My Trip to the Wurst Kitchen in Illinois

It's the "wurst" kitchen in Illinois, and it's proud of the fact.

The Wurst Kitchen Sausage Company, Aurora, Illinois, has been perfecting the art of sausage and meat for more than a century.

Founded in 1895, this unassuming little building on the south side of Aurora turns out the best meats for miles.

Maybe in the state of Illinois.

It's hard to find, nestled in a suburban setting and not adjacent to any commercial strip; the Wurst Kitchen quietly grinds out and sells some of the best sausage this side of...well, both sides of the country. But it's worth the drive.

Walking inside is like stepping back into the wild west, which is what the city of Aurora, Illinois, was at end of the nineteenth century. The wooden floors creak underfoot, and the old fashioned cabinets display the various types of brats and sausages and meats available to the choosier carnivore customer. Imported cheese is a big part of the store's inventory. A big sign on the outside says that the Wurst Kitchen makes its own cheese, but that, apparently, is a relic promise from a bygone day.

The Wurst Kitchen features handmade European style sausages, fresh cold cuts, imported delicatessen and more.

Wurst Kitchen regulars can expect that if they go out and kill some of their own meat they will be able to have it processed individually. The store guarantees that "the meat you bring in will be the same meat you get back". A flyer details the cost of having the meat a hunter kills. Processing a kill into a burger costs $1.29 per pound; into breakfast links $2.99 per pound. In addition, the Wurst Kitchen never will charge for shrinkage. The price for processing is based on the finished weight.

Summer is a special season for the Wurst Kitchen. The lot next door provides a spot for grilling and cooking some of the finest selections from the meat case.

It's a crowd pleaser and a fun thing to do on a hot summer day.