The fusion eatery is cooking up a storm for Lent, Women’s Day and Noodle Month.
This fun establishment brings you a flaming hot mosaic of Cantonese and Portuguese fare. The most notable is in the name “Fat Rice”, which is a stupendous combination of sofrito rice, sherry golden raisins, chouriço, curried chicken, linguica sausage, wood-roasted beef, chili prawns, tea-brined egg and Portuguese olives.
Fat Rice and all of its components can feel a bit like a Rubik’s cube at first, vibrant blocks of colors that are a tad confusing, but once you figure out all the moving parts it all comes together like magic.
The Bakery at Fat Rice
Mornings see a sumptuous display of confectionery, from Portuguese egg tarts and Masala spiced banana tarts to linguiça cheese buns from The Bakery at Fat Rice. You can wash all of this down with a delicious “Double Duck” which is a “Fat Rice Milk Coffee” and Hong Kong tea blend.
Afternoons can be spent exploring their exciting buns and cakes, crowned with fresh fruits and petals. With options like the “everything roll”, this could easily become your new favorite brunch spot.
As the evenings roll in, the bakery turns into a Portuguese-style snack bar with lots of tasty offerings to keep you munching.
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The Fat Rice Dining Room
By night, the lights are dimmed with the wide-open kitchen and the communal tables are ablaze with the hot, boldly flavored Luso-Asian cuisine. You’ll find diners feasting on an eclectic mix of dishes with an emphasis on seafood, meats, and spices that have kept earned them a Bib Gourmand award for 6 years running.
The Ladies’ Room
Beyond the feasting, there’s The Ladies’ Room, one of Chicago’s finest speakeasies offering house-infused cocktails in an intimate, Fan Tan-inspired (Chinese gambling hall) setting. Enter through to bakery to find a showcase of “global flavors and Midwestern terroir through house-made infusions, elixirs, and potions.” The Ladies Room recreates classic cocktails into imaginative reimaginings and features spirits like Ki No Bi Kyoto Gin, La Venenosa Costa Racilla, Navazos Cognac and other delicious liquors.
Festive Foods
The team, which includes James Beard-winning Chef Abe Conlon, never shy away from festivities of any kind. This month Fat Rice is turning up the heat with a few specialties for Lent, National Noodle Month, and International Women’s Day. Here are some of the delicious things Fat Rice will be cooking up for you…
Fish Friday at Fat Rice
Chef Abe Conlon will be honoring the Catholic observance with “Bacalhau da vovó”(Grandma’s Cod), a sacred spread of creamy cod, bread, black olive, chili, and mint. Not a terrible way to skip the meat.
Send Noods at The Bakery and Cafe at Fat Rice and the Fat Rice dining room
From March 1, you’ll be able to curb your carb cravings with “Lacassà”, a rice noodle stir fry with shrimp, char siu pork, tofu, and garlic chive, topped with a sliced egg omelet and pickled ginger by Chef de Cuisine Eric Sjaaheim. Or get some “Spicy Noodle Buns”, a crafted black sesame pão doce bun stuffed with chili Indomie noodles between by Pastry Chef Ashley Robinson.
Ladies’ Month at The Ladies’ Room
On March 8th, gather all the extraordinary womxn you know and enjoy cocktails and confectionary inspired by historical female leaders to celebrate National Women’s History Month. One dollar of everything sold will go towards Midwest Access Coalition, a local organization helping all people gain access to safe, free, and legal abortions and sexual health education.
Featured photo courtesy of Fat Rice