Valentine’s Day at Due Lire

Italian Fare Set in an Intimate Atmosphere

Tuesday, February 14
5-10 p.m.

$45 four course menu

Due Lire Vino & Cucina has the perfect atmosphere, ambiance and cuisine that diners’ seek out on Valentine’s Day. This cozy, Lincoln Square contemporary Italian restaurant will offer a special four course, prix fixe menu on Tuesday, February 14. From 5-10 p.m., guests may enjoy Chef Kevin Abshire’s multi-course meal for $45. The Valentine’s Day menu includes an appetizer, pasta, entree and dessert, with such selections as sunchoke and toasted hazelnut puree soup; creamy gorgonzola polenta with wild boar ragu and shaved horseradish; homemade celery root-filled pasta with caramelized wild mushroom and truffle butter; roasted pork loin with roasted potatoes and brussels sprout in a red wine demi; and homemade pear tart with hazelnut gelato and shaved dark chocolate.

Due Lire’s regular dinner menu will also be available in addition to the prix fixe. Proprietor Massimo Di Vuolo is happy to pair each course with wine, upon request. Reservations are recommended, please call the restaurant at 773-275-7878.

Valentine’s Day Prix Fixe Menu

First Course
choice of:

Zuppa di Rape
sunchoke and toasted hazelnut puree soup

Polenta al Cinghiale
creamy gorgonzola polenta with wild boar ragu and shaved horseradish

Second Course
choice of:

Gnocchi di Barbabietole
homemade beet gnocchi with watercress pesto and ricotta salata

Caramelle ai Funghi di Bosco
homemade celery root-filled pasta with caramelized wild mushroom and truffle butter

Third Course
choice of:

Razza con Asparagi e Finocchio
pan roasted skate with grilled asparagus and fennel in a balsamic brown butter

Maialino con Cavoletti e Patate
roasted pork loin with roasted potatoes and brussels sprout in a red wine demi

Fourth Course
choice of:

Crostata di Pere
homemade pear tart with hazelnut gelato and shaved dark chocolate

Croccantino di Pistacchio
caramelized pistachios mousse with a shot of hot espresso

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
www.Due-Lire.com 

Weeknight Prix Fixe at Due Lire

Chef’s Tasting Menu Sets Three Courses at $35 in January 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Evenings
January 1 through January 31

$35 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

Due to the success of Due Lire’s first anniversary prix fixe menu, Chef Kevin Abshire will extend his weekly dinner offer into the new year. Offered every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in January, dining guests may enjoy an appetizer, entrée and dessert for only $35 (plus tax and gratuity). Proprietor Mossimo Di Vuolo has hand-selected bottles of wine ($25) to pair with the meal that features some of Chef Abshire’s new winter favorites (menu listed below). Reservations are welcome, not required. 

Chef Tasting Menu, Weeknight Prix Fixe
Available Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday in January
$35 per guest

FIRST COURSE
guest to select
VITELLO TONNATO sliced braised veal, tuna capers lemon aioli and parsley
INSALATA BARBA beets, watercress, pistachios, goat cheese and balsamic

SECOND COURSE
guest to select
TAGLIATELLE POLPO homemade chickpea tagliatelle, braised octopus, cherry tomatoes and black olives
PORCHETTA RUSTICA roman style pork roast, potato cake, rapini and pork jus

THIRD COURSE
BISCOTTI SANTI homemade chocolate dipped cookies and vin santo zabaglione

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
www.Due-Lire.com 

New Year’s Eve at Due Lire

Special Set Menu with Sparkling Prosecco

Saturday, December 31
5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

$45 per person

Due Lire Vino & Cucina, the cozy and contemporary Italian restaurant in the heart of Lincoln Square, will celebrate the new year with a special set menu. Dining guests will enjoy Chef Kevin Abshire’s prix fixe menu that includes a glass of prosecco, amuse, salad, entree and dessert for $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity).The menu is outlined below. Due Lire will also offer $20 bottles of prosecco, perfect for toasting good tidings on a most special night.

The regular dinner menu will be offered in addition to the prix fixe. Please call Due Lire to secure table reservations.

New Year’s Prix Fixe Menu
$45 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

AMUSE

STRUFFOLI CON PROSECCO
fried struffoli, chestnut honey, served with a glass of Prosecco 

FIRST COURSE
guest to select

INSALATA DI RUCOLA
persimmon, fennel, rucola and balsamic

COTECHINO & LENTICCHIE
cotechino sausage and braised lentils

SECOND COURSE
guest to select

RAVIOLI DI MERLUZZO
homemade baccala’ potato ravioli, oven roasted cherry tomatoes, herbs and bottarga

