A visit to Schaller & Weber, a real treasure!
People are always wondering where I love to shop and what I love to eat and I just have to tell you about Schaller & Weber, located at 1654 Second Avenue at 86th Street in Manhattan. When you walk through the glass doors, you walk into a shop of old-world quality, filled with shelves of the most wonderful imported food items. But, what really makes Schaller & Weber famous are their meat products – fabulous weisswurst, bockwurst, knackwurst, bratwurst, bolognas, salamis, cervelats, bacons, hams, prime meats, and poultry. And, many of these products consistently and repeatedly receive the coveted Gold Medals of Honor awarded at International Exhibitions in Holland, Austria, and Germany.
Established in 1937, Schaller & Weber is still a family-owned business, practicing the same standards of quality and service they have always been known for. The impeccably clean shop, itself, is a pleasure to see. There is a beautifully maintained tile floor in the shop area and behind the counters, the butchers walk on hard wood, which is sprinkled with sawdust – so old-fashioned and nice. And the long and majestic meat cases are filled with the most spectacular displays of what they do best. At Schaller & Weber, they also say, “Please, visit our store and bring the children. Each child gets a sample of our award winning bologna, a tradition since 1937.†Let me tell you, it’s the best bologna I’ve ever tasted! Please come and take a tour of this amazing shop.
The shop looks amazing. It's great to see something with a bit of history remain as it is and I hope the business continues to prosper.
Great photos too - I loved seeing the saw dust on the floor. It may be old fashioned but somehow in these uncertain times its kind of reassuring. Reminds me of my childhood in a small town with real butchers and a quality service (even though the product may have not been so sophisticated then).
Yes, we are interested in what you eat and where you shop and how you manage it all. A bit intrusive I suspect. Thanks for sharing though. Your posts are always interesting.
Posted by: Lilly | October 26th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
You wrote:
"Picture 15 of 44: This award-winning Bockwurst (weisswurst) is a mild sausage and is a traditional food in Munich during Oktoberfest."
In Munich, we love your Weisswurst not only at the Oktoberfest. We eat it the year around. Most time the people have a Weisswurst-Breakfast. If there is a party at the office (bithday etc) we have a breakfast with Weisswurst, Breze and Bier.
At home we had Weisswurst on the evening of the 24.th of December. Because my mother had so much work and cant cook at this day and the children had no sense for food, so it must go fast. When Diner was finished we get your presents.
Hope you understand my bad english
Posted by: Helga | October 26th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Thanks, this time of the year is when I miss my time in Germany, the Oktoberfest, the Christmas market. This blog brought back some good warm memories, especially today when we are looking at the forecast of our 1st snow. Have a GREAT day. Sandy
Posted by: sandra dunn | October 27th, 2008 at 3:20 am
This store looks so inviting and you love to make us drool, don't you? I really like liverwurst but everything looks good, the ham the sausages, the beef cuts and even the pigs feet. I think you did a recipe with pig’s feet on your previous show years ago but I don't remember much of it. Would you do another one or maybe one with hocks?
I have never had a meat and vegetable combination in aspic. That looks interesting too and something I would try. Well, thanks for letting us know of another place you shop for delicious food. Now if I could just get to New York! Trish
Posted by: Trish | October 27th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Oh how I would love to peruse their aisles!
Posted by: Laura Ingalls Gunn | October 27th, 2008 at 4:14 am
I LOVE LOVE LOVE places like this!
Thanks Martha!
Posted by: The Bitter Foodie | October 27th, 2008 at 5:51 am
Hi Martha, Thanks again for taking us on another one of your fantastic tours of one of your favorite shops in New York. I would love to visit all of these fabulous places, if, as Trish says I too could get to New York. I love the names Schaller and Weber. I once had a Dr. named Schaller and a neighbor named Weber and this shop has been around as long as I have! I would love to taste the best of their wurst and sample many of their other items. I got your Cooking School book at Costco yesterday and I am certain it will be number one on the best seller list! Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | October 27th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I like so much your recipes and cookware!
Posted by: coco | October 27th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Yum. Looks like a meat lover's paradise.
