Bridgehouse Museum hosts Asian Carp feast

Advising friends and supporters that, “If you can’t beat it, eat it,” the McCormick Bridgehouse Museum hosted an Asian Carp feast on August 24.

Dozens of fish lovers showed up to sample the invasive species on the northern bank of the Chicago River under Michigan Ave., just outside the Museum’s lower entrance.

Dirk’s Fish & Gourmet Shop supplied, prepared, and served the Asian Carp burger-style.

“We have been promoting Asian Carp now for about ten years,” said Dirk Fucik, owner of the shop and griller for the occasion.

“It’s a good, juicy fish, just very bony,” he continued. “If I ground it and put it side by side with ground Tilapia in a blind taste test, the carp would win every time.”

Dirk’s wife Terry handled chef responsibilities. “You can do a lot of things with it,” she said. “Meatballs, meat loaf, burgers, taco meat.”

For this occasion, she included a Cuban-style burger with a “grown-up” ketchup of tomato, jalepeno, chutne.

Several guests agreeed that the Asian Carp was good eating.

“It’s delicious,” exclaimed Chicagoan David Schmidt. “It would be great on a taco. It’s just like ground beef.”

McCormick Bridgehouse Museum — (312) 977-0227

Dirk’s Fish & Gourmet Shop — (773) 404-3475

— Daniel Patton, Staff Writer