“Cicchetti” - A Venetian Style Tapas Bar & Caffe
[excerpt from launch package]
What tapas is to Spain and mezes to Greece, cicchetti is to Venice – tidy, bite-sized appetizers and bar snacks sized for sharing with tablemates along with a glass of wine or cup of foamy espresso. Unmistakably Italian in origin, cicchetti (pronounced chick-et-ti) also draw on Spanish, Turkish, Persian, Jewish and Chinese traditions as befits the trading heritage of Marco Polo’s hometown. Now, with the small-plate revolution a proven fact in North American dining, the tradition comes to Canada’s west coast for the first time with an infusion of regional flair and creativity.
“Cicchetti,” a Venetian Style Tapas Bar & Caffe, is the next adventure from the restaurateurs behind Vancouver’s Allegro Cafe, the Crime Lab and Lucy Mae Brown, the latter recently named one of the top-50 new restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. Their vision: A sophisticated and welcoming chain of quick-service eateries and social haunts that affordably bridge the gap between fast-food efficiency and the refined design and culinary pleasures of upscale dining.
“Cicchetti” will offer a unique Northern Italian spin on the public’s hunger for the intimacy, fun and flavorful delights of the tapas experience. Each outlet will evolve in character as the day progresses. Breakfast, lunch and, in the case of select venues that operate into the evening, dinner are lively destinations for those in search of light, innovative meals served in an atmospheric setting. During quieter mornings and afternoons, “Cicchetti” morphs into a coffeehouse-cum-wine bar ideal for tete-a-tete conversations or leisurely reads of the newspaper. The Italianate look will be rustic and warm, with painted cement floors, rich fabrics, covered chairs and stage-set lighting. Music will fit the mood of the hour. Customers order from a glass-top caffe counter of the sort common in Venice, then await service either at an intimate banquette, a cozy perch by the bar or amongst new friends at a communal “Tavola Amica.”
Zesty, expertly prepared Italian fare that’s flavorful, versatile and novel is the hallmark of the “Cicchetti” menu. Fritattas, breakfast paninnis and custard-soaked stratas (a type of french toast) fuel the morning rush. Lunch options include tramezzini sandwiches made with rustic, Italian-style bread and a range of soups crafted by Allegro Café chief Barbara Reese. The light meals offered at dinner will range from rissoto and Osso Bucco to phyllo pizza and savory tomato, basil and ricotta tarts. Food will be prepared fresh daily off-site at a centralized bakery and commisary, while many signature soups and dishes will be packaged and available for takeaway business.
“Cicchetti” fills a significant void in the marketplace. It’s not a coffeeshop, wine bar or full-service restaurant but an exciting combination of all three. It caters to a niche demographic that enjoys dining out and one that would do so more often at reasonable prices. The classy mood is relaxed and informal. The by-the-glass wine list invites exploration. The food is healthy, adventurous, satisfying and, as the Venetians insist, “whenever possible it must be eaten with the fingers.”
Cin-cin to “Cicchetti.”
[excerpt from launch package]
What tapas is to Spain and mezes to Greece, cicchetti is to Venice – tidy, bite-sized appetizers and bar snacks sized for sharing with tablemates along with a glass of wine or cup of foamy espresso. Unmistakably Italian in origin, cicchetti (pronounced chick-et-ti) also draw on Spanish, Turkish, Persian, Jewish and Chinese traditions as befits the trading heritage of Marco Polo’s hometown. Now, with the small-plate revolution a proven fact in North American dining, the tradition comes to Canada’s west coast for the first time with an infusion of regional flair and creativity.
“Cicchetti,” a Venetian Style Tapas Bar & Caffe, is the next adventure from the restaurateurs behind Vancouver’s Allegro Cafe, the Crime Lab and Lucy Mae Brown, the latter recently named one of the top-50 new restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. Their vision: A sophisticated and welcoming chain of quick-service eateries and social haunts that affordably bridge the gap between fast-food efficiency and the refined design and culinary pleasures of upscale dining.
“Cicchetti” will offer a unique Northern Italian spin on the public’s hunger for the intimacy, fun and flavorful delights of the tapas experience. Each outlet will evolve in character as the day progresses. Breakfast, lunch and, in the case of select venues that operate into the evening, dinner are lively destinations for those in search of light, innovative meals served in an atmospheric setting. During quieter mornings and afternoons, “Cicchetti” morphs into a coffeehouse-cum-wine bar ideal for tete-a-tete conversations or leisurely reads of the newspaper. The Italianate look will be rustic and warm, with painted cement floors, rich fabrics, covered chairs and stage-set lighting. Music will fit the mood of the hour. Customers order from a glass-top caffe counter of the sort common in Venice, then await service either at an intimate banquette, a cozy perch by the bar or amongst new friends at a communal “Tavola Amica.”
Zesty, expertly prepared Italian fare that’s flavorful, versatile and novel is the hallmark of the “Cicchetti” menu. Fritattas, breakfast paninnis and custard-soaked stratas (a type of french toast) fuel the morning rush. Lunch options include tramezzini sandwiches made with rustic, Italian-style bread and a range of soups crafted by Allegro Café chief Barbara Reese. The light meals offered at dinner will range from rissoto and Osso Bucco to phyllo pizza and savory tomato, basil and ricotta tarts. Food will be prepared fresh daily off-site at a centralized bakery and commisary, while many signature soups and dishes will be packaged and available for takeaway business.
“Cicchetti” fills a significant void in the marketplace. It’s not a coffeeshop, wine bar or full-service restaurant but an exciting combination of all three. It caters to a niche demographic that enjoys dining out and one that would do so more often at reasonable prices. The classy mood is relaxed and informal. The by-the-glass wine list invites exploration. The food is healthy, adventurous, satisfying and, as the Venetians insist, “whenever possible it must be eaten with the fingers.”
Cin-cin to “Cicchetti.”