Where can I purchase pickled herring?

**BenDee** · 10-15-2012, 12:10 PM

I just returned from Scandinavia, and fell in love with pickled herring and the various flavors (sweet vinegar, dill, mustard, curry, etc.). Is there anywhere in Philadelphia that sells it, either a restaurant or a market?

**raider.adam** · 10-15-2012, 12:21 PM

Jarred pickled herring is common in most supermarkets. With and without cream sauce.

Grew up on the stuff. Some of the best I had was in Iceland.

**boognish** · 10-15-2012, 12:24 PM

Ikea

**BarryG** · 10-15-2012, 12:30 PM

The stuff at Ikea is not great. Like Adam said they have it at every supermarket I have been to, usually in the dairy section.

If you want to try some really good stuff, go to Famous Fourth St Deli. They only have two kinds though, the regular and a cream one, but is better than the jarred (and also more expensive). They sell by the pound at the deli counter or you can sit down and order it as a meal.

You can probably find a good variety at the Russian supermarkets in the Northeast too.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 10-15-2012, 12:31 PM

Or take a trip to the NE and head into Bell's Market.

**qweezyq** · 10-15-2012, 12:56 PM

Pumpernick's Restaurant Delicatessen & Catering

**MuscleHead** · 10-15-2012, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

Or take a trip to the NE and head into Bell's Market.

Bell's Market does have a nice variety but for an even greater selection, and several homemade varieties, head to Netcost Market in the Leo Mall.

Locations

**gideon** · 10-15-2012, 10:55 PM

yeah, +1 on Famous. everything there is pretty much top notch. also, try Krakus market on Richmond avenue in Port Richmond.

**raider.adam** · 10-15-2012, 11:28 PM

Vita Food Products - Vita Herring in Wine Sauce

I'm sure there is better herring, but this you can buy in regular grocery stores and is perfectly fine. A great snack is just taking some of that and throwing them on ritz crackers.

**HomeInspectorBC** · 10-18-2012, 07:23 AM

fourth street deli has some good pickled herring. 4th and bainbridge.

**Kukla65th** · 10-21-2012, 04:40 PM

The smell of the jars alone at ikea is enough to pass on that stuff. Hope the poster finds the good stuff.

**boognish** · 10-21-2012, 05:20 PM

Unfortunately had to go there yesterday and bought some out of curiosity: one taste and it went right in the garbage.

**dkh22** · 10-22-2012, 12:35 AM

Rollmops, we got it on the menu at Brauhaus Schmitz. We should be selling it at Reading Terminal Market whenever we get open over there.

**BenDee** · 10-22-2012, 09:10 AM

Thanks for the tips everyone, I'll be trying them out over the next several weeks.

The other day I was at Whole Foods and got some in a glass jar that tastes pretty close, but not as "fresh", as the herring in Stockholm. I'll have to give some of the other places a try.

**BarryG** · 10-22-2012, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by boognish

Unfortunately had to go there yesterday and bought some out of curiosity: one taste and it went right in the garbage.

Have you had herring before and liked it?

**boognish** · 10-22-2012, 10:29 AM

Oh yeah. I've eaten a lot of rollmops in my time (at P&K & Brauhaus). Perhaps it was the variety I chose, but they were mushy/mealy with a nasty fishy funk (not a good fishy funk).

Oh well. It's always worth a shot. At least they still have the crayfish in dill sauce, even if they are from China.

**BarryG** · 10-22-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by BenDee

Thanks for the tips everyone, I'll be trying them out over the next several weeks.

The other day I was at Whole Foods and got some in a glass jar that tastes pretty close, but not as "fresh", as the herring in Stockholm. I'll have to give some of the other places a try.

You won't find herring here as good as what you can get all over the place in Northern Europe. I haven't explored the Northeast yet but what's at Famous in the deli case is much better than the jars. If you are ever in NYC Russ & Daughter is better than that. One of my dreams is opening a Nordsee franchise in the US...

**Ptolemy** · 10-30-2012, 01:49 AM

Pickled herring is something that is also a part of traditional Jewish cuisine. Usually Jewish delis and "Appetizing" shops carry it.

I especially like Matjes Herring, which I consider the 'filet mignon' of herring. It is a special early spring or "first catch" of wild herring and it has a fattier and richer taste and more buttery texture than most other herrings. Traditional Matjes Herring is marinated in a red wine marinade.

**Beutelratte** · 11-09-2012, 11:59 PM

Saw Rollmops in the case at Wursthaus Schmitz in Reading Terminal Market today! Looked delicious, but I wasn't on my way home, so I'll have to get some tomorrow or Sunday! By the way, just made dinner from their Ungarische Wurst and Weisswurst at a friend's house, and it was FABULOUS! Haven't had food like that made at home in ages. Sadly, leftovers stayed at the friend's house...

**BarryG** · 11-10-2012, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

Pickled herring is something that is also a part of traditional Jewish cuisine. Usually Jewish delis and "Appetizing" shops carry it.

I especially like Matjes Herring, which I consider the 'filet mignon' of herring. It is a special early spring or "first catch" of wild herring and it has a fattier and richer taste and more buttery texture than most other herrings. Traditional Matjes Herring is marinated in a red wine marinade.

The herring at Famous 4th is matjes.