Last night, my family and I went out to dinner to celebrate my sister’s 25th birthday at The Publican restaurant in the Fulton Market District of Chicago. I knew that it was going to be a great meal as most meals out are, but I had no idea that I’d be eating so many new things!
The Fulton Market district of Chicago is one of the old meat packing districts. It’s now full of luxury condos, but some of the old charm remains with many meat companies, and small independent restaurants. The Publican had some of the most interesting yet simple decor I think I’ve ever seen. Upon walking in, I was taken aback by the sheer amount of beautiful wood.
What i couldn’t get a good picture of was the way the dining room was laid out. Rather than being a series of ordinary tables, spaced apart at regular intervals, they were large and heavy wood tables, laid end to end to form long tables. The booths were completely enclosed with a door. After some thinking, I figured out that the tables and booths went along with the whole “pork” theme of the restaurant, as they well imitated corrals and troughs. And that’s where the similarities ended.
There was so much food, and it was all so interesting and beautiful… but a warning: this is not for the faint-of-heart or meat-sensitive.
There was so much food, and I swear, we got one of each of everything on this very long menu.
We started with a drink each. I got a Framboise Lambic beer, and Adam got an organic Samuel Smith’s
Things just started coming to the table. First, there were spicy pork rinds and french fries made with organic egg. Pork rinds: delicious, spicy, but too greasy for mass quantity. Fries: AMAZING
Lots of crusty rustic bread:
Oysters (of which i had none)
Then vegetable dishes, including beets (which I liked for the first time ever) with burrata cheese (the most amazing cheese EVER) and heirloom tomatoes with farro and mint; fresh radishes with sea salt and butter (a great combo I’ll be trying again!)
And mussels (thanks for taking the pic Mom!)
Then, came the meat. Lots and lots of meat. From all sorts of different places on the animals… I tried sweetbreads, beef heart bruschetta, suckling pig, kobe beef sirloin with peaches, fresh ham, fresh chorizo and shrimp pasta, and pork tenderloin:
There was a bunch of seafood as well: Sand dabs with fresh tomatoes; turbot and chanterelle mushrooms; seafood stew; fresh roasted pompano fish
Of course, with the extensive beer selection, there was much imbibing… Everyone say hi to Bob! Bob wanted to be on the blog:
Last (of course) was coffee and dessert. I enjoyed a cup of decaf and a few bites of each of the desserts: carrot cake with malted chocolate ice cream; a waffle with plums and honey butter; concord grape sorbet with fresh sour cream:
It was a fantastic and interesting meal, at a place I’d like to go again! Thanks for a great time, and happy birthday Leigh!
The late night last night, in addition to parent night tonight made for a Subway dinner. It’s way past my bedtime, so I’ll leave you to savor over the pictures of all the glorious food… and to ponder: what will the big giveaway be next week??
OMG can I come and live with you? that meal and the Frontera meal look divine!!
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I think I’ve heard of this place before, and the food looks so, so good! I would love to try the oysters!
Excited about the big giveaway!
Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog ..The Last 10: “Worth It”?
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HI BOB!!!
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Oh my what an overload of amazing food! Everything looks so amazing (espeically the desserts!)
Glad you enjoyed this night celebrating your sista!
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i know it seems impossible, but my favorites at the Publican are the veggies.
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Mara @ What's For Dinner Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Mine too! The meat was amazing, but those veggies… amazing!
Mara @ What’s For Dinner´s last blog ..A Night of Meat: Dinner at The Publican, Chicago
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Did you happen to know that Lambic Framboise is my favorite drink of all time?! It is…I love it
Kristni @ Iowa Girl Eats´s last blog ..5 Pieces of Advice from Obama’s Health Gurus
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wow, everything looks fantasic! what a fun meal out
brandi´s last blog ..Muesli Melon
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Everything looks and sounds so amazing! Fun that you got to try new things!
Happy Birthday to your sis
Marisa (Trim The Fat)´s last blog ..Transitions + Changes
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Fancy!!!
cinnamonquill´s last blog ..Madeleines Save the Day
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the publican is my new favorite restaurant. i keep looking for excuses to go back =)
alice´s last blog ..Indian as Apple Pie: Anupy Singla’s Crockpot Recipes
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OOOOOOOOO Giveaway coming!? yipeeeeeeee! I can’t wait!!
Love the seafood action! The bread and buttah shot is amazing too!!
HI BOB!
glidingcalm´s last blog ..Kinda like Thanksgiving in September….
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Um, YUM, this dinner looks beyond awesome! Lambic framboise is delicious. I always make sure to have a few bottles stashed away in the cupboard – usually to give away as gifts since everyone needs to try the stuff at least once
Also, I love when restaurants give you those un-dyed, free-form sugar cubes with coffee like, they are always so much more fun to plop into coffee
Greta´s last blog ..Peach n’ Tomato Slaw, Perfect Chicken, and a Labor(less) Day
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ohhhhh, the expansion!!! mara, you guys know how to celebrate a birthday — i wish i lived closer. what a great meal!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)´s last blog ..Some like it raw …
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