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Watching Emeril Live tonight reminded me of how much I love rumaki, Any suggestions for take-out or delivery?

Cheers,
Wade

Wade,

Whatever you do, don't try the rumaki at Lin's Garden, on Milwaukee Ave. in Niles. They wrap the liver and water chestnut in ham, then bacon. It is then battered before deep frying, so what you get is a crisp shell filled with steamed liver and fatty bacon. The pressed duck is equally disgusting.

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"Playing the trumpet with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the most fun that you can have with your clothes on." Adolph "Bud" Herseth

Evil,

I haven't had Linn's rumaki, but I most certainly agree with you on the pressed duck. Have you found a reasonable rendition anywhere?

Wade, off-hand I don't seem to know a place for rumaki, though Trader Vic's in the Palmer House (17 E Monroe) seems a likely choice.

Linn's info from '02 follows.

Enjoy,
Gary
--

Ron,

I hope you have menu writing input at the restaurant where you are a chef, because after reading your description of Pressed Duck I was so darn moved that I went right out to the closest likely American/Chinese joint for pressed duck or, in this case, Press Almond Duck.

First let me say that maybe there is a reason that you don't see pressed duck on restaurant menus any longer, though the version I was served at Lin's was similar to my memory of pressed duck in the same way that a burger king hamburger is similar to a Smith and Wollensky's burger.

Lin's pressed duck was shredded duck with about a half of an inch of breading fried on top, with the occasional slice of slightly bitter and tough shiitake mushroom, the shiitake needed longer soaking and a few water changes. The only thing that the pressed duck had going, aside from a nice crisp crust, were the crunchy almonds strewn over the dish, that and the ubiquitous shredded lettuce underneath the pressed duck.

This was neither the pressed duck of Ron's youth or mine as it was served with a sticky brown 'egg fu yung' type gravy, not a sweet sauce as Ron remembers. Though in my pressed duck memory it is served with a brown sauce, not a sweet and sour.

While the pressed duck may have not been quite to my liking, Lin's seems like a pleasant American/Chinese restaurant with all the usual menu suspects and a wide selection of Tiki type drinks.

I have not been put off of my Ron R inspired quest for the perfect pressed duck, next up on my Chicago pressed duck tour, Orange Garden. Yes, I called, they have pressed duck, $9.15 + tax, carry out until 10pm. (At least tonight)


Lin's Garden Restaurant
6556 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
773-631-2185

Orange Garden
1942 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL
773-525-7479

Wiv,

Add Pekin House on Devon to your quest for Pressed Duck. They still serve it up 50's style. Also, doesn't your beloved Kow Kow still serve it? I know Mee Mah serves a less than great version.

_________________
Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Regarding rumaki, it's easy to make. Just p.m. me if you'd like a recipe.

=R=

_________________
I just wanna live until I gotta die. I know I ain't perfect but God knows I try. --Todd Snider

Twitter: ronniesuburban

I never promised that Lin's pressed duck was good when I discovered it a couple of years ago. Only that they had it. Personally, in my one encounter with Lin's pressed duck, I couldn't finish anything other that the crispy coating, almonds, and lettuce. The duck itself had the consistency as if someone in the kitchen had chewed it, spit it out, then deep fried it

Did anyone ever find a place in the city that serves rumaki?