I've got 2 pounds coming in to Dirk's today. He said he was getting 5 pounds so 3 more are up for grabs...

Cogito, the lake smelt were light silver in color and small (maybe 3 inches) with heads intact. Atlantic smelt were darker in color, and appeared to be headless, yet slightly larger and plumper, and higher priced. I did not try either, so I cannot address whether there is a taste difference.

Great "pretzel-crusted" smelt at The Bristol last night. Not sure I could tell that I was crushed pretzels that the little guys were crusted with, but regardless they were tasty.

-Dan

Miller's Pub had smelt advertised on their marquee today.

FYI, Miller's Pub had smelt advertised on their marquee yesterday. 4/19/11
OK I just wanted share a funny I heard on the radio today, some called in and said happy 4/20. I got a chuckle out of that one.
I am hitting it (Millers Pub) thursday or friday for the smelt.

I have to admit I've never had smelt. What are they like? Are they eaten whole, heads and all? Are they at least gutted? Fishy/mild/crunchy?

fried smelt are kind of like a grown up version of the fish sticks you had in elementary school. mild and crunchy and generally inoffensive. the bones are so small you eat them. Heads are typically removed. They are gutted of course.

Well now I gotta try 'em.

Zoid, since I see you're in Oak Park, you may be happy to know that Ultra Foods on Roosevelt carries smelt and will fry them while you shop. They're identified as Canadian, which I assume means they came from Lake Erie. Get the Cajun seasoning.

Salt and pepper smelt (or sometimes salt and pepper "small fish") are a standard on the menu of many Chinatown restaurants, including LTH itself. If you work in the loop, I can also recommend the salt and pepper smelt on the menu every Tuesday at Market Creations in the Prudential Building.
Take a photo, get a hug by yooperann, on Flickr

Ann Fisher wrote:Zoid, since I see you're in Oak Park, you may be happy to know that Ultra Foods on Roosevelt carries smelt and will fry them while you shop. They're identified as Canadian, which I assume means they came from Lake Erie. Get the Cajun seasoning.

I think I just figured out what's for lunch Saturday

As noted above--and still today.

Smelt are here by yooperann, on Flickr

At the risk of hogging this thread, this was my lunch today: $3.10 for half a pound of freshly breaded and fried smelt at Ultra Foods in Forest Park.

And I went to Miller's on Monday and missed my smelt window! Frickna
See they only do smelt to the end of April there, stopping in May. Monday was May 2.
(Is it not ironic that I found and boosted this topic then failed)
It looks like I need to make a trip up to Forest Park, Great Pict Ann!
The Prudential Bldg is a bit of a hike for me (Clark and Jackson) but sounds like it would be worth it.
I go to China town on occassion so that is an option too.

Scored some gorgeous smelts at Dirk's yesterday, much to the delight of my daughter who went around yelling "Minnows! minnows!!". Flour, egg, panko, hot oil, then salt and a squeeze of lemon. Yum!

Girl can't keep her chopsticks off them:

smelt, on Flickr

Jen

What are those new fangled eating utensils? Chopstick training wheels? Is that an adult hand using them?

kenji wrote:What are those new fangled eating utensils? Chopstick training wheels? Is that an adult hand using them?

Pie-love wrote:much to the delight of my daughter who went around yelling "Minnows! minnows!!".

Maybe try reading the post as well as looking at the pictures.

Saw smelts at Andy's Fruit Ranch on Kedzie, both ocean and lake, neither exactly local if that concerns.

Andy's Fruit Ranch

lhbeetle wrote:And I went to Miller's on Monday and missed my smelt window! Frickna
See they only do smelt end of April there stopping in May. Monday was May 2.

The Prudential Bldg is a bit of a hike for me (Clark and Jackson) but sounds like it would be worth it.

You might find it worth it to keep an eye on the menus of the Market Creations cafes that are nearer to you. I'd be surprised if only the one by me ever had salt & pepper smelt.

kenji wrote:What are those new fangled eating utensils? Chopstick training wheels? Is that an adult hand using them?

Ha, that's my 6-year-old with her beloved kiddie training chopsticks-- they are great for kids, you can get them at the SuperH, Mitsuwa, etc, in a range of colors and with different cartoon animals at the hinge part. In your defense, she does have big hands!

Jen

Glen's Diner on Montrose has them on the menu.