PORCHETTA RUSTICA
roman style pork roast, potato cake, rapini and pork jus

THIRD COURSE

PANETTONE FESTIVO
panettone bread pudding and warm spiced rum zabaglione

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
http://www.Due-Lire.com

New Fall-Winter Menu at Due Lire Vino & Cucina

New Dinner Menu Now Offered

Tuesday-Thursday 5-10pm
Friday-Saturday 5-11pm
Sunday 5-10pm

Due Lire, located in Chicago’s vibrant Lincoln Square neighborhood, has unveiled a new dinner menu for the fall-winter season. Chef Kevin Abshire incorporates authentic and creative Italian cuisine into each of his antipasti, crostinis, homemade pastas and desserts. His new seasonally-inspired dishes include Chickpea Polenta with wild mushroom and pomegranate; Pera Salad with pears, fennel, endive, walnuts, Blis sherry; Zucca Crostini with butternut squash, chestnut, ricotta salata;  Tartufato Crostini with wild mushroom, corn, Canaria cheese, truffle oil; Lasagna with butternut squash, root vegetable and bechamel;  Merluzzo roasted cod, lentils, cauliflower; cotechino; Spada swordfish, brussels sprouts, potatoes, grapefruit and Galletto cornish hen, peppers, potatoes, onions. Due Lire’s new dessert offerings include Torta Mele apple tart, vanilla gelato, pecan crumble and Panna Cotta pomegranate custard, saba, black sea salt. The new menu is outlined below.

Due Lire Vino & Cucina

4520 North Lincoln Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60625

(773) 275-7878

http://www.Due-Lire.com

Due Lire, Dinner Menu

Antipasti

Fritelle Crecenza Cheese Fritters / Duck Ragu / Amarena 10
Polenta Chickpea Polenta / Wild Mushroom / Pomegranate 9
Arancino Saffron Rice / Asparagus / Fontina Fondue 7
Involtini Eggplant / Zucchini / Smoked Mozzarella / Tomatoes 8
Calamari Fried Calamari / Caper Berries / Sage / Chili Aioli 9
Cozze Mussels / Ale Beer / Leeks / Pretzel Rolls ­10
Pane Grilled Italian Bread / Homemade Daily Spreads 4
Olive House Marinated Italian Olives 5

Insalate

Rucola   Rucola / Grape Tomatoes / Parmigiano / Lemon 7
Pera   Pears / Fennel / Endive / Walnuts / Blis Sherry 8
Barba   Beets / Watercress / Pistachios / Goat Cheese / Balsamic 8

Crostini

Rustico   Mozzarella / Cherry Tomatoes / Basil Pesto 7
Zucca   Butternut Squash / Chestnut / Ricotta Salata 9
Tartufato   Wild Mushroom / Corn / Canaria Cheese / Truffle Oil 9

Pasta

Gnocchi   Homemade Potato Dumplings / Bolognese / Grana 13
Tortelloni   Carrots / Dunbarton Blue Cheese / Marcona Almonds 15
Lasagna   Butternut Squash / Root Vegetable / Béchamel 14
Risotto   Rice / Mussel / Clams / Calamari / Saffron 17
Ravioli   Short Rib Ravioli / Porcini / Parmigiano 15

Secondi

Merluzzo   Roasted Cod / Lentils / Cauliflower / Cotechino 18
Spada   Swordfish / Brussels Sprouts / Potatoes / Grapefruit 19
Galletto   Cornish Hen / Peppers / Potatoes / Onions 18
Tagliata   Flat Iron Steak / Polenta / Swiss Chard / Mustard Seed 19

Contorni

Patate   Roasted Potatoes / Fresh Herbs / Olive Oil 4
Fritte   French Fries / Parmigiano / Rosemary 4
Rapini   Sautéed Broccoli Rabe / Garlic / Olive Oil / Chili 5
Cavoletti   Sautéed Brussels Sprouts / Pecorino / Mint 6
Cavolo   Cauliflower / Sherry Mustard Seed/ Parsley 6

Dolci

Tiramisu   Ladyfingers / Espresso / Baileys / Mascarpone 6
Cioccolatissimo   Warm Chocolate Soufflé / Amarena / Cream 6
Torta Mele   Apple Tart, Vanilla Gelato, Pecan Crumble 6
Panna Cotta   Pomegranate Custard, Saba, Black Sea Salt 6
Gelati Sorbetti   Seasonal Gelato and Sorbets 6

Caffe & Affini

French Press 4 / 8
Cappuccino 4
Hot Tea 3
Espresso 3

Due Lire’s One Year Anniversary Prix Fixe Menu

Chef Kevin Abshire Prepares Three Courses for $25 in November

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
November 1-30

$25 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

Charming Italian restaurant Due Lire Vino & Cucina will celebrate their first anniversary (opened in Lincoln Square, November 2010) with a special prix fixe menu, offered throughout the month of November. Proprietor Massimo Di Vuolo and Executive Chef Kevin Abshire would like to thank those who have supported the restaurant and those who will, with a three course, $25 dinner.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in November, dining guests may enjoy an appetizer, entrée and dessert for only $25 (plus tax and gratuity). Di Vuolo has hand-selected $25 bottles of wine to pair with the meal that features some of Chef Abshire’s new fall favorites. The menu will change weekly (example menu below). Reservations are welcomed, not required.

