Deep-Fried French Toast with Foie Gras at The Publican in Chicago
Last month I wrote about the custard cotton candy–like interior of the best French toast ever at Chicago's new breakfast spot Jam.
Well, call me fickle, but I've fallen in love with a new piece of brioche: the deep-fried French toast served at The Publican for brunch. I mean, yeah, they had me at deep-fried, but then they went and topped the whole thing with silver dollar–sized slices of foie gras torchon, drizzled it with fresh strawberry preserves, and girded the toast with house-made fennel and orange rind–stuffed sausage links.
The heat of the toast melts the butterlike foie so you basically get a rich, creamy strawberry river infused with foie gras fat that also picks up a snow of powdered sugar and pools on the plate. Once the toast was gone, and much to the chagrin of my wife, I started spoon the foiesugarberry residue off the plate with my finger, I was so smitten.
The deep-frying of the toast made it a little dense, and so in a perfect world, I'd probably mix the custard cotton candy–like textured Jam brioche with the Publican toppings and sausage. But when you can also order cider vinegar-splashed spicy pork rinds and French fries fried in beef suet and pork lard (the best in Chicago right now) along with your breakfast, really, what's to complain about?
The Publican
845 W Fulton Market, Chicago IL 60607 (map)
312-733-9555; thepublicanrestaurant.com
About the author: Michael Nagrant writes for Serious Eats from Chicago, where he also publishes Hungry magazine. Michael never met an organ meat he didn't like. He hopes to meet many more.
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8 Comments:
OMG I bet that is out of this world!! Must have it!
leemy at 9:34AM on 11/12/09
whoah....too much. i'd be eating cucumbers and water all day after that. but seems like it's worth it.
Christina at 9:52AM on 11/12/09
Ohhhhhh.......
lemons at 9:59AM on 11/12/09
my oh my. wonder how much it costs?
gastronomeg at 10:14AM on 11/12/09
oh. my. god.
mr guy at 10:22AM on 11/12/09
Sweet jesus I wish I tried this when I visited Chicago.
Robyn Lee at 10:31AM on 11/12/09
i had a visceral reaction reading this. YUMMMMMM.
rebeccadiamond at 11:28AM on 11/12/09
You know a post is good when the comments read like an adult film "script". hahaha!
GretchinF at 3:45PM on 11/12/09