Chicago Chefs Shell it Out for Charity at The Publican on March 3rd

Executive Chef & Partner Paul Kahan, his One Off Hospitality partners Donnie Madia, Eduard Seitan, Terry Alexander and the team at The Publican restaurant are back for year two of the “Shuck Off” where six names in Chicago’s restaurant industry gather for a one-night-only oyster shucking marathon, all in the name of charity. 

This year on Thursday, 3/2/23, those who like it raw are once again invited to buck a shuck oysters and drink specials at the Fulton Market beer hall, as the city’s chefs jump behind an eight foot “oyster boat” with Kahan (specially flown in by Island Creek Oysters) to shuck things up. Each chef runs the shuck show for an hour at a time, between 5 – 10 p.m. to band together and raise funds for Pilot Light, an organization whose mission is to educate and inspire students to be change-makers for an equitable, sustainable, and accessible food future.

Oysters are being provided by Island Creek Oysters, beer by Half Acre, wine from partners across the country, and gins from Barr Hill.

Shuck Off Schedule:

•  5 p.m. – Dominique Leach (Lexington Betty Smokehouse)
•  6 p.m. – Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno)
•  7 p.m. – Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo)
•  8 p.m. – Matthias Merges (Billy Sunday, Mordecai)
•  9 p.m. – Stephen Sandoval (Sueños)

Walk ins and bar tables available, but reservations can be secured on Tock. Each individual seat will require a non-refundable deposit of $20 per person that will be donated entirely to Pilot Light. Full dinner and drink menu will be served in addition to the special $1 oysters.