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
http://www.Due-Lire.com

Due Lire Anniversary Prix Fixe Menu
example menu offered for week of November 1-3

First Course
Choice Of:

Arancino Saffron Rice / Asparagus / Fontina Fondue
Rucola Rucola / Grape Tomatoes / Parmigiano / Lemon

Second Course
Choice Of:

Ravioli Short Rib Ravioli / Porcini / Parmigiano
Galletto Cornish Hen / Peppers / Potatoes / Onions

Dessert

Tiramisu Ladyfingers / Espresso / Baileys / Mascarpone

“Festa Della Porchetta” at Due Lire

Italian-Style Pig Roast in the Garden

Sunday, October 9
3-7 p.m.

$25 per person

Due Lire in Lincoln Square will host “Festa Della Porchetta,” an Italian-style, fall pig roast, on Sunday, October 9 from 3-7 p.m. Executive Chef Kevin Abshire will prepare a whole pig, first stuffed with fennel, sage, garlic, salt and pepper, then slow-roasted for hours in Due Lire’s beautiful, backyard garden patio. The porchetta will be served with an apricot and truffle demi-glace, along with several savory side dishes (listed below) for $25 per person. Three beers from Andersonville’s Metropolitan Brewing Company will be available to pair with the pork, either as a flight ($10) or by the bottle ($4).

Festa Della Porchetta Menu

Pork Entree

seasoned and slow-roasted with fennel, sage, garlic, salt and pepper

Sauce and Sides

Apricot and truffle demi
Caramelized brussels sprouts, pecorino, mint
Butternut squash and root vegetable lasagna
Herb roasted potatoes
Grilled garlic bread

Metropolitan Beer
$4 bottles; $10 flight

Flywheel Bright Lager
Dynamo Copper Lager
Iron Works Alt

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
http://www.Due-Lire.com

Due Lire Vino & Cucina Holds Sicilian Wine Dinner

Executive Chef Kevin Abshire Pairs Four Course with Sicilian Wine

Thursday, September 29
Reception 6:30 p.m. / Dinner 7 p.m.

$65 per person (tax and gratuity included)

Due Lire, the charming neighborhood Italian restaurant in Lincoln Square, is hosting a Sicilian wine dinner on Thursday, September 29. Executive Chef Kevin Abshire (formerly of Riccardo Trattoria and Il Poggiolo) has created a four course menu that pairs perfectly with wine from the region of Sicily, as hand selected by proprietor Massimo Di Vulvo. Di Vulvo and Abshire will be leading this tasting event through Sicily, a magical place where sea and land come together.

The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The four course menu and wine pairings are outlined below. The fee is $65 per guest, tax and gratuity included. Due Lire offers simple Italian food with intriguing twists, prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. This wine dinner offers guests the perfect opportunity to bring friends, meet new ones and celebrate life through food, wine and conversation. Please call for reservations.

Sicilian Wine Dinner

Antipasto
Crostino di Fichi
Fresh figs, citrus whipped mascarpone, honeycomb, brioche toast
Tasca D’Almerita Leone IGT 2010
(80% Cataratto Biano, 20% Chardonnay)

Primo
Staccetti al Ragu di Faraona
Homemade rags shaped pasta, guinea hen ragu, sauteed porcini mushrooms, pomegranate
Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna Rosso 2008
(80% Nerello Mascalese, 20% Nerello Cappuccio)

Secondo
Tonno alla Scapece
Seared ahi tuna loin, scapece-style zucchini, petite fennel salad
Tasca D’Almerita le Rose di Regaleali IGT 2010
(100% Nerello Mascalese)

Dolce
Pera in Camicia
Poached pear, fried dunbarton blue cheese pastry cream, pistachio brittle, spiced caramel
Tasca D’Almerita Lamuri Nero D’Avola IGT 2009
(100% Nero D’Avola)

Massimo Di Vuolo, Proprietor
Massimo learned the way around the kitchen by watching his mother and grandmother cook many family meals back in Napoli. His mom, Rita, is still an inspiration. After moving to the states in early nineties, he lived in New York, Washington D.C. and finally settled in Chicago. With almost 20 years of restaurant experience, he developed his skills in every aspect of the business, most recently with the Bice Group and Gioco.

Kevin Abshire, Executive Chef
Kevin was born and raised in Louisiana learned to cook at an early age. Cooking with friends and family, an important part of Southern culture, developed into a practical passion and naturally became his life path. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, Kevin learned Italian food at Bice Restaurant-Portofino Bay. In 2007, he moved to Chicago, continuing his culinary development under Riccardo Michi from Riccardo’s Trattoria and later under the guidance of Chef Jim Kilberg at two of Jerry Kleiner’s restaurants, Room 21 and Il Poggiolo in Hinsdale.

Due Lire Vino & Cucina
4520 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
(773) 275-7878
Due-Lire.com