Fairfield Inn Roseville MN

Designed to compete in the category the hospitality industry calls “added value economy”, the Marriott Corporation created the Fairfield Inn brand in the late 1980s. This category of motel offers amenities, but limited “service,” at “value pricing.” Pricing, of course, varies depending on location.  “Limited service” generally means, no on-site restaurant, bell staff and the… Continue reading Fairfield Inn Roseville MN

Simms Garlic Summer Sausage

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Garlic Summer Sausage from one of my favorite meat processors, Klement’s of Milwaukee.  I enjoyed the product, and it was at a deeply discounted promotional price, which was even better.   Today I was zipping through Aldi’s for staples, and noticed they had a garlic summer sausage… Continue reading Simms Garlic Summer Sausage

Jacks Pizza Review

Jack’s is one of those former little brands, started as the food equivalent of a garage band, in Little Chute, Wisconsin (outside of Appleton.  Near Neenah.  Kinda by Menasha. Before you get to Green Bay).  Started in 1960.  Grew around the state, then the region, bought by Kraft when they were rolling up frozen pizza… Continue reading Jacks Pizza Review

Advisory on Packaged Caramel Apples

The CDC has issued an advisory statement to caution persons on consuming pre-packaged caramel apples. There has been a nationwide outbreak of listeria tied to the snack, but investigators have not yet been able to tie it to a specific brand.  CDC statement here.        

Bobak Polish Sausage Review

“Polish” Sausage is the Americanization of a smoked beef / pork sausage from Poland that is commonly called kielbasa.  The American version is generally milder than the original, depending on the manufacturer.   Many Chicago companies call their polish sausage “Maxwell Street” (style), as an homage to a sandwich that was commonly sold to the… Continue reading Bobak Polish Sausage Review

Hillshire Farms Deli Meat Review

Ai yi yi. So in 1939, Nathan Cummings acquired the CD Kenny company, which begat the Sprague Warner Kenny Company, which became Consolidated Grocers, which became Consolidated Foods Corporation, which acquired The Kitchens of Sara Lee, which became Consolidated’s largest brand so they changed their name to Sara Lee, and they acquired Hillshire Farms, which… Continue reading Hillshire Farms Deli Meat Review

Mama Cozzis Mega Meat Thin Crust Pizza

  Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen is an in-house brand at discount grocer Aldi, owned by the same German company that owns Trader Joes.  Aldi primarily contracts with food manufacturers to make products under brand names that Aldi has chosen, and they are quite often top manufacturers in the segment;  Aldi offers the products for significantly… Continue reading Mama Cozzis Mega Meat Thin Crust Pizza

Fricks Ham Review

Ran into a product I hadn’t seen before, a boneless half  ham from Frick’s Meat, a purveyor from Washington, MO (about 40 miles west of St. Louis, halfway between I-70 on the north, and I-44 on the south.  Frick’s has been around for nearly a century and a quarter, and manufacturers processed pork products, including… Continue reading Fricks Ham Review

Vienna Beef Corned Beef and Pastrami

If you’re even an occasional reader of this site, you know two things for sure –  I have a diminishing interest in purchasing most ‘deli meats’ because of real or perceived notion they aren’t ‘real.’  By that I am generally referring to two things –  ‘roasts’ that are formed from meat and other ingredients into… Continue reading Vienna Beef Corned Beef and Pastrami