Ann Fisher wrote:

lhbeetle wrote:And I went to Miller's on Monday and missed my smelt window! Frickna
See they only do smelt end of April there stopping in May. Monday was May 2.

The Prudential Bldg is a bit of a hike for me (Clark and Jackson) but sounds like it would be worth it.

You might find it worth it to keep an eye on the menus of the Market Creations cafes that are nearer to you. I'd be surprised if only the one by me ever had salt & pepper smelt.

One of the market creations is within a block of where I work, Thanks for the lead!
I will go there Tuesday and let you know. A person learns so much here!
Dirks looks likes it serves nice minnows!

(I edit my stuff for language usage issues that I catch after rereading my post. I need an editor.)

There's a newer place over by here, in Albany Park.

We had dinner around the corner when I spotted it. Storefront place with some seating. They had way more types of fish than the other places nearer to here. Walleye, Salmon, clams, NO OYSTERS, but yes they had SMELT. Smelt was 6.99/lb. They offer weights as low as 1/4 lb.

Being that we had already eaten dinner I didn't order, but looking around on the other review sites on the Intertubes it's getting good reviews. I'll be back there.

Fish N Go
4749 N. Pulaski Chicago, IL 60630 - (773) 961-8235
Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am-8pm

Pic is their storefront which looks like from an old google maps before they opened late last year.

I went to the Market Creations in the Dirksen Federal Bldg. today. No smelt but I did see Patty and Rod Blagojevich as they came into the cafeteria for lunch!
Interesting it its self. The food was decent/OK for cafeteria style food. Like all Fed Bdlgs you have to go through metal detectors to go into the bldg. I have seen guys go into a Fed bldg and get busted for trying to carry a crack pipe, so be forewarned
If was fun to see Rod and Patty though!

I keep my crack pipe in the glove compartment where it belongs. Thanks for the heads up though!

Was in Niles today and decided to stop at Mykonos. Luckily, they said they still had smelt. I understand that smelt is more of a year-round thing at many Greek restaurants, but since the menu indicated it was a seasonal item, I figured it might be the April/May variety discussed in this thread.

Perhaps I should have asked. Is May 21 too late for the fresh Erie smelt?

Well, regardless where they came from. They were delicious. Not too heavily battered. The fish definitely came through. Also, seems like they were careful not to overdo them, they came out just perfect, and not too dry.

Mykonos Greek Restaurant
8660 W Golf Rd
Niles, IL 60714-5600
(847) 296-6777

It seems like they always have smelt at J. C.'s Pub lately. Joliet Rd., west of First Ave. ,about 1 block. I have not tried them, but they smell good swimming by on the tray.

There were some decent looking Smelts being turned out at Fish Keg tonight. When I was there, a couple of customers were each buying several pounds. I didn't try them, but had some terrific perch. It was on sale, and labeled "real fresh-water lake perch" In fact, the several people I shared it with, agreed it was the best perch we ever had. The hush puppies were spot on tonight too. The guy doing the frying tonight really knew his stuff. I don't know why this place doesn't get more love. I think sometimes the old standbys get overlooked.

I've been pushing the salt and pepper smelt at Market Creations in the Prudential Building for a long time. The problem is that you can't plan on them in advance. The chef tries to have them every Tuesday, but they're not always available and his management discourages him from serving them (pure speculation on my part, but my guess is that they're too light to be big profit-centers in a by-the-pound place).

But they're on the menu for today, and if you're in the loop, I strongly urge you to make you way over and try them. This photo focused (not too well) on the chef. I'll try to take a worthy one of the smelt! [/url]
Take a photo, get a hug by yooperann, on Flickr

Worth going out in today's "wintery mix" for my Tuesday smelt at Market Creations. Here's a photo to tempt you.

Ann Fisher wrote:I've been pushing the salt and pepper smelt at Market Creations in the Prudential Building for a long time. The problem is that you can't plan on them in advance. The chef tries to have them every Tuesday, but they're not always available and his management discourages him from serving them (pure speculation on my part, but my guess is that they're too light to be big profit-centers in a by-the-pound place).

I will try next Tuesday!

If one is in the Des Plaines area, at Boston Fish Market smelt are available fried for lunch or to purchase and make your own at home: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37017 I just had them last week, delicious.

Wow!!! Those salt n' pepper smelt look good. I'm gonna have to pick some up soon. I hope the other Market Creation locations (closer to my workplace) serve those. That picture makes me want smelt for breakfast.