Bende’s-Hungarian and Eastern European exotica: Glen Ellyn

This tidy shop has been open for maybe 3 or 4 months on the north side of RT 38 (Roosevelt) in Glen Ellyn. The store is divided into about 3 main sections, the deli with a few extra self serve refrigerated cases, the aisles with dry goods, jars, etc and the beer and wine and other beverages.

The deli carries their own brand of various Hungarian salamis, sausages, bacon and dry cured pork loin. Many shapes and varieties of short, long and smoked all made at the main location in Vernon Hills where there is also an outlet. I tried the Hot Gyulai Smoked Sausage, which had a nice paprika kick, but not what I would define as hot. They had some great looking bacon chunks with the hanging strings still embedded. The deli also had a decent selection of cheeses and cold cuts other than their house brand but with a definite Eastern European bent.

The dry good sections is pretty varied with jams, teas, spices, and cookies mainly from Eastern Europe but here and there a few Italian and Greek things such as dry pastas, gnocchi, and some decently priced olive oils. A good amount of space is devoted to pickled veg. along with a few different brands of ajvar. The one interesting find was Douwe Egberts coffee in the red European packaging asked about here. A little over $5 for about 10-12 ounces.

The beer and wine section, while not huge, has some interesting selections from Romania. There were a few other countries from the general area represented with wine but memory fails me. A few nice looking bottles of slivovitz and grappa too. All in all, a nice store to check out if you are in the area.

Bende Inc
444 Roosevelt Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL
(630) 469-6525

thanks for the tip on the store. I'm a long-time believer in Bende's stuff, the hot salami with paprika, and the Gyulai are often found in our fridge

Assuming that they have the same wines at the Vernon Hills location, they have one of my favorite deals in dessert wine. They carry a no name hungarian Tokay, 5 pettunyos, for about 12 bucks that is as good as the name ones that cost 25-40, and i think it holds up well against a $50 sauterne. Love that salami too.
-Will

Today I went to bendes in glen ellyn. so what do they have there? well for one delicious smoked meat products Hungarian style. they have a long thin snack type sausage that is garlicky and smokey that i love. a few small pieces satisfies me and its low carb. they also have many other sausages, smoked ribs and bacon that are quite good. Looks like they also do a brisk business in liver type sausages too if that is your thing.

Other things I saw there are many interesting jams and spreads. I love Hero jam especially black cherry and will try forest fruits next. they also have a bitter orange type jam and current. Many euro type packaged cookies and biscuits, Labriola and other types of breads and cut pieces of cakes and pastries. walker shortbread and manner. Imported chocolates too and they sell pizelles which i like with a cup of coffee. Many types of waters and drinks that are imported. they sell both lemon and orange san pelligrino drink. also unterberg bitters and many types of fruit brandies and wines and beers that are unusual.

Their hungarian paprika is a special blend for bendes and they sell a full line of stuff from knorr and maggi, and dr.oetker. vanilla beans and solo fillings and marzipan. they also sell lots of euro noodles that are hard to find and sauces such as ajver.(sp?) spaetzel makers, potatoe ricers and a few other cooking type implements. They also have a section of euro bath and beauty products like Fa, badedas, kneipp, and nivea.
I believe they have several locations and you can buy on line. store is spotless. i am not connected with bendes but thought I would post in case anyone is looking for these items.

http://www.bende.com/

It seems the Bende's in Glen Ellyn has closed. I didn't go there often, but it was my go-to source for rosti.

Anybody have ideas for where packaged rosti might be available? They're imported from Germany, and my sis loves them. Meijer used to carry it. No more. World Market used to carry it. No more.

It is available from Amazon, but it's super expensive.

Thanks!

Please check the Bende's website (bende.com). I live in Glen Ellyn and am pretty sure that was their 2nd location, with the 1st in Vernon Hills. Looks like it's still there.

tcdup wrote:It seems the Bende's in Glen Ellyn has closed. I didn't go there often, but it was my go-to source for rosti.

Anybody have ideas for where packaged rosti might be available? They're imported from Germany, and my sis loves them. Meijer used to carry it. No more. World Market used to carry it. No more.

It is available from Amazon, but it's super expensive.

Thanks!

Kuhn's Deli in Des Plaines has imported German foods. They may have them.

(847) 640-0222
http://kuhnsdeli.com/

Otherwise a road trip to New Glarus, Wisconsin will get you a meal with excellent Roesti. The New Glarus Hotel is a good bet for a traditional Swiss - German meal.

Thanks, I did see on Bende's website that they still exist, but the Rosti are not listed as available. Maybe they have them at the physical store.

tcdup wrote:Thanks, I did see on Bende's website that they still exist, but the Rosti are not listed as available. Maybe they have them at the physical store.

Easy to call and find out:

"If you have any questions, please contact us by phone at (847) 913-0304 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm Central time or by email at support@bende.com."

Feb 27 2023.
Greetings all. . . . . Yikes, no posts since 2015. . .
.
Finally . . . made it to the Bende store in Vernon Hills, since Koenemann's in Volo closed. Shelves stocked full.

It seems they may have moved because the sign is in front of one building, but they direct you to next door.

They call it an outlet.

Many familiar things from Germany as well and they bought Koenemann's meat recipes, but the gal there, who said she had worked at K's, said the recipes have changed a bit. Oh well.

Still, many familiar names and products. Got some good things. Memories. . .

Phone still the same: (847) 913-0304

Yelp reports the Glenn Ellen store permanently closed.
I hadn't heard of them until after K's closed. Sad.
So many places closed. . . Sad.
- -
Regards.

Also FYI. . .
.
Last fall we also went to Lake Geneva Country Meats up on highway 50 east of Lake Geneva on a Saturday. It was big and jammed and with so many things.
lakegenevacountrymeats.com

Two miles east of there is River Valley Ranch. It was also fairly Saturday-busy and we went for mushroom mulch bags. Though it is rather small, it was nice to browse around and pick up some things. They have just about anything you can imagine 'mushroom'!
I just saw on their web site that they had a Chicago, Ravenswood store that just closed Dec 31 2022, but they will be at farmers markets. Sigh
(:-(
rvrvalley.com/

I posted related things like this for others, on the Koenemann's Face Book page, including info for the German food mail order / subscription package services I'd found.
We're slowly coming to terms with change.
- -
Best Regards to all.

Hi,

I know that lady at Bende's. She once yelled at me over my selections at Koenemann's. I find it surprising she works front of the house.

Most of my German sausage purchasing has shifted to Usinger's. Their salze (headcheese with a nice vinegar tang) is closer to Koenemann's original recipe than Bende's version of Koenemann's recipe.

I really liked the Westphalian ham at Koenemann's. I should probably try Bende's. I am not sure if Usinger's has this. If you see some in your roaming, please advise.

Thinking German food: I really miss Bruno's sour rye bread. I have no idea when they disappeared, but it was a standard purchase for our family. Always bought unsliced to keep it fresher longer. Found any vendors you find acceptable?

Thanks for the updates.

Regards,
Cathy2

I recall you mentioning her. She and another woman were cutting stuff behind one case and was cordial, but we only talked a second.
.
I miss so much.

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,
Found any vendors you find acceptable?
Thanks for the updates.
Regards, Cathy2

We're north of Crystal Lake and wife goes to Klacks there, but also likes Fresh Market. They're just good places, not necessarily real German sources, but there is some of that as well.
I'll push for visits to Lake Geneva Country Meats on 50 since it is so full of stuff, busy with people and so many choices that is just felt so comfortable.
It's nice to see comments here, too.
Time marches on.
- -
Regards, Steve