We’ve only recently discovered the Black Forest Smokehouse in Marrickville.
Lorraine wrote about them years ago, but I never knew where they were until Al and I drove past the warehouse on our way to Double Roasters a few weeks ago. A couple of days later, Pete and I were in the area, and decided to see what they had on offer.
We bought a few items to try – pastrami, cacciatore salami and ham hocks – and were astonished at how reasonably priced they were – the pastrami was $15.50 a kilo, which meant the large 600g piece we bought cost us just $9. The salami was a tiny $3, and the ham hocks worked out at $4.80 each.
That night we had pastrami Cuban sandwiches for dinner (which used up only half the pastrami – an economical meal!), and a couple of days later, I made a large vat of pasta soup using one of the ham hocks. Pete was very impressed with the flavour – sometimes heavily smoked meats are too much for him – but the soup was delicious without being overly smoky or salty.
A week later, Maude and I went back for another visit, complete with a shopping list from the neighbours. I bought a large section of leg ham to try, as well as a piece of pastrami for Liz. One of the ham hocks went to June (who uses them in her Hungarian dishes) and Maude bought a kilo of turkey bacon ($12.50) to experiment with.
All the meats used are Australian, and cured in-house at the Marrickville warehouse. Maude and I demolished the rabbit and quail terrine between us – it was rich, spiked with pistachios and well seasoned with peppercorns – and the chorizos were absolutely superb grilled over our flaming pig.
We sometimes find cured meats overly salty, but every single Black Forest item we’ve tried so far has been well-balanced. We baked the flat leg ham with a quince jelly glaze and served it with sourdough focaccia and edamame – not a classic combination, but a big hit with my sons nonetheless.
The Black Forest Smokehouse is open on weekdays and accepts cash only. The lovely counter staff are particularly helpful, so do ask if you’re after something that isn’t on display.
As always, I don’t have any affiliation whatsoever with this company, I’m just a happy customer!
. . . . .
Black Forest Smokehouse
148 Victoria Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204
Tel: (02) 9516 3210
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Wow, those hocks sound really cheap! I use them often in my cooking too! I’d love to have a smokehouse or deli that sold such a wide range at such a great price close to me!
Liz, you’ll have to make a trip up to stock up! Bring cash! Their range of European meats is HUGE, I didn’t recognise many of the them!
You and Lorraine find the best places to shop in Sydney. We don’t have anything like this up here, sadly.
We are very lucky to have such great resources here in Sydney, but I’m always surprised that other capital cities don’t have similar offerings. Having said that, I’ve never seen the range of wild mushrooms here that I saw on our visit to the Prahran markets in Melbourne.. :)
Another spot to put on a sydney shopping visit list! Yummo. And I’m not game to show miss 13 that cupcake post. She would be demanding them pronto. I had a lovely bread baking day yesterday. Slow and relaxed. So pleased to be doing it again, thank you so much lovely! Xxx
Yes, come to Sydney on a weekday, and I’ll take you there. Bring cash! :)
My kids ate most of the packet of bacon in big bacon sandwiches before I got a chance to put it away in the fridge! This place is a dangerous discovery Celia….!!
SG, Pete was astonished – he thought you’d bought a one kilo packet, but surely that couldn’t be the case. They didn’t nearly eat an entire kilo of bacon, did they? ;-)
This looks like the Hungry Dad’s idea of heaven :) [I’m veggie]. Marrickville has some amazing hidden gems.
Isn’t it an amazing place? I feel like I haunt it, I spend so much time there.. :)
It’s a great shop isn’t it! And I’ve got your Cuban bread ready to make Cuban sandwiches this weekend ;) x
Great recco, thanks darling. They’ve moved since you were there, they’re now on Victoria Road. Hope you sandwiches give you a true Dexter moment! :D
This would be my mencats idea of paradise too. I love the idea of the meat being local and without chemicals. Hugs, Maz
Hahaha…you do so well as a vegetarian in amongst the wolves, Maz… :)
That’s looking absolutely delicious! I wish I could find something here…
I wish you could too! I also wish I’d found these guys years earlier! :)
This looks fabulous. We have a small German Meat Market here that I like to visit. Reminds me of living in Germany and they have great products made on site.
A German Meat Market sounds intriguing! I have no idea what all the different types of meats are at Black Forest – their range is huge! :)
What a good find. I too don’t like over-salty meats or heavily smoked meats so it’s good to know they have everything in balance. The prices do seem more than reasonable especially when I compare them to the burglar-prices in my neck of the woods! xx
Charlie, you need to make a day trip out our way! :)
Oh, don’t you just love finding places like this? Every single thing you found sounds fantastic but I’ve had a craving for some good pastrami ever since I had a super great sandwich a few months ago. The prices do sound very reasonable too!
Di, the pastrami is really good, but I can only eat it in thin slices – I have no idea how those huge Reuben sandwiches that make in the US can be eaten! :)
You’re right about those Reuben’s which I’m not a fan of. But let me have a nice very thinly sliced pastrami with just a little bit of mustard and I’m a happy girl.
Wow, Celia! Now I have avoided ‘processed’ meats full of nitrates, nitrites and salt for ages, but this ‘home-produced’ place does not sound into this! Funny: what I most like is their only going for cash – family producing and selling!! God bless!! Shall tell all my Sydney friends and put it on my own agenda . . . thanks!!!!
Done and dusted – whilst being awfully jealous!!! ”cause, of course I was brought up on all of these [even lived a number of years in Schwarzwald [Black Forest] and oft so miss!!!!!!!!! Healthy or not :) !
Eha, I know what you mean, I like the fact they only take cash too. If nothing else, it keeps my spending in check! :)
Remembered in the middle of the night [of course!] . . . Besides their red-bobbled distinctive hats the biggest ‘speciality’ in the region is actually their beautiful airdried ham – something like a prosciutto or coppa – dark to look at and delightful on the taste buds :) ! Now I love pastrami, but that is definitely not ‘native’!!
Mmm… will have to get there on a weekday. Great price for the ham hocks.
ED, they’re full of meat too – I’ve tucked a couple into the freezer for soup! :)
oh that looks AMAZING! I love that sort of food. Wish there was a similar place near me :(
Mel, surely there must be? Brissie’s a big city…
Whenever I see a bunch of deli I stop and stare and instantly unable to pick what I want. ‘Coz everything looks so interestingly tasty! Thanks for sharing this deli find, Celia!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Julie, it’s a great place – there are so many items that I’d never heard of or tried before!
So many Deli meats are way too salty, so how fantastic to find one that’s so perfect! I love using ham hocks for flavouring, yummo! Xox
Becca, I’m so glad you knew exactly what I meant! Often they’re waaaay too salty, which then affects the rest of the dish, particularly in soups and stews!
Wow… I must call in on my way to Sydney when I go for a visit :-)
Liz, make sure it’s a weekday – they’re not open on weekends!
If I was living anywhere near Marrackville I think I’d be at this smokehouse every week! Yum. My husband is addicted to smoked meat and I also love it myself… particularly in soups, it adds such an amazing flavour. Thanks for the review. What a great find!
Laura, I hope you get to visit! They’re the nicest people, and every single item we’ve had from them has been delicious!