With signs of Spring blooming all around Chicago,
Francesca’s Restaurants is planning for a colorful month. Celebrate Easter with family & friends
and meet the bunny himself, indulge in the decadence of Baconfest at
Francesca’s Forno or partake in Beer & Wine Dinners at select locations. Everything’s
coming up roses at Francesca’s this April!
Oregon Wine dinner at Francesca’s Famiglia
April 11, 7 p.m. – Francesca’s Famiglia (100 East Station
Street, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-277-1027)
Spring is in the air and Francesca’s Famiglia in Barrington is
hosting a fresh & inspired wine dinner event! Featuring wine selections from the vineyards
of Bethel Heights in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, this 4-course menu is only $52
per person, all inclusive! Reservations are required.
The meal
starts with Whipped Burrata, tomato and rhubarb conserva paired with a 2011 Pinot Gris. This is followed by Roasted scallops, morels, ramps, English peas and bacon. This pairs
excellently with a 2009 Chardonnay. The third
course features Handmade toasted fennel seed and goat cheese gnocchi, crispy duck, fava beans, caramelized spring onions. A 2009 Pinot Noir makes a great pair
for this course. The evening ends with Rosemary crusted rack of spring lamb, baby carrots and roasted root vegetables. This is the
perfect companion for a 2008 Pinot Noir “Casteel Reserve”.
Goose Island Beer dinner
at Francesca’s Vicinato
April 12, 6:30 p.m. – Francesca’s Vicinato (12960 S. LaGrange
Road, Palos Park, IL 60465; 708-671-1600)
Chef Mario Lopez of Francesca’s Vicinato serves a savory
Italian meal with courses paired perfectly with famed Goose Island beers. Jim De Bolt of Goose Island leads the meal,
educating diners on food & beer pairings at this fun, festive dining event. Reservations are required, $45 per person, excluding
tax and gratuity.
The evening starts with Crostini
misti, an assortment of crostini’s paired with 312 Urban Wheat Ale. This is followed by Insalata Mista con Gamberi e Granchio, frisee, arugula, lemon &
olive oil, jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto stuffed with crab meat, pepper
aioli and aged balsamic. It is a perfect pair for Summertime, German Style Kölsch. The third course features Papardelle con
Anatra, homemade wide pasta,
duck confit, asparagus, roasted artichokes, brown butter sage and parmigiano
reggiano. A Nut Brown Ale makes
the perfect companion. Next is Lombo
di Maiale al Vicinato, grilled
pork tenderloin, caramelized onion mashed potatoes, grilled peach and balsamic
rosemary demi-glaze, paired with Matilda, Belgian Style Pale Ale. The meal finishes with Brownie
alla Moda, chocolate caramel pecan brownie served warm with chocolate
sauce, caramel sauce and vanilla gelato paired with Bourbon
County Bramble.
Raise a glass to the end
of tax season with a Wine dinner event at Francesca’s Bryn Mawr
April 17, 7 p.m. – Francesca’s Bryn Mawr (1039 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660; 773-506-9261)
Uncle Sam’s annual day of reckoning is
upon us…. (drum roll please) TAX DAY. If
April 15th is a day to celebrate in your household, chances are you
are receiving a tax refund; but if you owe, the tone is surely not so
upbeat. Whether you are drowning your
sorrows or toasting to your own financial windfall, we have an event for
you. “Uncle Sam meet Auntie Vino” is a
4-course wine dinner hosted by Francesca’s
Bryn Mawr. Guest speaker, Danny Kleiman,
of Heritage Wines takes you through a guided tour of Italian wine varietals
paired with an innovative Francesca’s menu.
$48 plus tax & gratuity, reservations required.
The evening begins with Citrus House cured Salmon with shaved fennel and extra virgin olive
oil. This is paired with Voveti Prosecco
DOC. Following this is English pea
filled ravioli, soft poached hen egg, in a parmesan broth with browned
butter asparagus, paired with Inama Soave
Classico 2010. The next course features Prosciutto wrapped seared ahi tuna with braised pork cheeks,
morels, and spring onions. The Endrizzi
Teroldego 2009 wine pairs perfectly with this course. The dinner ends with Grilled lamb chop with sweet garlic
puree, petit spring vegetables, anise scented lamb au jus. Tenuta Sant’ Antonio Valpolicella Ripasso Monti Garbi 2008 is
paired with this course.
