The Butcher and The Larder

Occasionally, we blog about food and unique places in Chicago, IL.  I love to eat my way through the city.  Today I ran across a new little shop.  It’s called The Butcher & Larder.  They used to be a part of a restaurant that I loved, Mado.  Alas, Mado is now out of business.

The Butcher & Larder is really on the cutting edge of what is going on in food.  When I visited with Reformed Broker and Phil Pearlman last month in New York, they took me to an over the top place, Eatily.  B&L is the meat counter at Eatily.  Summer sausage is available at the end of this week.  They don’t have cured meats or lardo yet, but it will come in time.  They will have porchetta sandwiches!  Yum.

Today I bought some fantastic homemade breakfast sausages, some pork belly, and short ribs.  They cut the short ribs made to order.  That’s what is really neat about this place.  They use the whole animal, can instruct you how to make it, and will custom cut to order.  I have had the pork from Slagel Family farms.  It’s a lot better tasting than the stuff you find in the grocery case at a supermarket.

My wife and I use a lot of leaf lard in baking and some in cooking.  B&L will render that for us too!  If you haven’t used leaf lard, you should. It’s really good stuff and healthy for you too.  This is a true Chicago gem, and one you should not miss.

By the way, in the spirit of the Bears and the Packers, they will be making homemade hot dogs and brats this week.

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