Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Bacon-Stuffed Bacon? Trenchermen Woos Brunchers, Azzurra Adds Family Supper

By Alisa Hauser | February 13, 2014 10:53am | Updated on February 13, 2014 11:04am
 Trenchermen is offering a bacon-stuffed bacon sandwich on its new brunch in the dining room, beginning Saturday.
Trenchermen is offering a bacon-stuffed bacon sandwich on its new brunch in the dining room, beginning Saturday.
View Full Caption
Trenchermen

WICKER PARK — It is shaping up to be a delicious Valentine's Day weekend for more than just couples, with group-style brunches and dinners courting friends and families coming to two Wicker Park restaurants.

On Saturday, Trenchermen, 2039 W. North Ave., brings a new brunch menu to its dining room — a first for the restaurant, which normally considers Saturday mornings "a kickback, let's-hang-at-the-bar kind of thing," according to the eatery's blog. 

"We haven't opened the dining room for eating at brunch, but rather encouraged a low key service at our bar [on Saturday]. The one caveat to it all? It's not easy for groups of family and friends to go out for brunch when nestled up at a bar," the restaurant wrote.

 Azzurra just launched a Sunday night family and group supper featuring four-course dinners from different regions of Italy.
Azzurra Sunday Supper Nights
View Full Caption

So, this Saturday, diners can enjoy Trenchermen's full menu at the bar or in the dining room, along with new brunch additions such as chicken-fried steak with biscuits and gravy and a French toast and sausage "tower" with blood orange puree.

A new brunch dessert called "Open Mouth Laughing" or Chinese sesame doughnuts, can be washed down with a "Wake & Bake" cocktail made of Bow Truss coffee, coffee liqueur and Kringle, a cream liqueur from Wisconsin.

Bow Truss is Trenchermen's guest roaster for the month of February.

In addition to new dishes, other Trencherman standbys such as a pretzel cinnamon roll and bacon-stuffed bacon breakfast egg sandwich will be available, too.

Trenchermen's brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (new) as well as Sunday. Make reservations online or call 773-661-1540.

Up the street, Azzurra EnoTavola, an Italian restaurant at 1467 N. Milwaukee Ave., has launched a "Sunday Supper" offering a traditional, family-style feast made up of a four-course dinner of regional homemade Italian cuisine.

During February, Azzurra is putting a spotlight on dishes from the Tuscan region of Italy, followed by Sicily in March and Lazio (Rome) in April.

"We've had a great reception from the neighborhood since opening in Wicker Park this fall," said owner Marty Fosse. "We've really been listening to what our guests want in a local, Italian restaurant and with our new Sunday Suppers, friends and families alike will be able to enjoy a special, affordable menu featuring our house-made Italian cuisine."     

February's dinner includes an Antipisti Misti appetizer with sliced local soppressata, mozzarella and crostini, followed by two choices of homemade pasta, either cavatelli, a small pasta shell with tomato and parmesan cheese, or orecchiette, an ear-shaped pasta that derives its name from the Italian word for ear.

Entrees include a choice of polpettone (beef and pork loaf), filled with prosciutto, carrots and spinach with parmigiano potatoes or polenta-crusted whitefish with potatoes. Both dishes offer a side of Swiss chard gratin.  A final course of house-made desserts ends the dinner.

Reservations can be made online or by calling the restaurant at 773-278-5959.  Prices are $23 for adults; $12 for children ages 8 to 12.  All dishes will be served family-style, and participation of the entire table is required. Dine-in only.