Eataly Chicago will open Il Tartufo, an Eataly pop-up truffle restaurant in collaboration with Urbani, Italy’s leading truffle purveyor, on Friday, November 6.
“While truffles are traditionally viewed as a luxury item, at Eataly, we feel that truffles are something to be enjoyed by everyone,” says restaurant general manager Malory Scordato. “Through our long and valued partnership with Urbani, we will be able to offer truffles at the most accessible price in the city.”
Il Tartufo, Italian for “the truffle,” will be led by Eataly Chicago executive chef Rob Wing in collaboration with chef Riccardo Orfino, the latest addition to the Eataly New York City culinary team. His previous experience includes almost two years as the chef of LadyBù, a Michelin-starred restaurant in west Milan.
The menu for Il Tartufo, curated by chefs Orfino and Wing, challenges the typical use of truffles, mixing classic Italian truffle dishes with more unorthodox plates. Missing from the menu are your average truffle dishes – truffles with eggs or tajarin – and instead highlights a bar menu with a selection of small plates, a tasting menu option, and a prixe-fixe brunch menu on Sundays. Additional dishes on the menu include antipasti, entrees, and desserts, featuring truffles in many forms, including freshly shaved white truffle supplements.
Some dishes include: on the bar menu, the Focaccia con Mortadella e Mascarpone (focaccia with mortadella, Mascarpone, artichoke puree, and freshly shaved truffles); for the main menu, the Erbazzone con Fonduta di Parmigiano (savory puff pastry spinach pie from Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano fondue, and freshly shaved truffles); on the tasting menu, the Guancia Brasata al Nebbiolo (Nebbiolo-braised beef cheek, creamy Yukon Gold potatoes, and freshly shaved truffles); and on the prixe-fixe brunch menu, the Uovo in Camicia (poached egg, hollandaise sauce, crispy bacon, grilled housemade Rustic Classic bread, and freshly shaved truffles).
The casual, full-service restaurant will be taking over Eataly Chicago’s newest private event space, Il Salone, on the second floor, offering standing market tables, bar seating, and a 50-seat dining room. Hours will be Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., from Friday, November 6, to Sunday, December 6. On Sunday, November 22, and Sunday, December 20, Eataly will host its famous “Truffle Days,” selling truffles at special pricing in the market, restaurants, and online for one day only.
“During previous Urbani Truffle Days, our prices for Italian white truffles were lower than prices in the town of Alba, the most important white truffle market in Italy.” says general manager Jason Goldsmith.
During the months of November and December, in line with the company’s motto, guests will be able to eat truffles at Il Tartufo; shop truffles at the Fresh Pasta counter, where their knowledgeable staff will share advice on how to enhance any recipe using truffles; and learn, in their seasonal truffle-focused classes at their cooking school, La Scuola di Eataly.
