More Details on Trou Normand, Bar Agricole's Latest

[Photo: 140nm.com]

Time flies when you're amassing a charcuterie treasure trove, and long-awaited Bar Agricole spinoff Trou Normand is finally about to drop. As Inside Scoop reports, the much-delayed project ( formerly known as Whiteside Company), housed in the ground floor of the newly revamped 140 New Montgomery building, is poised to open its doors next week. Named for the traditional French palate cleanser of a shot of brandy between courses, Trou Normand will offer up a comprehensive brandy selection, with barrels of Calvados, Cognac and Armagnac sourced from small European producers. Along with brandy, the new spot will have a full liquor selection and cocktail menu.

With office space housed upstairs (including the headquarters of Yelp, a recipe for nightmares if ever there was one), Trou Normand will be an all-day affair, with hours designed to lure the FiDi crowd straight through from 8am-1am (though it'll only be open at night at first, with daytime service launching in May). That means breakfast bites and coffee in the mornings, lunch (with takeout), dinner and late-night fare will be available. Once the back patio area is finished, Trou Normand will boast 100 seats, with a gray marble bar providing the focal point of the space.

In terms of food, the focus here is on charcuterie, with chef Salvatore Cracco (formerly a butcher at Bar Agricole and charcuterie expert at Adesso) promising dozens of charcuterie options and some heavy-duty dedicated kitchen space (three fridges, all with different levels of humidity). Besides the charcuterie plates, large-format grill offerings will be available for sharing. The overall vibe sounds like a blend of Cafe Terminus' cafe-all-day, cocktails-all-night scene, with a dash of Penrose's cured/wood-fired blend.

Trou Normand plans to open on Monday, so stay tuned for photos and menu details to come. And don't forget that mothership Bar Agricole has also had a shakeup in the kitchen just this week, with new chef Melissa Reitz taking their menu in a more casual, bar-driven direction.

· What to know about Bar Agricole spinoff Trou Normand [Inside Scoop]
· Melissa Reitz In As Bar Agricole Chef-Partner [~ ESF ~]