Boiled Crawfish

While living in Texas my son and I became hooked on boiled crawfish which are in season now thru sometime in May.

Does anyone know of any Chicago places that might serve them ? I have tried the websites for the usual suspects, (Heaven on Seven, Wishbone, Redfish, etc) But Boiled Crawfish aren't listed even as specials.

Thanks

Interestingly enough, these have become a staple at nearby (Evanston) Chinese buffets, but I can't vouch for the quality (sometimes they're seasoned with a crab boil, sometimes they're plain, sometimes they've been sitting out too long...)

Yes, yes, I know. Shame, shame for allowing the thought of Chinesebuffetland to even cast a shadow on my household. However, it gives Sparky (my five-year-old, name changed to protect the innocent) a chance to explore new foods without having to read a menu, and without waiting. In general, they do seem to be declining in quality, however.

You might want to check out Maple Tree Inn on the far south side. They typically carry them when they are in season. I haven't had them in years but I remember them to be pretty good...of course, not as good as in Louisiana!

I am pretty sure Maple Tree is in Blue Island, which is a Southern Suburb. They were in Chicago approx.109th and Western they are now near 135th and Western, they were last time I was there anyway.

Maple Tree Inn
708/388-3461
13301 S. Old Western Ave.
Blue Island

Maple Tree is still excellent, and is indeed in Olde Blue Island on Western Avenue. Call first to see if they have crawfish available. I myself am partial to their hickory butter shrimp if they don't have what you are looking for.

For those of you who were on the last Beef-a-thon, we passed Maple Tree on our way to Pop's in Homewood. I've thought about hosting an LTH dinner there for some time, but it just didn't seem right to bring it up in the middle of a beefathon.

Suzy

McGee's (bar on Webster in Lincoln Park) does a huge crawfish boil every May. Don't know the date it will be this year. They get about 500 lbs. or something like that. Lasts all day. Lots of beer, lots of crawfish, lots of fun.

pappdeux (not exactly a foodie place but still decent in my book) out in arlington heights is doing crawfish boils every wednesday and thursday for the rest of march and all of april. three pounds for just less than a $10 bill. dragged some friends there the other night, it was just a great time sucking the juice out of the cute litte lobster heads with some alcohol.

There's also a Pappa-Ducks around Oak Brook on Rt. 83 about a mile south of I-88.

This is absolutely BRUTAL. I haven't had any crawfish since Summerfest 2005 (and the vendor APOLOGIZED to me after I revealed I was from Louisiana). What's killing me is that it's definitely high tide of crawfish season.....I recall them being $1.29/lb boiled at Big Fisherman down the street from my old house.

Hmmm. If I ordered some live from back home, would y'all show up to a lil' boil....?

Count me and about 10 others in for the boil!

Sal Monilla wrote:
Hmmm. If I ordered some live from back home, would y'all show up to a lil' boil....?

Absolutely. I've got 2 extra burners, tanks, and pots, it it gets too big.

I am curious as to whether the crawfish available in places in Chicago come from Louisiana (or other domestic locations) or China. I know last time I was home visiting my folks in Louisiana, the issue of imported Chinese crawfish was a matter of not minor controversy. I'm not even sure if they import crawfish live from China, but I know most of the prepackaged (frozen) tails I have seen are from China.

Without a doubt. I've been suckered in to buying ostensibly "Louisiana" crawfish tail packs when the name is "Guidry's", "Robert's" or "Fontenot's"....Only to discover that they were the Chinese variety. My chief issue in New Orleans was that I'd much prefer to buy LOCAL. Never fear, I have a pretty good connection from down there (I can't recall the last time I said that!!) and can hopefully have a proper multipounder in the vicinity pronto.

Give Kenan Buchert at Kjean Seafood a call down in New Orleans at 504-488-7503. He'll set you up right. Don't know if he survived Katrina though.

If the New Orleans crawfish connection isn't up and running, try the Louisiana Crawfish Company (lacrawfish.com). They're out of Natchitoches.

In case you need more reason to seek out Louisiana crawfish...this is from an update on Crawfish Fest (in New Jersey):

"As our season progresses, earlier predictions of increased abundance later in the spring appear to be confirmed. We see lots of late-hatched young of the year in most production ponds, and due to lack of an early crop, many ponds still have abundant forage. These factors, coupled with a mild winter and spring, should allow for reasonable availability as the season progresses.
Certainly, the peak of our crawfish crop will be smaller and later than
in a "normal" season, but there should be enough for everyone with the
"envie" for crawfish to get their share."
C. Greg Lutz
Specialist and Professor
LSU AgCenter

Here's a link for anyone who wants to go to a GREAT boil on the east coast.
http://www.crawfishfest.com/

