growing line stretching out the door and down the street. I really like the Elburn Market, but faced with that crowd ahead of me, I opted to drove back to Oak Park empty handed.

I have to post that "the times they are a changin" as the last time, pre-LTH, that I darkened the door at Ream's my Dad and I carried in the deer we had shot earlier that morning near Genoa. The carcass joined more than a dozen others hanging in the walk-in and we took our receipt and left. No waiting. Circa 1979. Elburn, you have come a long way baby!

Davooda

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Life is a garden, Dude - DIG IT!
-- anonymous Colorado snowboarder whizzing past me March 2010

We were there on the 23rd, and it was crazy. But you missed out - the lines all moved super fast. We were in and out in 30 minutes. Plus, everyone was in an awesome mood! We have filet for dinner tonight, and smoked cheddar for tomorrow. Plus all the usual cured meats. I love their cinnamon bacon.

I am really looking forward to taking my sweetheart/fellow foody to Reames. He lives an hour away and has never been. Luckily I'm closer and have known about this gem for years, shopping there is outside of my normal budget, but surely an occasional treat. My boys I won't buy jerky elsewhere. For Christmas I surprised my BF with a gift certificate to the meat market and a Nesco Food Dehydrator for Christmas... Smart thinking, huh?

Was inspired to take a trip to Ream's yesterday. Talked to one of the "guys". Apparently one of their smokers went down just before Christmas, and it put them way behind. Indulged in Liberknodle (a Christmas time only product). I was talked into a purchase of Leberkase (never tried it before). I'm to cook the pan of meat paste in a pan of water in the oven. Once cooked, slice (grill if you want) and enjoy with a schmear of brown mustard, onions and a beer. How could I pass that up?

Ham salad.

'nuff said.