Fat Rice
Restaurant information
Established2012
Closed2020
ChefAbraham Conlon
CityChicago
StateIllinois
CountryUnited States

Fat Rice was an American restaurant inspired by the food and culture of Macau, China.[1] Located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois and operating from 2012 to 2020, Fat Rice was known for their Arroz Gordo, a home-style Macanese dish which translates to "fat rice".[1] Then-head chef Abraham Conlon once claimed Fat Rice is the "only restaurant in the world" to serve the dish.

Background

During the onset of pandemic lockdown, Fat Rice Restaurant which was founded in 2012 closed down normal operations in March 2020.[2]  

Philanthropy

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Fat Rice owners launched the Fat Rice Community Relief Kitchen to help their staff, other restaurant workers, and Fat Rice customers.[3] Conlon and Lo provided meal kits which were offered at whatever price people could afford to pay.[4] Those meal kits were either delivered or taken out, considering people’s safety. Each meal kit intended to supply three meals to two people contained tofu and vegetable soup, pork meatloaf with mushrooms, and marinated chicken thighs with vegetables.[3]  

Their mission was to help flatten the curve of coronavirus outbreak and to help those people who were financially struggling due to restaurant closures.[5]

Ownership

Fat Rice is owned and managed by the business partners---Abraham Conlon, a James Beard Foundation award winner,[6] and Adrienne Lo, a Chinese American and Chicago native.[7] Both have culinary roots.[8]

Fat Rice also operated an adjacent cocktail bar, called The Ladies' Room[9] and an Asian-inspired pastry shop called The Bakery at Fat Rice.[10]

Awards

Leadership controversy

The restaurant's owners, Abe Conlon and Adrienne Lo, made two Instagram posts in solidarity with those participating in the George Floyd protests in early June 2020.[16] Conlon issued an apology for his behavior on Instagram,[17] and shut Super Fat Rice Mart indefinitely after the criticism.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 Mai, Jeffy (2 March 2017). "How Fat Rice's Arroz Gordo Is a Chicago-Only Melting Pot of Cuisines". Eater. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Smith, Colby (2020-04-29). "Fat Rice Restaurant Has Closed And Opened A Market In Its Place". Secret Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  3. 1 2 Bloom, Mina (2020-03-19). "Fat Rice Offering Pay-What-You-Can Meal Kits To Laid-Off Industry Workers, Others In Need". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  4. ↑ Walsh, Molly. "Acclaimed Chicago Restaurant Sells Pay-What-You-Can Food Kit During Coronavirus Crisis". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  5. ↑ Bendersky, Ari. "Chicago Restaurants Are Turning to Philanthropy to Help Staff, Community". InsideHook. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  6. ↑ Selvam, Ashok (2018-05-07). "Fat Rice's Abe Conlon Wins Chicago's Only James Beard Award in 2018". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  7. ↑ "About Abe, Adrienne and Fat Rice". Plate. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  8. ↑ Dean, Jacob (2018-04-23). "Chef Abraham Conlon, Fat Rice, and the Search for Flavor". The Cook's Cook. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  9. ↑ Selvam, Ashok (30 December 2015). "Fat Rice Reveals The New Skinny About Their Upcoming Cocktail Lounge". Eater. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Todd, Anthony (17 January 2018). "The Bakery at Fat Rice Is Making the Best New Cookie in Chicago". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Knowlton, Andrew. "Fat Rice - #4 Best New Restaurant in America 2013". Bon Appetit. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  12. ↑ "Best New Restaurant | Eat Out Awards 2013". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  13. ↑ Addison, Bill (2017-10-04). "The Midwest's 38 Essential Restaurants". Eater. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  14. ↑ "Fat Rice Named Restaurant of the Year, Expansion and Bar Coming Soon". DNAinfo Chicago. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  15. ↑ "Nominees & Winners". Jean Banchet Awards. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Brett (16 June 2020). "A Top Chicago Restaurant Messaged Its Virtue. Then Workers Spoke Up". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  17. ↑ Selvam, Ashok (17 June 2020). "Acclaimed Fat Rice Topples After Outcry from Employees". Eater. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  18. ↑ Bloom, Mina (9 June 2020). "Fat Rice Shut Down Indefinitely After Employees Accuse Co-Owner Of Racism, Verbal Abuse: 'I Am Deeply Sorry'". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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