The world's first Nutella Cafe is opening near Chicago's Millennium Park. The new desserts and dining place will be operated by Ferrero, the Italian chocolate company that produces Nutella, and it will be opening its doors on May 31.
Cafe menu and design
Guests and diners will be able to sample sweet and savory dishes day and night at the Chicago Cafe. Some of these selections include grilled Nutella baguettes, yogurt with Nutella and fresh-roasted hazelnut, as well as Nutella-drizzled waffles with warm fruit compote. Those how do not have a sweet tooth, however, can also enjoy a good selection of soups, salads, and paninis.
Diners can come early for a choco-filled breakfast or have a late night treat at the Italian cafe after work. They can relax with their food or drinks in comfortable red sofa seaters. On the second floor, the cafe offers a fireplace for those looking for a cozy and inviting hang out.
Fans of the hazelnut chocolate spread will love walking inside the cafe as it interiors is Nutella-inspired. "It's designed to make you feel like you're walking into a jar of Nutella," Operations Director Angela Baird said, as per Chicago Tribune.
Why open a Nutella Cafe?
Noah Szporn, the Head of Marketing Nutella North America said that Ferrero wanted to open a dining place for Nutella fans. They made sure that the brand's essence was captured not only in the dishes but also in how the food will be served, the ambiance of the space, as well as the whole dining experience.
"The Nutella Cafe offers something for everybody, and we encourage everyone to come in and try a dish or snack," he added.
Szporn also said they chose to open in Chicago for its amazing food culture. There is, however, an actual Nutella dining place in Toronto but this not owned and operated by Ferrero. Hence, the company considers their Chicago site the very first Nutella Cafe.
For its grand opening at the Rocco DiSpirito at 151 North Michigan Avenue, which is one block away from Chicago's Millennium Park, 400 visitors will get to sample one new free dish of their choice from their orders. The cafe will also be giving away surprise gifts to customers.
Italian Baker Pietro Ferrero first created Nutella in the 1940s as a cheaper alternative to chocolates. He combined cocoa with hazelnut. Italian kids always loved this choco-hazelnut spread smeared on bread, and it became popular worldwide. By 2015, the company sold at least one jar every 2.5 seconds.
