Did I Miss My Smelt Window ?

We went out to Shaw's in Schaumberg last night. I was hoping for some tiny smelts. The menu had fried Lake Superior Smelt as its initial starter. We kind of designed our whole meal around the crisp little fish. Server sadly informed me that they were out of the fish and that this was there last shipment of the season.

Did i miss something? If they are still available, where should I go?

I got a jones and I need a fix.

Babaluch

Half shell has what your looking for. I love the smelt over there with a starter of fried oysters.

Half Shell
676 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-1773

babaluch wrote:We went out to Shaw's in Schaumberg last night. I was hoping for some tiny smelts. The menu had fried Lake Superior Smelt as its initial starter. We kind of designed our whole meal around the crisp little fish. Server sadly informed me that they were out of the fish and that this was there last shipment of the season.

Did i miss something? If they are still available, where should I go?

I got a jones and I need a fix.

Babaluch

I went to a smelt dip last night, and it was a good thing the VP of Shaw's brought over some of the last fish they had at the Chicago restaurant because when I left a little before 10:00 there had been no smelt pulled from the water and the promise of none. The smelt we had was from Lake Erie, and it is near the end of the season, which runs through April, so it's possible the window is closed at most Chicago restaurants (at least for fresh, Midwestern smelt -- the fish does swim elsewhere in the world).

We had smelt a couple weeks ago at Venus in Greektown. They were crispy and delicious - you may want to call to see if they still have them.


Venus Mezedopolion
820 W. Jackson St., Chicago
(312) 714-1001

figmolly wrote:We had smelt a couple weeks ago at Venus in Greektown. They were crispy and delicious - you may want to call to see if they still have them.


Venus Mezedopolion
820 W. Jackson St., Chicago
(312) 714-1001

Greek restaurants are a good place to look for smelt year-round. I wonder, though, if these are fished in the US. My guess is they are not...still, that's more often than not the ones we get and I like them just fine. They seem larger than the ones that come from, for instance, Lake Erie, and a little less delicate.

I had some about a week ago from Troha's.

Miller's Pub on Wabash in the Loop had "We have smelt" on their sign last Thursday.

These were a special at Myron and Phil's this weekend.

Hi,

Most of the smelt sold in shops and restaurants is not local. Last year at my local park district's smelt fest, the smelt were from Canada.

If you are a DIY smelt fisherman, then the season is about to close. I think it is only the month of April.

The Port Washington Wisconsin annual smelt dinner is the Friday and Saturday after Easter. Yes, the smelt dinner this year was before the smelt run locally.

While smelt is a seasonal special at restaurants. It is a regular menu item at many restaurants throughout the year. Effectively there is no need to fear you have missed an opportunity to eat smelt.

Regards,

If you want to fix them yourself, I saw some at Dirk's today, but I didn't notice where they came from.

Cathy2 wrote:The Port Washington Wisconsin annual smelt dinner is the Friday and Saturday after Easter. Yes, the smelt dinner this year was before the smelt run locally.

I believe Shaw's get all their smelt from Lake Erie.

David Hammond wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:The Port Washington Wisconsin annual smelt dinner is the Friday and Saturday after Easter. Yes, the smelt dinner this year was before the smelt run locally.

I believe Shaw's get all their smelt from Lake Erie.

Shaw visits this VFW fundraiser in Port Washington, they don't purchase or cook the fish. I have seen the VFW's fish vendor in the parking lot with a freezer truck to keep them stocked.

Regards,

Sun Wah has a great smelt dish. It's on the wall menu. It was there on Saturday.

I know it's been awhile since someone has posted here, but I can't get enough of these friggin things and I need to tap into the wealth of LTH knowledge:

1) Is smelt season in fact only the month of April?

2) I have had some of my finest Chicago smelt experiences at Sun Wah, Greek Islands, and most recently the Publican. Does anyone have any recent positive smelt experiences that they can share? I will follow where you lead me.

Smelts were on the menu at Hopleaf last night. That's only partially helpful because I did not have them, opting instead for the delicious beef shortrib stew with a side of frites.

Smelts were on the menu at Hopleaf last night.

I've needed an excuse to get back to Hopleaf.

rmtraut wrote:

Smelts were on the menu at Hopleaf last night.

I've needed an excuse to get back to Hopleaf.

I know the feeling. A friend visiting from out of town was my reason.

From the Sun Times' "Cool Mix" -- this happens tomorrow (Saturday 18 April)

SOMETHING'S FISHY
True lovers of smelt, the yummy little fish that show up to announce that spring has arrived along the shores of Lake Michigan, will want to get in on Shaw's Smelt Fest 2009, an all-day pilgrimage by bus to Port Washington, Wis., for the 59th annual American Legion Smelt Fry there. The bus leaves Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard, at 10 a.m. (registration is at 9), and the trip includes breakfast, a stop in historic Cedarburg, Wis., drinks en route, lunch, entry to the all-you-can-eat smelt feast and more. Buses arrive back in Chicago at 9 p.m. The cost is $75 and reservations are required. Buses also roll from Shaw's Schaumburg location, 1900 E. Higgins. Call (312) 527-2722 or (847) 517-2722; http://www.shawscrab house.com

I was disappointed in my smelt at Hopleaf the other night. They were way heavily battered which overwhelmed the actual taste of the little fish. However, my Leffe Brun, Unibroue Maudite and Sierra Nevada Porter were fantastic.

As I posted elsewhere, smelt with preserved lemon were on the menu at Mado this past Friday.

Seafood Kitchen
8010 N. Waukegan Rd.
Niles, IL 60714
847-966-9350

Ann Fisher wrote:Miller's Pub on Wabash in the Loop had "We have smelt" on their sign last Thursday.

Still there last night: "Fresh smelt"

Had them @ Shaws yesterday downtown. As my buddy said, like eating "fried air".

quote]As my buddy said, like eating "fried air".[[/quote]

I can't imagine this is a good thing.....

Why not? You don't like Krispy Kreme (fried air w/sugar)?

I like the title of this thread for an LTHforum.com tag line.

For those willing to cook, 2 varieties of smelt (lake smelt and Atlantic smelt) were on offer today at the seafood counter at Andy's Fruit Ranch.

4733 N. Kedzie
Chicago IL 60625
773-583-2322

How 'bout local crappie (yes!), via Twitter, I see that Supreme's getting 'em.

Bertucci's had excellent smelt a few weeks ago.

I've never heard of Atlantic smelt. Are they the same/similar? Hope it's not like the yellow lake perch/ocean perch deal.