Anyone else get this quirky deli catalog from Ann Arbor, Mich.? Anyone else order anything from 'em? Anything you can recommend?
This is one of two places in the United States that I can find Violet Mustard.
In Europe, it is known as Moustarde au Violette and is a special mustard made with grape must (the left-over skins and whatnot from the wine industry).
The mustard is a gorgeous purple color and there is NOTHING like it in the world on grilled sausages. I go through several jars a year…
Oh, Fried Dough Ho, damn you! I need to try (order) this now. I’ve never heard of this type of mustard.
Anyway, I’ve never ordered from the Zingerman’s catalog, but every time I pass through Ann Arbor, it’s a must stop.
I used to go to Zingerman’s when my sister-in-law was at U of M and I visited them. I wasn’t aware they had shipped products now! I recall the challah being good enough to make you weep for joy, but I’m not sure it would ship well.
I am curious whether the people answering the phone are as aggressively friendly as the shop employees. That was always quite an experience.
Damn - My wife will kill me if I buy any more mustard (I have 7 in the 'fridge now)
Zingerman’s is pretty great, but I could never afford anything there when I lived in Ann Arbor, because I was a grad student. They have AMAZING hot cocoa and their little pastries are fantastic, but I doubt any of that would ship very well.
Thanks for the tips. They’re at zingermans.com or (888) 636-8162, for anyone who’s interested. I’m thinking of trying their chocolate covered candied orange peels or tarallini snacks.
I was shocked at the prices the first time I went to Zingerman’s. I swear it’s a couple bucks more expensive than a comparable place in Chicago (although there really isn’t an exactly comparable place in Chicago.) I was not expecting this in a college town, even at a specialty shop.
Bwaaaahhhaaaaahhhhaaaaa :D:D:D
I am the same with mustards but after tasting this, I am gave gotten down to only needing four; moustarde au violette, mustard with tarragon, Dijon, and classic yellow.
But I use way more of the purple mustard than any of the rest. Thanksgiving is coming – it will taste GREAT on left-over turkey sandwiches!!!
Alright, 2 jars of moustrde au violette ordered. This better be good. 
By the way, coupon code “DEVOUR” will get you 10% off your order.
A lot of it is the name. You can buy Zingerman’s bread baked at Zingerman’s bakery, at Sparrow Market, literally across the street from Zingerman’s - for a dollar cheaper.
I love the violet mustard-there’s a jar in my fridge right now. The German mustards are really good too. And I can definitely recommend the organic polenta, very nice.
I used to live around the corner, and, on a different occasion, worked in the same low-rise office complex as their bakery (which is offsite).
The sourdough bread with chocolate chunks is yums, but I don’t know how it travels. I used to splurge on a “Randy’s Routine” (whitefish salad and scallion cream cheese with tomato on pumpernickel) and garlic tomato bisque soup, which were rich enough for 2 meals.
The best part of Zingerman’s is making insane customer service requests, which they eagerly comply with each and every time. Can I have my sandwhich disassembled for travel? Sure! Can I have three matzo balls instead of two? No additional charge! Can I just buy two leaves of lettuce? You betcha! There’s no more fresh mozzarella? We will make some for you right now.
They are a mix of things which are highly proced for good reason, and things which are highly priced for no reason. I mean, their coffee cake is good and all, but there’s nothing short of gold flakes you can put in a coffee cake serving 6, to make $33 a reasonable price. NOTHING. It’s flour eggs, butter and sugar. Yeah yeah, Indonesian cinnamon – it’s $13/lb at Penzey’s, even if they dumped in the whole pound that cake would be overpriced.
The brownies are kickass, even though I will never, ever forgive them for discontinuing the chocolate-raspberry brownie. Jerks! I drown my anger in a dulce de leche brownie, and all is forgiven.
For the record, their bagels suck. And IMHO the crust on some of their bread is too hard. Yeah, I know crust is important but there’s a limit. It actually hurts my teeth.
And if you want to know from smoked fish, the guy at Durham’s Tracklements (1/2 block down from Zingerman’s) is a god-like figure to me. I have been known to beg – literally beg! – for entrance when I arrived near closing time. Zing’s smoked fish offerings are workmanlike but in comparison they’re just ai’ight, dog.
All in all there’s some hype, some substance. I would place most of the substance in their cheese/meat selection, unique imported gourmet staples (ie, salt, olive oil, mustard, vinegar) and truly excellent service.
I’ve been to Zingerman’s a couple of times, and Roadhouse Restaurant once. The restaurant was very good and the food at the deli is top notch. I wish it was a little less expensive though, because I just can’t justify bying from their catalog at those prices.
Well, I just got it delivered today. Very interesting. Very mild and sweet. I’m not quite sure what to make of it yet. I tend to like my mustards more sharp and acidic. But I bet this would go really well with a weisswurst.
Slightly freaked out that I came in and saw this thread. I was at a wine tasting lunch today and several people at my table were talking about taking the Cheese Mastery Class at Zingerman’s this coming summer.
I’ve never ordered anything online there myself, but my BIL and his wife have sent us gift boxes from there a couple of times (they live in Ann Arbor and are frequent customers). I was shocked at the prices when I looked online, and though I certainly appreciated the yummy gifts, I can’t contemplate blowing that kind of cash. (Though we do stop in to the store for a treat on-site when we are in Ann Arbor. Some things are just mildly overpriced, not totally outrageous.)
Weisswurst, Bratwurst, venison sausage, rabbit sausage, any of those “artisinal” sausages made by Saag’s or Aidell’s…
It might be perfect for Leberkaes. This must.