The Wilko signs are still on the door, but it is Wilko no more ... Last night, the campus bistro announced it was ending its decade-long run at 943 E. University Blvd.
"After over ten fantastic years of serving our community, we have decided to pass the torch to others in the great space at the corner of Park and University," read the Facebook goodbye. The trendy space, owned by Peter Wilke of Time Market and B Line, opened its doors as an upscale convenience store in 2007 and has been a restaurant since 2010.
Chef/owner Marcus van Winden worked the line, while his partner Nicole helped bus food.
New owners Marcus and Nicole van Winden didn't waste any time. This morning for brunch, they opened their concept The Dutch: Eatery & Refuge. Right now they're in soft opening stages, and plan to roll out the dinner and happy hour menus later this week.
Although you'll see some holdovers from the Wilko menu (and familiar faces serving the food too), there's a bunch of interesting dishes from the Netherlands, where Marcus grew up. Like this: Uitsmijter, aka The Dutch Breakfast, $9. It's basically two eggs rolled into a thin omelet, and layered with ham, tomatoes and melty Gouda cheese on whole grain bread trucked up from Wildflower Bread Company.
This is what a Dutch Breakfast looks like in Tucson ...
The couple actually met on a Holland America Line, where he ran the cruise ship's kitchen. The seasoned chef has also worked his magic at Lodge on the Desert and Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, but most recently ran the Holland Hotel in Alpine, Texas. The couple wanted to keep up the Holland connection here in Tucson, where Nicole is from.
Make sure to check these dishes out:
— Patat Oorlog (or War Fries): Thickly-cut French fries with a sweet sambal peanut sauce, which has ties to Dutch colonialism in Indonesia. Pictured up top, $8
We couldn't resist the Belgian waffle. Rawr!
— Belgian waffle: From the next country over, with strawberries and Grand Marnier whipped cream, $9
Is this Dutch? Not sure, but it's delicious!
— Breakfast flatbread: This yummy spread has smoked salmon and herbed cheese topped with a baked egg, $14
