To commemorate Australia Day on January 26, executive chef Frank Brunacci of Sixteen (the fine-dining destination within the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago) will be celebrating by cooking with ingredients native to his homeland. What might those be, you may ask? Brunacci's special eight-course tasting menu, paired with Australian wines, will take you on a tour through the continent.
From Wednesday, Jan. 21 through Jan. 28, Brunacci, who hails from Melbourne, will feature such exotic dishes as Australian winter truffle, yabbies (a type of crayfish), barramundi, wattleseed-crusted lamb and kangaroo loin (yes, really) on his special menu. The Australia Day tasting menu is offered at $105 per person ($160 with wine pairings).
The evening of Saturday, Jan. 24 will be an extra festive occasion, with several highlights planned in addition to the special menu. Live aboriginal music and Australian artifacts will fill the dining room, while boomerangs placed on every table and a live wallaby (similar to a small kangaroo) will greet guests. There will be a complimentary tasting of 10 Australian wines from 5:30-7PM for all guests dining that night at Sixteen. In addition, an exclusive Australian wine dinner with Sixteen sommelier Steven Lee and master sommelier Serafin Alvarado of Southern Wine & Spirits will take place that evening, featuring Brunacci's eight-course menu paired with a more extensive selection of Australian wines and insights from the two experts. The 16-seat wine dinner is priced at $180 per person.
Make your reservations for any of the Australia Day activities taking place at Sixteen by calling 312-588-8030.