Lagunitas Brewery Beer Dinner at Francesca’s Passagio and Francesca’s al
Lago – It’s “Doggone Good Beer”
April
12, 7:00 p.m. – Francesca’s Passaggio
(3124 South Route 59, Naperville, IL 60564; 630-946-0600)
Whether
your beer of choice is a pilsner or pale ale, Lagunitas Brewery is sure to make
you a believer in their brews. Enjoy 5 beer selections expertly paired with
Francesca’s food. Tickets are $45 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.
Reservations are required.
The beer dinner begins with Carpaccio
di Cernia con Finnocchietto Selvatico e Pompelmo, grouper “Crudo” with
shaved fennel, grapefruit sea salt, extra virgin olive oil. Lagunitas crispy
wheat and pale malt A Little Sumpin’, makes
the perfect companion. This is
followed by Gambetta di Pollo al
Rosmarino, citrus marinated chicken thighs pan seared in rosemary and
chiles oil, paired with IPA, India
Pale Ale. The third course features Agnolotti con Funghetti, homemade
pasta filled with Prosciutto, caramelized onion in a mushroom sauce and
Parmigiano. It is a perfect pair for Wilco
Imperial, brown Ale. Next is Pesce Bianco Delicato con Faglioni, roasted
Lake Superior Whitefish, French Beans, lemon-butter sauce, paired with New Dogtown, Super premium Pale Ale. The
meal finishes Mousse di Cioccolato, chocolate Pot au Cream, and is
paired with The Censored, rich Copper
Ale.
April 18, 6:30 p.m. - Francesca’s al Lago (111 Martin
Luther King Jr. Blvd, Madison, WI 53703; 608-255-6000)
Whether your beer of choice is a
pilsner or pale ale, Lagunitas Brewery is sure to make you a believer in their
brews. Come out on Wednesday, April 18th
and enjoy 5 beer selections paired with a menu handcrafted by Chef Sergio Lopez
of Francesca’s al Lago. Tickets are
$50 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and sure
to sell out quickly.
The evening
begins with Insalata di Spinaci e
Pistacchio, spinach,
radicchio, watercress, and pistachio in honey champagne vinaigrette, paired
with PILS, Czech Style Pilsner. This is followed by Carpaccio di Mele, apple Carpaccio with brie cheese and cracked
black pepper drizzled with a balsamic glaze. It is a perfect pair for IPA, India Pale Ale. The third course features Tagliatelle con
Cozze, homemade pasta sautéed
with mussels, slow roasted tomatoes, sliced shallots, garlic and extra virgin
olive oil. An American Brown Ale, Wilco Tango Foxtrot, makes the perfect companion. Next is
Branzino e salsa d’ Aragosta, roasted sea bass with grilled asparagus in
tarragon lobster cream sauce, paired with Hop Stoopid Ale, Pale Ale. The meal finishes
with Savoiardi con Cioccolata Fondente, lady fingers soaked in Cappuccino Stout with dark chocolate,
topped with strawberry compote, and is paired with Cappuccino
Stout,
Big and dark Stout.
Make your Easter Egg-cellent with
a family meal at Francesca’s on Easter Sunday
While all Francesca’s restaurant
locations are open for service on Easter Sunday, some are hopping up the excitement with these celebratory Easter events.
Francesca’s Tavola (208 S. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, 847-394-3950)
The Easter bunny will be visiting Francesca's Tavola from 9:00 a.m. –
11:00 a.m. on the two Saturday’s leading up to Easter (March 31st and April 7th). Activities for the kids include coloring
contests and Easter egg hunts. Parents
bring your camera and snap a shot of your little ones visiting with the bunny
himself. Italian breakfast menu
available throughout; reservations required for this sell-out event.
On Easter
Sunday, a lavish brunch buffet at Francesca’s
Tavola features a prime rib carving station, made to order omelets, whole
roasted salmon, eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade pastries, salads, pastas, chicken
and much more from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
($24.95 for adults, $12.95 for ages 2-12 and no-charge for children
under 2). Standard Francesca’s ala carte
menu from 2:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for dinner service.
Francesca’s Fortunato (40 Kansas St, Frankfort, IL 60423,
815-464-1890)
Bring the family out to Francesca’s Fortunato in Frankfort for
a traditional Italian brunch featuring frittatas, omelets and French toast in
addition to many of your Francesca’s favorites. The restaurant will be open
from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a visit from the Easter Bunny from noon to 3:00
p.m. Brunch specialties available through 3:00 p.m.
