Mhays, I read up a little more on Bourdain today and better understand now the reference. It was a little more graphic than I'd like in the middle of thinking about food, but no need to remove the post on my account. Thanks for your consideration, though.

Hey, no problem, certainly wasn't intending to actually offend anyone - hope I see you tomorrow!

i enjoy the mussels at the red rooster on dickens off of halsted. the mussels, themselves, are not the plumpest, but i love the creamy, garlicky sauce. plus, for about $7 with bread for dipping, it makes a fantastic light dinner!

ChicagoTRS wrote:Best I have had were in Brugge, Belgium...bit of a trip though...

Nothing better than a large bucket of mussels and some local brewed belgium beer...

I am KICKING myself. I've been to Brugge, Belgium, and sat next to many a person eating buckets of mussels and did not try them! At that time, I didn't eat them and was for some odd reason scared to try them. I've tried them obviously in America since and can't believe I didn't try them in Belgium. Argh!!

I've been a fan of mussels since I was a little kid. My grandfather, who grew up digging and eating mussels and clams in Massachusetts, introduced me to them. They were one of the first things she-who-is-my-wife and I bonded over when we started dating. So, I have to say I've been disappointed numerous times in recent years with mussels in Chicago--over-cooked, undersized, too many unopened bivalves. Even the Gage's, which were supposed to be so awesome, really left me saying "meh."

Then, I ate at the Publican for the first time last week, and the heavens opened, and the copper pot of the gods landed on our table bearing the best mussels I've had in years! They are cooked in gueuze (a blended Belgian lambic), and were perfect. Cooked until just the right moment, large, plump, tender, not a bit of grit, not a single dud in the bunch. I am hoping to go again this weekend.

Mussels in Lime Leaf Curry from The Bento Box...what the title of the thread says.

I like the ones at Moher in Edgebrook (5310 W. Devon).

Via Roma in Des Plaines has a great mussels appetizer

I would swim in The Publican's mussel broth. It is so good.

Other good mussels I have had recently
The Paramount Room - Beer, Butter, Garlic and lots of each
Bow & Stern Oyster Bar - Great simple tomato based broth - I'm almost positive that they use the same mussels as The Publican

My favorite mussels are at Revolution Brewing. Done with cider, blue cheese and apples. Yum!

The Bouchot Mussels at the Publican are definitely my favorites in town. Cooked in lambic, bay, celery, butter and garic, this preparation is consistently excellent and satisfying. However, they make a version over at GT Fish & Oyster -- PEI Mussels in roasted tomato sauce with basil (served with grilled ciabatta) -- that is stellar. I get them every time I go there . . .


PEI Mussels | roasted tomato, basil, ciabatta @ GT Fish & Oyster

=R=

Had some very good ones at Yoshi's Cafe a few nights ago.

I ran into a friend at Boston Fish Market last week and he had ordered the zuppa de pesche. I had a chance to try the mussels that came as part of the dish and they were excellent; served in a light tomato broth. That will definitely be my order next time out.

I'll second BFM's zuppa. I had a few from that plate and they were terrific, small, sweet, and deliciously tender with none of the stringiness sometimes found in lesser quality mussels.

I just wish I could finish that gargantuan platter!