Calumet Fisheries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calumet Fisheries |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1928 |
| Current owner(s) | Kotlick and Toll families |
| Head chef | Mundo Campos Javier Magallanes |
| Food type | Seafood |
| Street address | 3259 E. 95th Street |
| City | Chicago |
| State | Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 41°43′21″N 87°32′38″W / 41.7226369°N 87.54398470000001°W |
Calumet Fisheries is a famous seafood restaurant in the South Deering area of Chicago, Illinois. It sits right next to the 95th Street bridge. This bridge even appeared in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers!
The restaurant first opened in 1928. Later, in 1948, it was bought by Sid Kotlick and Len Toll. Calumet Fisheries is known for its delicious smoked and fried fish. They also serve tasty shrimp and clams.
You might have seen this place on TV shows. It has been featured on shows like Eater's Dining on a Dime. It also appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. The building is a small, one-room shack. It has a counter where you order, but there are no seats inside. Most people take their food to go. Many customers eat their meals right in their cars along 95th Street.
Contents
How They Smoke Fish
Calumet Fisheries uses a special smokehouse. This smokehouse has been used since the restaurant first opened. It uses natural wood to smoke the fish.
The Smoking Steps
First, the fish are soaked in a salty water mix overnight. This is called brining. Large fish like salmon or sturgeon are cut into "steaks." These pieces are then threaded with string. They hang from a smoking rack inside the smokehouse. Some salmon are smoked whole.
Wood fires are built at the bottom of the smokehouse. The fish cook slowly with the doors open at first. When they are done cooking, the doors are closed. This lets the smoke flavor the fish. Smaller items like shrimp and clam strips are also smoked. They are tacked onto a wooden plank for smoking.
A Look at History
Smoked fish was very popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Back then, many shipping and fishing boats used Chicago's waterways. Over the years, the demand for smoked fish went down. The neighborhood and economy changed. To keep sales up, the restaurant started selling fried seafood.
A Big Comeback
The owners thought about stopping the smoking process. They planned to focus only on fried food. But then, Calumet Fisheries was featured on the TV show No Reservations. A few days after the show aired, something amazing happened. People lined up out the door and down the street! Since then, sales have continued to grow. This shows how much people love their smoked fish.
Awards and Special Mentions
Calumet Fisheries has received many honors. CNN named it one of America's 10 best historic restaurants. In 2010, it won a special award. It received a James Beard Foundation Award. This award is like an Oscar for restaurants. It celebrates excellent food and dining experiences.