Francesca’s Bellezza (75 S. La Grange Rd, La Grange, IL
60525, 708-579-3500)
Lunch with
the Easter Bunny at Francesca’s Bellezza on Saturday, April 7th noon
to 3pm! Make a reservation for you &
the kids to dine with Peter Rabbit himself.
Kids will enjoy a pint-sized buffet complete with pasta, pizza and
chicken fingers while their parents can order ala carte from the traditional
Francesca’s menu. The price of $8.99 per
child includes lunch, beverage, Easter egg hunt, goody bag and a picture with
the hoppin’ hare. Space is limited - reserve your table today.
The Easter
bunny will also make appearances on Easter Sunday at Francesca’s Amici (174 N York Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126;
630-279-7970) 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Francesca’s Famiglia (100 East Station
Street, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-277-1027) 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Francesca’s al Lago (111 Martin Luther
King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI 53703; 608-255-6000) 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
TGIF at Francesca’s…
Start your weekend out right with Friday night music events at Francesca’s
Francesca’s Bellezza (75 S. La Grange Rd, La Grange, IL
60525, 708-579-3500)
Sit back,
relax & unwind with friends at Francesca’s
Bellezza every Thursday 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. & Friday night from 6:00 to
9:00 p.m. Live jazz, a glass of wine & a bite to eat will make the
hustle-bustle of your work week seem like a distant memory. Seats are first come, first serve and there
is never a cover charge, so arrive early!
Francesca’s Vicinato (12960 S. La Grange Rd, Palos Park,
IL 60465, 708-671-1600)
Fasten your seatbelts for a guided musical tour through rock 'n roll
history with The Neverly Brothers at Francesca’s
Vicinato. Live for one night only at Francesca’s
Vicinato in Palos Park, mark your calendar for this can’t-miss,
toe-tapping, sing-out-loud event on Friday, April 27th. The restaurant recommends that diners make dinner reservations
between 7 and 7:30 p.m. After enjoying a delicious meal, diners may keep their
tables for the show. After 8 p.m. the restaurant will offer general seating. For more information on The Neverly Brothers,
visit their website at www.theneverlybrothers.com.
Francesca’s Restaurants celebrates the Day of the Mushroom, April 16th
at all Chicagoland locations
Button, shiitake, oyster, wild, portobello,
cremini, enoki, beech… with so many mushroom varieties to choose from how will
you select just one to top your list
for National Mushroom Day on Monday, April 16th? Celebrate the day of the mushroom with
Francesca’s Restaurants and we’ll point you in the right direction with the Pasta Funghetto. Featuring the porcini
and wild mushrooms, tossed with perfectly al dente pasta, mascarpone cheese,
white truffle oil, fresh oregano and brandy-veal sauce to create a rich,
decadent pasta dish that will make you a believer. Available for $10.99 at all Francesca’s restaurant
locations for lunch & dinner on Monday,
April 16th.
Support your community – Come out & get involved!
You can
support your community simply by eating at Francesca’s. When you dine at any
Francesca’s restaurant during their Eat and Earn promotion, a portion of
your bill is donated to a charitable organization in the community.
Thursday, April 5, Francesca’s Tavola (208 S Arlington
Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 847-394-3950) is hosting an Eat and
Earn program to benefit Hersey Jazz Band. For more information on the Hersey Jazz Band,
visit www.herseyband.com. They are also hosting an Eat and Earn
program April 17 supporting Wright-Way
Rescue Pet adoption Center. For more information on the Rescue Center,
visit www.wrightwayrescue.net.
Francesca’s on Bryn Mawr (1039 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660;
773-506-9261) is supporting Edgewater
Historical Society by hosting an Eat & Earn on Wednesday, April 11. For
more information, visit www.edgewaterhistory.org. Emmaus Ministries on Thursday, April 12. For more
information about the organization, visit www.streets.org
and Care for Real – local food pantry, on
Wednesday, April 25. More information about Care for Real can be found at www.careforreal.org.
Monday, April
16, Francesca’s on 95th (6248 W. 95th
Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453; 708-598-7007) is teaming up with Sons of Italy organization to raise
money for children with autism. For more information, visit www.osia.org.
Francesca’s
Passaggio (3124 South Route 59, Naperville, IL 60564; 630-946-0600) & La Sorella di Francesca (18 West
Jefferson Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540; 630-961-2706) are supporting Dine-Away Hunger Foundation on
Wednesday, April 18. La Sorella also is hosting an Eat and Earn for Naperville Responds for our Veterans on
Wednesday, April 11. The organization
assists veterans in need by raising donations of money, building materials and
professional labor and coordinates the process of repairing, building and
donating homes. For more information about the organization, visit www.nrfov.org.
