Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar Celebrates February's Holidays

CHICAGO (February 2008) - During the month of February, join Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar (3358 N. Paulina St.; (773) 248-5222), in celebrating an array of holidays. The popular Lakeview restaurant is offering a Valentine's Day special to kick off the month and then, throughout February, pays homage to its Italian roots by celebrating traditional Italian holidays.

Originating from the Friuli region of Italy, a frasca (wreath of tree branches) hanging over a farmhouse door signifies the sale of food and wine within. As a result, a frasca has come to symbolize a pleasant gathering place for family and friends. Chicago's own Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar has embraced this tradition inside its contemporary, Italian influenced restaurant and wine bar.

Valentines Day Specials Served all Weekend
Enjoy a cozy, Italian meal at Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar for Valentine's Day. In addition to their full menu selections, Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar will feature Valentine's Day specials served Thursday, February 14 through Saturday February 16. Valentine's Day specials include: Seared Pepper Crusted Tuna, with mixed green salad and light balsamic dressing ($11); Braised Veal Ravioli, with red wine broth and butternut squash ($16); Slow Cooked Lamb Shank, served with garlic mashed potatoes ($21).

Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar will serve a special chocolate dessert for sweethearts to enjoy: Chocolate Cake with Nutella Gelato and vanilla cream sauce ($6).

Olive and Bruschetta Festival
February 17 marks the beginning of the Olive and Bruschetta Festival, celebrated in the Umbrian region of Italy. During this festival, Italians enjoy samplings of different types of olive oil. Beginning on Sunday, February 17 Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar brings this week-long celebration to Chicago by offering a taste of the festival with select foods for $25. Guests will enjoy an Extra Virgin Olive Oil Flight, a unique sampling of three different styles of olive oil; Warm Olives, a dish of Italian and Spanish olives baked with capers and oranges, and three special Bruschettas. The special Bruschettas include the Caponatta Sicilian, featuring tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, capers, and olives with shaved Pecorino; Artichoke, Green Olive, and Ricotta bruschetta, and Cucumber, Tomato, Black Olive, and Goat Cheese bruschetta.

Battle of the Oranges
Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar celebrates the Battle of the Oranges, the most popular tradition in Italy's Ivrea region, to welcome Lent. Similar to La Tomatilla in Spain, thousands of people divide into teams and throw oranges at one another. Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar welcomes this festival with its own celebration Saturday, February 24 through Saturday, March 1, offering the following orange-themed menu specials: Blood Orange and Shaved Red Onion Salad with balsamic syrup ($11); Mussels with Fennel and Orange in a white wine and shallot broth ($10); Papparadelle Pasta with Braised Duck and Asparagus in a light orange tarragon duck broth ($17), and Citrus Pound Cake with orange sabayon sauce ($6).

Celebrate being Single during St. Faustino's Day
Valentine's Day is famous for celebrating couples, but Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar wants to make sure the singles are celebrated. The Italian holiday St. Faustino's Day honors singles on Friday, February 15. In Italy, St. Faustino's Day commemorates the saint adopted by single people, and is celebrated with parties thrown just for singles. Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar celebrates singles by offering a special drink, the Flirtini, made with Raspberry Vodka, Pineapple and Cranberry juice, and a splash of Prosecco ($5).

Try That Wine Night
Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar invites customers to get a taste of fine wines on Saturday, February 23 during Try That Wine Night, where high-end bottles of wine are portioned out and served as wine flights for $25. The special wine flight consists of Bouchaine Pinot Noir, Ajello Furat and BR Cohen.

Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar is located at 3358 N. Paulina St. in Chicago, IL. The kitchen is open 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Frasca's bar is open until 1 a.m. daily. Major cards accepted include American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and Diners Club. To make reservations, please call Frasca at (773) 248-5222. For more information, please visit www.frascapizzeria.com.

# # #