Wenneman's, They Have the Meats
By Jim Bauer
@porwest (92428)
United States
August 27, 2022 4:55pm CST
Or, we shall see.
Ever since I left West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of famous Milwaukee, and have not been able to get my Rupena's, which were some of the best meats ever, and moved to southern Illinois, I have been hard pressed to find a meat shop I actually like.
There is one in Waterloo, Illinois called Schneider's. But they have not really made a lasting impression on me.
There just isn't the wow factor Rupena's left me. Granted, I may be biased. But it is what it is.
For a while I had been hearing about a meat shop in St. Libory, Illinois, which is about 21 miles from where I currently live, called Wenneman's. So, finally I decided to check it out.
Got some of their in-house made summer sausage, which I have not cut into yet, and a couple of rib eye steaks, plus some of their Kansas style sweet and smoky barbecue sauce.
I plan on making the ribeye steaks tonight, so we will see if they live up to the tender and juicy factor that I would expect from a premium house like Wenneman's.
I will probably toss them onto the grill of course, and just season them very slightly as should be done with any good steak. A little goes a long way, and if the meat is good, it should not need much to help it along.
Fingers crossed I find a reason to go back.
12 people like this
12 responses
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
28 Aug 22
I hope Wenneman's turns out to be a winner!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
29 Aug 22
@porwest The meat in our Giant Eagle Supermarket isn't good at all. We need somewhere to get some good meat. Walmart is actually better than they are.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
2 Sep 22
@LindaOHio Yeesh. That's saying something. I would never consider Walmart to be a "quality cut." I mean, not bad. But I kind of expect what I expect.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71519)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Aug 22
I hope you do and you can find some good meat.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71519)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Aug 22
@porwest That's how I like my meat, too.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
28 Aug 22
I am really hoping this summer sausage and these steaks fit the bill. When it comes to summer sausage I REALLY like Klements (another Wisconsin thing), and so that is what I will compare it to. The steaks need to be tender, juicy and flavorful and then they win my return business.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Aug 22
The butchers here absolutely suck at least nearby..Nothing like other places I have lived.
I know what you mean Jim.
Well I hope they live up to the name.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
3 Sep 22
@RebeccasFarm On top of that, I always enjoy supporting smaller, local business. So, it is a win, win situation.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (120055)
• United States
27 Aug 22
@porwest If I were your wife I'd throw a braised pork steak at you at this point. Grill chops. Roast a loin. Bake a ham. You can also have bison, venison, all sorts of fish, crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, rabbit, or get crazy and do squid or octopus. You aren't stuck with just 3 types of protein.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
28 Aug 22
@NJChicaa Incidentally, my wife actually requests this more than any other way I make pork. But I also roast pork, bread pork, chop it up into stir frys, use it in soups and stews. I make ham about twice a year, in the smoker. I make lots of tilapia and other fish dishes.
It is not like braised pork is all we eat. lol
@porwest (92428)
• United States
27 Aug 22
That was last night. BUT, you forget that I use different seasonings and different liquids every single time, so all the dishes taste quite different. You know, we only really have three animals to choose from to eat primarily. Beef, chicken and pork. So, you have to be creative outside of having other things like sausages or fish or something else you know. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
22 Sep 22
The steak actually was very good. I mean, I would not say the best one I have ever had. But it fit the bill and I will definitely go back. Besides, they have a killer barbecue sauce there and I want to get some more, and another summer sausage too.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Aug 22
Best of luck to you and I hope those steaks come out really delicious
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41687)
• United States
27 Aug 22
Let us know how they turn out. A really good steak is hard to find.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92428)
• United States
27 Aug 22
Even Rupena's got it wrong at some point. They used to have the most moist, tender sirloin steaks I have ever eaten. I mean, they were GOOD. But somewhere along the line they changed something and then they were just a regular old sirloin and I had to switch to my preferred cut which is a ribeye. But even Rupena's ribeye steaks were a cut above the rest.
No one has compared so far, so I am hopeful these do stack up. They weren't awful either at $12.99 per pound.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (103967)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
27 Aug 22
I wish you the best of luck that the meat that you will be cooking tonight from Wenneman's is the best for you to eat.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7365)
•
28 Aug 22
I'm glad you have found your tender and juicy rib-eye steaks. 
Aussies normally say, "Good on yah!"
Aussies normally say, "Good on yah!"1 person likes this
@gtdoss (1013)
• United States
27 Aug 22
I am also from the Midwest originally, and I remember the big meat places. Here in my part of Georgia, where I've lived for 43 years, there is no big meat stores that sell the lovely meats that you described. We end up getting all of our meat at Costco, which is the best we can do here where we live. I hope your meats from Wenneman's are delicious!
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
28 Aug 22
I hope your dish turns out to be as expected good luck
1 person likes this