Wednesday,
April 18, all Francesca’s locations are participating in an Eat and Earn promotion to benefit Variety Children’s Charity, a non-profit
organization that is dedicated to promoting and protecting the
health and well-being of children around the world. Variety of Illinois
supports children with disabilities, as well as those who are underprivileged,
or otherwise at-risk. To learn more
about this organization, please visit www.varietyofillinois.org.
Thursday, April 26, Mia Francesca, Francesca’s Forno, Francesca’s on Chestnut, Francesca’s Taylor &
Francesca’s Bryn Mawr join together
with nearly 75 other Chicago institutions in support of the city’s Dine Out for
Life campaign. In its 19th
year, Dine Out for Life’s mission is to provide housing and life services to
men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Help us make a difference in these people’s lives by dining out on April
26th; a portion of all lunch, dinner & carry-out sales will be
donated to this great cause.
Charities interested in learning more about Francesca’s
Restaurants Eat and Earn restaurant
should contact the manager of their local Francesca’s.
Thursday, April 26, Francesca’s
Famiglia (100 East Station Street, Barrington, IL 60010; 847-277-1027) is
one of the local businesses in Barrington participating in a Relay for Life
kickoff party for Purple Heels Sip and Shop event. Francesca’s will be offering
complimentary Limoncello to diners that mention the charity.
Bacon Makes Everything Better… Baconfest & Francesca’s Forno!
Chicago’s hottest
ticket in town is Baconfest on April 14th. If you weren’t lucky enough to snag a ticket
(they’ve been sold out for weeks), get in on the fun at Francesca’s Forno. In conjunction with the event, they’ll be
featuring their Baconfest creation in-house for restaurant guests on Saturday,
April 14th… Yes, the same creation to which only Baconfest ticket
holders are privy. Get your bacon-fix at
Francesca’s Forno!
The Menu at Di Sotto Enoteca expands to include Desserts
Reeling from a nomination by Time Out
Chicago for “Best New Bar in 2012”, Di Sotto Enoteca steps up their game and
adds gourmet Italian desserts and premium Intelligentsia coffee to their
already well-respected small plates menu.
Dessert selections include handmade truffles, lemon-ricotta fritters and
zeppoles. These light and doughy Italian doughnuts are filled with decadent
cheesecake or dark chocolate. Served alongside French press Intelligentsia coffee
and “black cat” espresso, the desserts at Di Sotto Enoteca make the perfect
after dinner treat. Check out the full
menu at www.disottoenoteca.com & indulge your sweet side with a visit.
Earth Day at Francesca’s Tavola
Administrative Assistants Day at Francesca’s Restaurants
Call it a Hallmark holiday if you
will, but Administrative Assistants Day honors a talented group of people that
keep the wheels turning in any company.
Show the Admin in your department how grateful you are for their support
with a special meal at Francesca’s Restaurants.
On Wednesday, April 25th all Francesca’s locations are open
for lunch service (with the exception of Mia Francesca, Chicago) and taking
reservations. Can’t get out – show your thanks with the gift from Francesca’s –
gift cards available to purchase in-store or online at www.miafrancesca.com.
Francesca’s
Tavola (208 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington
Heights, IL 60005; 847-394-3950) will be offering a lunch special. Guests can
choose a two - course meal (appetizer, soup or salad and pasta, sandwich or
entree) with a soft drink or iced tea for $10.00 or a three - course meal
(appetizer, soup or salad and pasta, sandwich or entree, and a dessert), with a
soft drink or iced tea for $15.00.
Francesca’s
on 95th ( 6248 W. 95th Street, Oak
Lawn, IL 60453; 708-598-7007) Are you a boss treating your admin to lunch or
dinner? Bring them to Francesca’s on 95th and you will receive 15%
off your bill.
Davanti Enoteca spices up your weekend mornings with a build-your-own
Bloody Mary bar
Have you been bit by the Davanti bug? The
hottest destination in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood just got hotter (or
spicier) with the addition of a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar for Saturday
& Sunday brunch. You can choose from
10-15 different hot sauces, various pickled veggies such as cucumbers, carrots,
white asparagus, green beans, cauliflower and of course the classic garnishes
like limes, olives or celery. Sundays are “Sinful Sundays” you can enjoy this classic
brunch beverage, made just as you like it for only $5. Brunch is served every
weekend from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.
