Breakfast is never boring at Birchwood Kitchen, the bright and convivial Wicker Park cafe with a rotating seasonal menu of locally sourced fare, a generous BYOB policy and queues that snake around the block on weekends. This summer, one exceptional menu staple, the breakfast sandwich ($8.50; $1.50 extra for bacon), has been made all the more scrumptious by the incorporation of a couple of new ingredients.
“We’re known for both our giardiniera and pimento cheese,” said Laine Peterson, Birchwood general manager. “So when our chef, Jesse (Williams), was planning this summer’s menu, she thought, ‘Why not combine two things our customers love on, undoubtedly, our most popular brunch dish.'”
In addition to the vinegary giardiniera kick and the peppery pimento spice, the sandwich wows with its hearty filling of fried eggs and fresh arugula piled into a brioche bun, and accompanied by a side of perfectly crisped potatoes or a bowl of fruit.
2211 W. North Ave., 773-276-2100, www.birchwoodkitchen.com
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.Leah Pickett is a freelance writer.