I want to report on my visit to Pappadeaux in Arlington Heights last night. I was there with some family members and my son and I shared three pounds of boiled crawfish for $10.95. They were perfectly spiced and otherwise excellant. Three pounds was about right for the two of us; maybe a little too much with the other items we had. As stated above the crawfish are available Wednesday and Thursday thru the end of May. The price is $3.95 for one pound, $6.95 for two pounds, and $9.95 for three pounds. Interestingly, we asked what the price would be for four pounds and were told it would be the price of 3 pounds plus the price of one pound. Irrational pricing -- one of my pet peeves. Regarding the issue of the origin of the crawfish, we were told they were flown in fresh from Louisiana. They were uncertain whether they would have the annual crawfish boil because of the hurricane, but there is enough available for a two day special. They serve crawfish tail meat all year long in several dishes and the waitress said this tail meat comes from China

As to other items, we had one dozen Texas oysters for $5.75. They were large fresh and flavorful. Quite a bargain. Speaking of irrational pricing, a half dozen oysters if $4.75, but a dozen is $5.75. Thursday night is lobster special night with whole lobster selling for $14.95 per pound instead of the regular menu price of $19.95, There is a two pound minimum. We say lots of servings of lobster pssing our table but didn't take advantage of the special. A good reason for a return trip. The place is large and was very crowded last night. My wife had planked salmon and she said it was fresh and done to perfection.

I heartily recommend Pappadeaux for boiled crawfish that was as good as I remember enjoying sitting on the dock in Clear Lake, TX south of Houston.


Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
798 W. Algonquin Rd. (@ Golf Rd.)
Arlington Heights

847-228-9551

This Memorial day weekend, we expat Nola-inians were absurdly lucky to find a crawfish boil not too far from our homes. Not only were the crawfish flown in live, but so were the BOILERS. Real, honest-to-God Yats were at the helm of this 1500 pound boil, and we were in Heaven!!!! Andouille, potatoes, garlic...all the usual suspects were in attendance and I easily took down 12 pounds. And in true NO fashion, the guys in charge of the boil knew a ton of people that we did.....

I went back after my other NO friends were paralyzed. It was a 4 mile bike ride I made with my British friend who truly is a naturalized New Orleanian. Someone stole my bike helmet at the bar, however, and I got a flat to boot; the disgruntled forced march on the way home was still worth it....!!!

The guys in charge allowed us to slide a bit and we brought around 20 lbs home with us.....enough to peel and make a dynamite crawfish pie!!! So, sitting here 1000 miles north of home, I am profoundly satisfied.

Man. The next day we happened upon a pig roast (read cochon de lait----except NO suckling pig) and we've managed to round out the most Louisianaesque weekend EVER.

Crawfish season is here and I'm craving for a crawfish boil. Other than the very rare Cajun Connection boil, isn't there anywhere in Chicagoland that does a boil?

Toons

Shanahan's in Forest Park does crawfish boils. If their calendar is correct, the next on is May.

http://www.shanahanscreole.com/
7353 Madison
Forest Park, IL
708-366-0775

We are having one tomorrow at The Southern (already sold out though) and another one next Saturday at 3 p.m. You can buy tickets thesouthern.ticketleap.com. Sorry for the shill, but it seemed like an honest answer to a VERY good question

We are having live crawfish sent to us direct from the Achafalaya Basin in Louisiana and will be cooking them up with andouille sausage, potatoes, garlic and corn on the cob. $15

Tickets went fast this week, but you can get ahead now for next week!

Hope to see you there!

Cary Taylor
Executive Chef
The Southern

1840 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
773.342.1840
www.thesouthernchicago.com
email: info@thesouthernchicago.com

Sweet T wrote:We are having one tomorrow at The Southern (already sold out though) and another one next Saturday at 3 p.m.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at this yesterday. We worried it would be a madhouse with the report of the previous week's sell-out and it being St. Paddy's day and all, but we walked right in and were served steaming plates of the boil by chef himself. The place was beyond comfortable with the big garage doors opened up to the sunny, warm afternoon. Boil was great, small early season crawfish were well seasoned and I remarked that the sign of a good boil is not the seafood, which should be inherently delectable, but rather the flavor penetration in the corn and especially the potatoes. Managing the cooking times for disparate ingredients takes a certain knack and ever thing was full of spice and cooked appropriately. The corn was almost my favorite part, well maybe next to slurping the guts from the heads, naturally. Andouille were skinny links full of spice in a snappy casing. All in all, it was a great value and a lovely and delicious way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Maple Tree Inn in Blue Island should are supposed to have crawfish boil dinners available next weekend 3/30 and the following.

Their Facebook page seems to have the most up to date info.

Tonight. $19.99 for two pounds of mudbugs.

I'm going!