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When you drop every thing and head to SeaTac proper now, it could take you someplace round 15 hours to land in Italy and discover your approach to a piazza for a pastry and an espresso. Alternatively, you could possibly hop within the automotive and drive north for about 90 minutes and find yourself at Bellingham’s Bar Cicotti. Whereas it isn’t precisely Italy, it does a implausible job replicating the texture and genuine flavors we love from Italy.
“I hear this on a regular basis – particularly the way in which Bar Cicotti is laid out with out of doors seating in a little bit courtyard – it looks like a little bit piazza out right here, a little bit Italy,” mentioned Jonathan Cicotti, proprietor of Bar Cicotti.
Situated inside the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher constructing and increasing into the intimate courtyard, Bar Cicotti is an idyllic mixture of genuine Italian delicacies and drinks. It’s an on the spot journey to Italy for a morning espresso and pastry or come night, an Italian spritz paired with risotto.
“Bar Cicotti is predicated on the Italian espresso bars,” Cicotti mentioned. “They’re open all day for espresso and you may get a little bit pastry within the morning, however then at evening time it transfers into extra of a spot to hang around consuming wine.”
Cicotti’s Italian heritage and his visits to Italy served as inspiration to open Bar Cicotti, replicating the menu and really feel of a neighborhood espresso bar in Italy.
Whereas a lot of the wine checklist options vino from Italy, the remainder of Bar Cicotti’s components are sourced from native producers and natural farms. For breakfast, select between a bombolini, the candy Italian donut stuffed with vanilla custard. Or go the savory route with a pizzette, an lovely pizza sized completely to get the morning began proper. Ricotta toast with almonds, native honey, and sea salt is a implausible selection, too. In fact, breakfast wouldn’t be full with out an Italian-style espresso constructed from Bellingham-local espresso.
As soon as it’s time to pop some bottles, Bar Cicotti focuses on Italian spritz cocktails. Prosecco bubbles be part of forces with vermouth, just a few slices of citrus, topped with glowing water make for an exquisite summer season night enjoyable at Bar Cicotti’s piazza. When starvation strikes, dive right into a truffle grilled cheese or risotto with parmigiano reggiano and black pepper. When you’re within the temper for sharing, Bar Cicotti’s platters actually carry an genuine Italian expertise whether or not you go together with the salumi platter, formaggio platter or the grande’s good mixture of each.
The bar isn’t Cicotti’s first restaurant to share his household’s Italian recipes. He additionally owns Storia Cucina, only a few blocks away from Bar Cicotti, and each function dishes from Cicotti’s family recipe guide.
“Each Italian has their household recipes,” Cicotti mentioned. “A number of them are conventional recipes from totally different areas, however each household makes them a little bit bit totally different. A number of basis just like the sauces come from that recipe guide after I’m writing the menu or searching for inspiration.”
Whereas having fun with among the Cicotti’s household recipes, you’ll be eating on ceramic flatware that Cicotti handmade.
“It was a dream of mine to make all my ceramics for my place, and I noticed that is good as a result of it is espresso fashion and never an enormous area so I may really make all of the plateware and bowls and cups,” Cicotti mentioned.
Whereas the bar is fulfilling Cicotti’s dream of working his personal intimate Italian espresso and wine bar with handmade ceramics, it’s fulfilling our dream of sipping wine in a spectacular courtyard at sundown, and a lot simpler to get to than Italy.
Bar Cicotti is positioned at 202 Grand Ave in Bellingham with further entry from the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher constructing. It’s open Tuesday via Saturday from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m.
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