While travel is still frowned upon, The Publican in Chicago is attempting to transport diners to a ski resort amid the bustling streets of Fulton Market.
The Publican, from Chef and Partner Paul Kahan and the team at One Off Hospitality, is embracing the outdoors amid COVID indoor-dining restrictions by creating outdoor domes and changing the menu to remind patrons of a European ski resort.
“I was recently chatting with a good friend from Bavaria [Germany], and she was talking about how Europeans sit outside all winter where the restaurant is empty and the outdoor biergarten is full,” Kahan said in a statement. “If you dress properly, you can be comfortable outdoors well into the season.”
With an extensive international beer list, including both modern and historical beer styles, as well as cider, guests are kept warm with outdoor heaters. They can also enjoy a variety of international winter foods on the streets of downtown Chicago.
“We will be serving warming food like hearty fish stew and giant housemade Bavarian pretzels with horseradish cheddar dipping sauce, plus hot cocktails like a toasty spiced pear Hot Toddy; stuff you'd want to eat when it’s cold outside anyhow!” Kahan said.
The restaurant is calling the new experience a biergarten and, considering many beer gardens close down for the winter, this may be a new niche to embrace the European mentality and keep workers employed.
