Serious Eats: Chicago
Serious Sandwiches: Rosario's Italian Sausage
Rosario's has a serious pig problem. There are little porky tchotchkes on the counter, statues of swine behind the counter, and a few huge piggy bank–looking porkers above the freezer case. Even the neon sign on the front of the building depicts a bunch of happy piglets jumping in to a grinder. Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from one of Chicago's best Italian sausage makers.
The real celebration of all things porcine here though is the fennel-kissed house made links. They're so good, you could eat them on a plate naked, with your morning eggs, or clothed only in peppers. But give them a slight grill char, stuff them between a crunchy crusted chewy crumbed roll and slather it with a spicy red sauce and few sweet peppers, and you've got a hero of epic proportions.
About the author: Michael Nagrant writes for Serious Eats from Chicago, where he also publishes Hungry magazine. Michael never met an organ meat he didn't like. He hopes to meet many more.
Rosario's
Address: 8611 South Pulaski Avenue, Chicago IL 60652 (map)
Phone: 773-585-0660