Last weekend I made it to Paulina Market, often cited as Chicago best butcher shop. Chefs and restaurants brag about getting their meat from them. I got there a little too close to closing time, so they were unstocking the cases while I stood gaping, trying to decide what I wanted. The sausage case was a little intimidating, I had no idea what was what. I’ll need to study up on my sausage before I go back.
They have a case of game meat, elk, buffalo, venison, quail etc. Fairly pricey, but this stuff is never cheap. I got about a pound of ground goose meat for 6 bucks.
Lamb loins were on special, so I got 4 at about 12 bucks a lb. And 2 smoked ham hocks.
The lamb loins were braised in fennel, carrot and onion, served with some root vegetable puree and wild rice with some of the ground goose and mushrooms.
The goose also made it into a couple of other meals – a sheperd’s pie I should have photographed, a goose, wild mushroom pizza and a pasta sauce. The ham hocks are simmering in some split pea soup at the moment.
