Publican

For a porkcentric meal Publican is a must for any visit to Chicago. Located at 837 West Fulton Market the area still has a ways to go in terms of ambience, but the trek is worth it.

Diners sit at long communal tables in high back chairs with various paintings of pigs decorating the large, open room.

"C", "I", "T", "W" and I shared the following dishes (each was delicious and worth the cholesterol):

Spicy pork rinds Slagel Family Farm, Forest, Illinois $5/order (we ordered 2 because these are more addictive than any potato chip I ever tasted)

Red and gold beet salad with buratta

Hamachi crudo Sea of Japan; golden beets & peas $14 (we ordered 2 because it was so light and delicate we could easily have devoured one order each)

Manila clams with pancetta and lima beans - wonderful sauce.

Grilled squid with pancetta - great smoky, charred flavor.

Charcuterie plate pork pie, head cheese, duck & foie gras galantine,morteau sausage,saucisson sec, pickles & mustards $21

Farm chicken Slagel family farm, Fairbury, Illinois: whole chicken with summer sausage and frites $27 - wonderful tender chicken with the BEST fries I have ever tasted (golden and crisp)

Pork belly with artichokes - melt in your mouth tender

The desserts were anticlimatic after all that pork, but were still good:

Eclair with dark chocolate, maple & vanilla malt ice cream $7
Rhubarb crostada with yogurt sorbet $7
Waffle with blueberry perserves & honey butter $7 - the waffle tasted like toasted butter is it was buttery.

32 oz coffee press

This is defintely worth a return visit!