Hi,
I hope Walter you are still out there.
I was in Waukegan today with a friend who wanted to visit Cribb's Fine Foods. Cribb is an old Lake County family, especially the northern tier.
While my friend chatted with the owner and Cribb family member about an incident from 1868, I toured the market. According to my friend who grew up with family in Waukegan, Cribb's Fine Foods was once her Grandmother's preferred meat vendor.
Cribb's makes their own:
- Brat
- Beer Brat
- Beef Brat
- Cajun Brat
- Bacon and Onion Brat
- Reg and Hot Italian Sausage
- Lithuanian Brat
- Turkey Brat
- Potato Brat
There were representative sausages in the display refrigerator, if you wanted more they came from the freezer. Lithuanian sausage is available fresh more frequently in summer or the holidays. If you want freshly made, I suggest calling in advance and plan your visit around their production schedule.
I did inquire if there was a Lithuanian population near. Only to learn there once was a Lithuanian population. It continues in their repertoire because former residents return for it.
I could not remember until later what was distinctive of Lithuanian sausage, which the butcher advised was similar to Polish sausage. Now I know it is the use of onion instead of garlic.
The grocery area has a resort feel: not very well stocked and high prices, you just have to need it badly. The meat is their core business, but the grocery not so much.
If I see it, I buy it: ham salad for my Mom. I asked my usual question, "Is it made of bologna or ham?" Today the response was ham, though a recent visit to Ream's in Elburn the answer was ham and bologna. Today's batch was not made in-house though it had a Miracle Whip tang to it. Cribb's only make it in-house around the holidays.
I had also had heard praise for their submarine sandwiches that was really filled with meat. I chose halvarti cheese and to dress it with everything. I did not get to it for a few hours, so the bread had time to absorb some dressing and flavor. My main complaint of several submarines lately, they are just too dry and consequently not easy to eat.
Cribb's is in an older neighborhood of Waukegan I had never visited before. There is an Italian restaurant name Louie's nearby but they do not offer pizza until 4 PM. I wanted to try Quonset Hut, but my friend dismissed it as greasy. Someday I would like to find out for myself. There was a tavern serving food also in the middle of this neighborhood, which felt like a Chicago tavern style that Daley ran out of town.
For my friend it was a nostalgia tour, so I let her take the lead. Where did we end up for lunch?
Papa Marcos for Middle Eastern food.
Cribb Fine Foods Inc626 Franklin St, Waukegan, IL 60085
Hours: Sunday Closed, Monday-Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
Phone: (847) 623-0140
Louie's Restaurant
Old-school Italian outfit serving pizza, sandwiches & wings, plus craft beer & cocktails.
1009 North Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085
Monday-Tuesday Closed
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 12–8 PM
Friday-Saturday 12–8:30 PM
Phone: (847) 244-0101
It appears my friend was aiming for pizza, which did not commence until 4 pm.
Very near to all this was this pub in the neighborhood that looked interesting and served food. Those who know me, I am not usually interested in these places, but this one had a feel.