Shepard's Pie

It's cold out and it's the time of the year I enjoy a really good Shepard pie. I used to go to Chief O'Neill but the food over their has kind of gone down hill over the years any one got a good suggestion?

Duke of Perth had my favorite for many years, haven't been back in a little while for else than burgers and pints, though.

Santander wrote:Duke of Perth had my favorite for many years, haven't been back in a little while for else than burgers and pints, though.

Well now I gotta go because oddly enough I was just driving past The Duke of Perth and thought to my self "I haven't been their for at least 15 years and they must be doing somethig right to still be open." Thanx for the tip

ASHFORD HOUSE on 159th and 80th Ave. in Tinley Park will make one smile. Many other classic Irish dishes. And I'm Italian!

I have enjoyed the pie at...

Irish Times
8869 Burlington Ave, Brookfield
(708) 485-8787



Almost a pot roast texture and flavor to the meat (shredded, not ground), housemade mashed and a very rich brown gravy.

I tend to avoid Shepard's Pie when I dine out, mostly because I have been so disappointed when it comes with some kind of ground meat. I like somewhat gamey chunks of lamb. Who ever heard of a shepard tending cows?
Anybody want to defend the ground?

The "untraditional" shepherd's pie served at both Prairie Fire and Prairie Grass Cafe is an excellent rendition. It's made with big, tender hunks of Tallgrass beef that are braised, then topped with a mash mixture of parsnips and potatoes and baked. It's one of my favorite dishes there. I want to disclose that I have a miniscule financial interest in Prairie Fire. It's dishes like this one that made me such a fan of this team.

=R=

Prairie Fire
215 North Clinton Street
Chicago, IL 60661-1227
(312) 382-8300

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 205-4433

bean wrote:Anybody want to defend the ground?

No can do!

=R=

Not something I would usually order out as I make it pretty well myself at home. However, PJ Clarkes makes a pretty solid Shepard's Pie on I believe Monday nights as a special.

bean wrote:I tend to avoid Shepard's Pie when I dine out, mostly because I have been so disappointed when it comes with some kind of ground meat. I like somewhat gamey chunks of lamb. Who ever heard of a shepard tending cows?
Anybody want to defend the ground?

Actually, I recently found out that traditionally, Shepherd's Pie is with lamb. What we call Shepherd's Pie, with beef, is actually Cottage Pie.

I'd love to try it with lamb sometime- is there any place that makes it?

abe_froeman wrote:

bean wrote:I tend to avoid Shepard's Pie when I dine out, mostly because I have been so disappointed when it comes with some kind of ground meat. I like somewhat gamey chunks of lamb. Who ever heard of a shepard tending cows?
Anybody want to defend the ground?

Actually, I recently found out that traditionally, Shepherd's Pie is with lamb. What we call Shepherd's Pie, with beef, is actually Cottage Pie.

I'd love to try it with lamb sometime- is there any place that makes it?

I agree that Lamb is the best but on a cold winter night a good cottage pie is o.k.

It's been many years since I had the Shepherd's Pie at Duke of Perth, but it had cheese on top and served the peas on the side which is nontraditional. The best traditional SPs I've had were at the Irish Oak and the Grafton (same owners). Very tasty.

Delicious lamb Shepard's pie at :

Division Ale House
1942 W. Division (Damen and Division)
Chicago, IL
http://divisionalehouse.com

abe_froeman wrote:I'd love to try it with lamb sometime- is there any place that makes it?

A couple of the ampersand joints—Mrs Murphy & Sons & Blokes & Birds—serve shepherd's pie properly made with lamb. I don't know if they're otherwise properly made. Please let us know.

nicinchic wrote:Delicious lamb Shepard's pie at :

Division Ale House

It's actually lamb 'n' beef according to their menu but, thanks, I wasn't aware of their pie.

Map

bean wrote:I tend to avoid Shepard's Pie when I dine out, mostly because I have been so disappointed when it comes with some kind of ground meat. I like somewhat gamey chunks of lamb. Who ever heard of a shepard tending cows?
Anybody want to defend the ground?

Finally! When I tell people that a proper Shepard's Pie is made with lamb they look at me as if I just grew a second head. I grew up with lamb as the prime meat ingredient and every time I go out and see this on the menu I get temporarily excited only to have my hopes dashed when told that it's beef-based. My grandparents were born and raised in Scotland and moved to the States and started and raised a family then moved back to Scotland. My grandmother's Shepard's Pie was always lamb based. Oh to have some of her SP and some dumpling for dessert.

Pilot Pete's (at the Schaumburg Airport) has a take on Shepard's Pie that I find delicious.

PETE’S PIE
Pete’s Version of a Shepard’s Pie with a Twist!
It Starts with Our Famous Pot Roast and
Gravy, Garlic-Horseradish Mashed Potatoes,
Seasoned Corn and Topped with Colby
Cheese, then Baked to Perfection 12.95

They have a small pic of it here. http://pilot-petes.com/pilot-petes-pan-bakes.aspx

Similar to the OP, I've been itching to get out there and have me some!

John

bean wrote:I tend to avoid Shepard's Pie when I dine out, mostly because I have been so disappointed when it comes with some kind of ground meat. I like somewhat gamey chunks of lamb. Who ever heard of a shepard tending cows?
Anybody want to defend the ground?

I like all varieties. The ground version is fine; the pot roast version is fine; the leftover roast & veggies version is fine. Cottage pie, shepherd's pie, I don't particularly care what it's called. I use the lamb-beef distinction for the two, but in common parlance, I'm don't care. (Plus, there seems to be evidence out there that the shepherd's=lamb, cottage=beef is a more contemporary distinction. Most of the oldest recipes I could find--from the mid-1800s, seem to call for any kind of meat, so the use of the term shepherd's pie to mean any meat pie topped with mashed potatoes has a long history. I even found a record from the House of Commons in 1888 referring to shepherd's pie made with rabbit. And this recipe from 1895 makes the shepherd's vs cottage distinction by how the potatoes are presented. Shepherd's pie is mashed, cottage pie is layered, sliced potatoes.)

Binko wrote:I even found a record from the House of Commons in 1888 referring to shepherd's pie made with rabbit.

Wow, makes herding cats look easy by comparison.

The Red Lion Lincoln Square serves the version made with ground beef and mashed potatoes.

Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Square
4749 North Rockwell Street
Chicago, IL 60625-2934

Bridie McKenna's in Highwood has a Sheperd'spie that is really good!