Why settle for nuts?

Tired of sitting at home watching the snow? Come on over this weekend and have a refreshing meal and a great glass of wine. It is warm in here and the staff is waiting to serve you…

General Manager, 3 Vines Café & Wine Bar

When you want to continually scream “yes”, in the throes of carnal, culinary eroticism, you must keep your approach fresh and inspired. At 3 Vines Café & Wine Bar in Sleepy Hollow Illinois, we exemplify that mantra of, “fresh and inspired”.

“Fresh” has many meanings. At 3 Vines Café & Wine Bar, the one’s we focus on are; unique, recently made, not processed or inclusive of preservatives and cyclical. The first three are self explanatory for any self respecting restaurant that claims “fresh” as part of its mission.

Cyclical is the key for us.

As the seasons change, so does the availability of the best quality, fullest flavor, most lush ingredients. We welcome this change as, (being a wine bar offering 40 wines by the glass), it affords us the opportunity to change our cellar and introduce new nectars to compliment the foodstuffs.

Cyclical also affords us the ability to explore classic offerings from the lexicon of master chefs of the past, historical dishes that have, for centuries, been the quintessential preparation of a particular component or group, presented with contemporary methods yet true to the original, familiar yet new, comfortable yet challenging, fresh and inspired with proper homage to tradition.

With Valentine’s Day looming, 3 Vines Café & Wine Bar presents a small plate recipe for that special evening which begins at the table and ends in embrace.

Bruschetta with Strawberries, Mango and Chévre

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 – Ounce Local Wildflower Honey

1 – Ounce Pear Flavored Balsamic Vinegar

¼ teaspoon Meyer Lemon Juice

Pinch Indian Cinnamon

½ Pinch Fresh Grated Nutmeg

¼ Pinch Ground Clove

4 – 1/2” Thick Slices Fresh Crusty Baguette

4 – Fresh Strawberries cut in half

4 – Slices ½” Thick Ripe Haden Mango

4 – Small Fresh Basil Leaves

2 – Ounces Fresh Chévre Cheese

Method

Combine the honey, vinegar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove in a small saucepan, heat on low temperature to reduce liquid by half. Cool and set aside.

Lightly grill the toasts, spread each slice with a thin layer of Chévre. Place one half of the strawberry cut side down and the other cut side up on either end of the toast. Place the strip of mango between the two. Arrange the bruschetta in a row on a long plate and trickle the now cooled sauce over all, allowing some sauce to drizzle on the plate. Top each bruschetta with one perfect basil leaf. Serve immediately with a flute of Proseco Vento or Extra Brut Champagne.