Launching mid-November, Michelin-star chef Christian Hunter will be bringing his first solo concept, Hooligan, a vibrant 50-seat seafood and wine bar, to Time Out Market Chicago! Hooligan will, as Hunter describes, flip the script on what a Midwestern seafood bar can be.
The à la carte menu is polished yet playful, featuring plates such as peel-and-eat shrimp with barbecue sauce, mild-dance mayo, and Old Style; dressed oysters with potato, soy, and hen-of-the-woods XO sauce; and bycatch crudo with albacore, squash aguachile, and pepita oil. Locally sourced ingredients and sustainable seafood anchor the menu, and dishes are bold, flavorful and inventive yet approachable and are crafted to be enjoyed in the Market’s casual environment without pretense.
Chef Christian Hunter has gotten used to making headlines lately: he was a James Beard Award Finalist in 2022 for his work at a restaurant in Connecticut, and in 2023, he received the Michelin Young Chef Award and his Lincoln Square restaurant, Atelier, earned a Michelin star. Although his resume reads like an industry veteran, Hunter is just getting started, and his next move is his most ambitious—and most personal—project yet.
“It’s oysters and wine, but with a little mischief and a lot of heart. I want it to feel joyful, a little rebellious, and deeply rooted in flavor and craft,” Hunter shares. “Time Out Market and Chicago are the perfect places for this type of energy.”