Byways: Enjoying Nettle's Sausage

We took a break from wandering around enjoying a festival in White Springs, FL and discussed lunch. The RV wasn't far away, and I had a lunch planned, but earlier we found a vendor cooking sausage and the aroma drew us in.. Our lunch at the RV could wait. We both ordered a sausage sandwich with grilled onions and chips. Most of the picnic tables already had diners enjoying their meal, so we found an empty bench and sat there savoring the taste of the just grilled sausage.

Karl sat back on the bench, his sandwich finished. Finally, he stood up, gave me his chips, and said "I think I'll go back and get another". The vendor told his co-worker as Karl approached "He's coming back for another one". He told Karl as he served him what he said, and they both laughed. The sausage served is made locally in Lake City, FL, and are sold locally. The very friendly vendor told Karl that a market and restaurant called Family Traditions right in White Springs carries them.

We bought some before we left, and stop there every visit to buy more. The sausage comes in regular or hot. We've tried both, and like both. To really get the heat on the hot version, they do need to be grilled. We tried them sautéed and while the heat was there, it is much better grilled.

Trying local dishes and locally made products is one of the highlights of our travel. This sausage is now a regular in our freezer.