Short story long:
I'm pretty Polish. I grew up eating kielbasa on any occasion that was barely a holiday. Our family (and every generation of family that I know of) got their goods from an authentic Slavic deli that is kind of a Big Deal around the Cities.
Therefore, the "Polish sausage" in the grocery store is a bit of a joke. Anything labeled "kielbasa"? Better live up to its name.
How does it live up to the venerated Kielbasa label? If the smell of garlic hits your nose like an ACME anvil, it's headed in the right direction.
Jump ahead to this year's St. Patty's Day, where my friend lucked out at The Butcher and The Boar (hey, Heath!) and won the meat raffle. On her birthday, even! Raffle prize: some jerky, some olive loaf, and some links labeled "kielbasa".
My raised eyebrow nearly knocked over the tall dude standing behind me.
Heath threw the box to me, knowing I'd actually eat the contents.
Since it sat in my fridge for a couple days before I fried it up, I was beyond skeptical of its scale of greatness, because my fridge smelled like... nothing. But once I got those babies out of the vacuum seal, a holy heaven of garlic was unleashed.
People, I am almost embarrassed to admit the following. And I don't say it lightly (earmuffs, young ones):
It was fucking amazing.
Amazing! I tell you!
Garlicy, fatty, meaty, awesome.
So, if you're in town, hit up The Butcher and The Boar (Star Tribune's Restaurant of the Year at 1121 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis). Yes, based on their kielbasa alone, I would tell everyone to patronize them.
And not in that "oooooh, your sausage is reaaaaallly good" kind of way. The kind of way that'll make you eat there every day FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
BUT THEN, this same friend who plied me with her meat products, told me a crazy tale about a fancy dessert called "S'mores". But not just regular S'mores. No, no, no. S'mores done up by some crafty fiend who made homemade graham crackery cookie things, and then flambéed some CHOCOLATE FILLED MARSHMALLOWS.
CHOCOLATE FILLED MARSHMALLOWS!
Oh shit!
Next time you see me, you'd better believe I'll be covered in marshmallow and chocolate.
...
Don't make that weird.
One year ago: LLLL.