Posted by: Patia | October 27th, 2008 at 8:56 am
...with this pictoral feast for the eyes, where, pray tell, does one even BEGIN, when they enter the store on their shopping excursion?!!
Old-world, old-fashined charm suits me, too, Martha...it's so warm and inviting! I am NOT a modern girl, at all! No matter where I am, it's a must to have "comfort" around me, in various forms that invoke warmth and coziness. The fellas certainly look cheerful, don't they?!! - one can tell that they definitely love their job! Good for them!...that's a blessing!
The other day, one of my customers remarked how they love coming in my store, because it's always welcoming and cozy. That was the ultimate compliment I could've received! I'm trying to invoke some homeyness and warmth, but it's difficult, as my business is service-based with minimal displays, with overhead fluorescent lighting (yuck)! (In spite of energy savings, I MUCH prefer incandescent lighting...it has a softer and warmer glow.) One of the nice things, though, about owning your own business, is that it is always a work-in-progress. I'm sure I'll always be tweaking things here and there, as the seasons come-n-go.
(Big sigh!)
Onward and upward!
Autumn blessings, Martha!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | October 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am
This place is a classic--
on another subject--Martha--did you adopt the three little chow chows?????or one or two????
Posted by: Melanie | October 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Well I certainly know where I will go if I ever get to go to New York City, Martha's show and this shoppe. I grew up on all the foods displayed in your blog. The german hotdogs are my favorite, I can eat them cold or heated. I love teawurst (liverwurst to most people)with butter on farmers bread...yummy! Okay Martha, this blog made me hungry. Thanks again for sharing!
Posted by: Mona | October 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Hi Martha!
I saw your cooking demo with Emeril at the Macy's opening in New Orleans! You were both delightful! I missed the opportunity to meet you in person the next day to have you autograph my copy, but I bought the book and will use it all the time!
Posted by: Miss Ginger Grant | October 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Normally some of the 'meat' pictures would give me the jitters as a vegetarian. However the quality and care of their product is so comforting. I found myself so warmed by the genuine quality of the store. This inspires me because it shows the personal touch with all the unique brands and fine quality available.
I wish they were on my corner. Perhaps someday I can move near theirs.
Michael Anthamatten
Posted by: michael anthamatten | October 27th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I have seen the living magazine last time i was in mexico and i loved it. I live in Norway and i wonder if i can order it from norway.
Posted by: Nasrin Moayedi | October 28th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
SO LOVED YOUR PICTURES AND FACTS ABOUT SCHALLER AND WEBER.
SINCE I AM GERMAN I CAN EASILY INDENTIFY WITH THAT WONDERFUL SHOP.
THE ASSORTED SAUSAGES LOOK HEAVENLY. I ONLY WISH I HAD A STORE LIKE THAT OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA. I HAVE TO HAVE MY SAUSAGES AND ROLLS SENT TO ME FROM A "WWW.GERMAN DELI.COM".
IF I HAD A STORE LIKE THAT HERE I WOULD BE IN THERE SHOPPING CONSTANTLY. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE GERMAN HERITAGE PRESERVED IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU MARTHA FOR SHARING.
Posted by: INGRID | October 28th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
My family has been purchasing fine meats and wursts from Schaller & Weber for generations. I remember my great grandfather insisting that that the only hot dogs worth eating were Schaller & Weber. Their cocktail franks (peanuts as they call them) are to die for and I double dog dare you not to eat an entire stick of what my family calls "TV Kielbasi". Today, we continue the tradition by ordering kielbasi, hot dogs and wursts directly from the NY store. They are shipped to us before any family gathering. Their service is great and the mail order makes it easy for us to continue this fine tradition.
Posted by: Tammy Keck | October 29th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I shop at this store all the time, and absolutely love it! It has the greatest quality and the highest level of produce you could imagine! Thanks for writing an article about this wonderful, little, store!
Posted by: cookieman333 | October 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I love heading into NYC and shopping at unique foodie places. I will be adding Schaller & Weber to my list for my next visit.
Posted by: EAT! | November 10th, 2008 at 2:14 am