The Publican

So keeping a blog is really harder than it sounds. I always say I'll write/post pictures but never do. Now that I am unemployed, there is no excuse!

While there are months to catch up on, I would like to dedicate this one to The Publican. It is the middle child of the Paul Kahan trifecta (the higher end being Blackbird, and the other end being Avec). It is peppered with James Beard Award nominations every year (The Oscars of the food world) and anything Paul Kahan-related is Anthony Bourdain-approved. While I missed dinner at Blackbird (got a stomach virus my last day in Chicago!), I would have to agree as The Publican stands as one of the top 10 meals of all time. I actually can't rate what is #1, but Petrossian, Peter Luger, Aliseo, Convivium Osteria, Sushi Nozawa are all up there.

Anyway, if you haven't heard this story, Tom found crazy cheap tickets to Chicago via Spirit Airlines. They have a $9 fare club, but we actually found tickets for $5.05 EACH WAY. With taxes, it was $43 Roundtrip per person. You can't beat that! Trust me, I've looked since with no success. The only drawback was that it was in the middle of the week of February. We booked them in December so we had no idea what the weather would be like. We actually lucked out the first day. It was unseasonably warm and a beautiful day for walking around Lake View and Lincoln Square.

So the first night we were there, we made reservations for The Publican, also approved by our friend Mark who had just moved to Chicago. Tom and I got there a little early so I ordered 1/2 dozen Oysters- Chef's Choice. My friend Kristen (who actually lives a neighborhood over from me in Brooklyn but I never see) was visiting her parents who just moved there had coincidentally also made reservations there 30 minutes before ours.

We got seated in one of the booths arranged around the perimeter of the restaurant that is enclosed by a big wooden door. Much better than the alternative which is community-style seating in the middle of the dining room. The next was all uphill from there. Unfortunately it was too dark to take pictures and the menu changes daily so I don't have the exact meals listed but

We ordered:
blood sausage
pork belly
shaved brussel sprouts with ricotta
ahi tuna
scallops
waffle for dessert
tart for dessert

Obviously all to share. I keep dreaming of going back. Paul Kahan, come to New York City!!