Safety Harbor’s Hungarian ‘Rhapsody”
Steve Fiske
The Merriam
Webster dictionary
INC SAUSAGE HOUSE
defines “rhapsody” as a state of
overwhelming and usually pleasurable
emotion. Perhaps, it is stretch
to define the sights, sounds and aroma
which may be found at the First
Quality Sausage House in Safety
Harbor as ‘Hungarian Rhapsody”,
however the experience does evoke
a highly pleasurable and pleasing
reaction. All of one’s senses come
alive beginning with the aroma and
visual treat of seeing so
many delicious
Eastern European
sausage and
meat selections
displayed
side by side
behind a large
glass butcher case. It
is reminiscent of a European
sausage shop one may find throughout
Eastern Europe.
I knew that I was in sausage
nirvana the minute I entered through
the front door and was greeted with
an aroma that I have not experienced
since my last trip to Austria. All of
the European spices that I enjoyed
were in the air and it brought me
back to the wonderful times that I
had spent in a host of village restaurant,
café’s and ghasthouses. It was
a wonderful sensual transference.
Next came the sampling of terperto,
a crispy Hungarian fried bacon,
and another flavorful cooked bacon
seasoned with paprika…absolutely
delicious!
Aniko Rakoczi, escaped from
Hungary in 1982 and purchased the
store from George Hudak after he
successfully ran the business for 20
years. She brought with her a lifetime
of cooking for friends and relatives
and was no stranger
to the eclectic items that
she makes and sells everyday.
Most of what is sold
is from her own secret
recipes. This is the same
authentic regional food
that one may experience in
Eastern Europe. ‘We are
the only Hungarian
sausage maker in
the Tampa area”, she
says with pride. They
also have authentic
Polish sausage,
Hungarian Goulash,
Rye Bread and all of her
products are made
with quality ingredients.
One of the most
popular items with
customers is Csabai a
double smoked Hungarian
sausage, which
contains, pepper,
garlic and Hungarian
Paprika. They also sell
chicken, beef and turkey sausage in
the European tradition. All of the
smoked meats are smoked with oak
and slowly cooked.
The sausage and meats that are
offered are all made on premise.
There are a variety of wursts, sausage
rolls and links. Many Europeans
or those who have lived or
travelled to these regions, or who
just enjoy good quality food, will
appreciate and be
delighted to find
these popular items
locally, such as fresh “weisswurst”,
liverwurst frankfurters, knockwurst
and bratwurst as well as kielbasa
and blood
sausage.
They
sell a considerable
of bonein
hams
for the
holidays
as well as
pastries, baked goods and imported
gifts.
If you want to experience what it
is like to be in a real Eastern European
market, stop by to see for
yourself why this place is one of the
area’s most popular destinations.
Take some
home and you
will go back
for more. This
is European
quality and
flavor at its
best! They
also have the
distinction of
being named Safety Harbor Chamber
of Commerce Small Business
of The Year in 2006. Located at 605
Ninth Ave. N.in Safety Harbor. They
are open Thursday to Saturday from
9 AM to 6 PM and every first Sunday
11 AM to4:30 PM.
727-725-5705 phone
www.firstqualitysausage.com
F I R ST QUALITY
aste of
North Pinellas 21
/www.firstqualitysausage.com
