WRIGLEYVILLE — Forget about the turkey and Christmas ham, there's a new way to celebrate the holiday season: eating a juicy burger made of reindeer meat.
The Butcher's Tap, 3553 N. Southport Ave., claims that nothing is more festive than its Rudolph Burger, made with Northern reindeer, cheddar, tempura jalapenos and topped with a tomato-and-bacon puree "nose."
The restaurant lists the Rudolph Burger among beloved Chicago holiday traditions like Christkindlmarket and the tree lighting ceremony.
Not only does the Wrigleyville restaurant suggest its Dancer-and-Prancer combo will get you in the holiday spirit, but adds that "Santa has already informed us that he's making a pit stop here in a couple weeks."
So Santa ... eats reindeer??!!
Perhaps it's because people picture reindeer as this adorable guy that a reindeer burger seems so strange. After all, plenty of people are fine with eating deer, bison or, you know, cows.
Turns out chowing down on reindeer is the norm for some.
Apparently, reindeer is among the leanest of meats and has those coveted omega-3 and fatty acids we typically hear about in salmon or other fish, according to ScienceNordic. Its fat content is about 2 percent, while beef runs around 9 percent.
Every year, the queen of Denmark's family has an annual Christmas hunt and proudly poses with scads of dead Donners and Blitzens, lined up on the palace lawn.
Norwegians eat an average of just under a pound of reindeer per year, so it's still a pretty rare treat even where reindeer are native game.
So if you do decide to dine on The Butcher's Tap this holiday season, we have one suggestion: Warn your kids first.
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