
Valentine’s Day is approaching, whether you want to admit it or not. The silver lining of this cheesy consumer lovefest? It gives local restaurants an good excuse to cook fabulous prix fixe meals with fun themes (scroll down to the Heathman to see what I mean). Take charge of your fake holiday plans and reserve a table for you and your beloved (or, alternately, for you and a group of hungry friends who hate all of you people with your crap ass beloveds). After all, if there’s one thing that this town truly loves, it’s to eat.
Please call to make sure reservations are still available. Scads of nookie-seekers more organized than yourself may have already nabbed seats. Email kclarke [at] wweek.com if there’s an event you want WW to know about. And why yes, that is Alma Chocolate’s excellent anatomical chocolate heart pictured above. If I were you, I’d buy one right now.
WW Valentine’s Distillery Tour
Shameless-promotion-of-our-own-excellence alert: Sample Portland’s best local spirits, from House Spirits to Artisan, and local grub from Farm Cafe and Saint Cupcake among others—and when you become drunk (with the awesomeness of Portland food and drink), snuggle close to your chosen one and ride it out in the back of one of PDX Pedicab’s pedal-powered vehicles. Tour meets at Jupiter Hotel. 4 pm Saturday, Feb. 13. $25 per person. Reserve your seat at 445-2764 by Thursday, Feb. 11. 21+.
VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS
V-Day at Andina
The Peruvian dining room seduces with three course dinners plus a half-bottle of bubbly, live Latin tunes from Danny Romero Trio and a “Peruvian Love Potion” of purple açai and tamarind nectar at the bar. Andina, 1314 NW Glisan St., 228-9535. Seatings available 5-9:30 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $75-$195, depending on the champagne choice. Call to reserve seats.
V-Day Bar Avignon
No reservations? No problem. Wine boite Bar Avignon’s got three courses for $30–oysters on the half shell, salad, a Carlton farm chop and chocolate pots de crème included. Done and done. Bar Avignon, 2138 SE Division St., 517-0808. Available 4-10 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $35, wine not included.
My Beery Valentine
Local suds-lovers Brewpublic partner with adorable NoPo pub Saraveza for a tipsy lineup of fruit and chocolate beers (among other drafts). We’re talkin’ fascinating stuff like Upright’s cherry wheat Saison (Four Play), Vertigo Razz Wheat, made with 12 pounds of raspberries per barrel) and Love Potion No. 9, Block-15’s “chocolate raspberry oatmeal stout” made with roasted freakin’ cocoa nibs. Plus, chocolates from Equal Exchange. Even better? Proceeds benefit Mercy Corps efforts in Haiti. Cheers! Saraveza, 1004 N Killingworth St., 206-4252. All day Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. Free entry.
Carafe
French stalwart Carafe gets busy with four courses of goods like scallops with Meyer lemon jam, saucisson en brioche and frozen mocha soufflé. Carafe, 200 SW Market St. 248-0004. Dinner hours Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. $72 per couple. Call for reservations.
V-Day at Belly Timber
Get hot n’ heavy on Hawthorne with Northwest menu choices ranging from pork cheek and kale lasagna and duck sausage with black trumpet biscuits or “Stumptown custard and caramel foam.” Psst: It’s one of the last dinners original Belly Timber chef David Siegel will prepare before jetting off for his world tour. Go say goodbye. Belly Timber, 3257 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 235-3277. Dinner hours Sunday, Feb. 14. Call 235-3277 for reservations.
Foster & Dobbs Chocolate & Wine Tasting
Local artisan foods shop Foster & Dobbs represents the two substances most responsible for sex with a free tasting of Taza Chocolate and Triage wines, plus hazelnut goodies from Willamette Valley Confections. Grab anything else off the shelves to buy for your beloved while you’re there–giving goods from this shop for V-Day equal an automatic makeout session. Foster & Dobbs, 2518 NE 15th Ave., 284-1157. Tasting 4:30-6:30 pm Friday, Feb. 12. Info at fosteranddobbs.com.
Din Din V-Day Dinners
Portland’s Din Din supper series has a clear theme this V-Day: “The theme is sexy: sexy food, sexy drink, sexy people,” co-organzier chef Courtney Sproule write. That means chestnut Madeira custard, hanger steak and buerre rouge, panna cotta and honey-poached figs… All served at the intimate Chef’s Studio. This is gonna be good. The Chef’s Studio, 2818 SE Pine St. 7:30 pm Saturday, 6:30 pm Sunday Feb. 13-14. $60, includes wine pairings. To reserve your seat mail check to Courtney Spoule, 900 NE 81st Ave., #114, PDX, 97213. Include number of guests and phone number. Call 971-544-1350 or visit dindinportland.com for info.
V-Day at Beast
Over-the-top food orgasm alert: Naomi Pomeroy and crew whip up a special, sexy one-seating feast that undoubtedly involves all things pig. Beast, 5425 NE 30th Ave., 841-6869. 7 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $175, includes wine and gratuity. Call to reserve seats.
Ace Hotel/Clyde Common New Continental Breakfast Party
Start your romance off early with a sneak peek at the Clyde’s new breakfast menu (Olympic Provisions cured meats, eight-minute eggs, Pearl Bakery breads, Stumptown coffee and breakfast cocktails) served buffet style at the Ace Cleaners. Plus, the management’s promising live music, photo fun and crafty Valentine’s card making supplies courtesy of Readymade magazine. Ace Cleaners, 403 SW 10th Ave., 228-2277. 10 am-2 pm Sunday, Feb 14. $20 advance, $25 day of (cash only), $15 for Ace Hotel guests. Drinks not included. Tickets available at the front desk of the adjacent Ace Hotel.
V-Day at Genoa and Accanto
The newly revived Italian house boasts a bountiful five-course Venizia menu for V-Day (cannelloni stuffed with chard, roast duck with whole wheat pasta, scallops with squid ink sauce, pear brandy soufflé, etc.) while it’s cheap date little sister Accanto woos with happy hour prices on tagliatelle with Dungeness crab, duck croquettes, fritto misto, micros and cocktails all day long. Wow. Genoa/Accanto, 2832 SE Belmont St., 238-1464 (Accanto, 235-4900). Genoa menu available through Sunday, Feb. 14. $55. Call for reservations. Accanto V-Day happy hour Feb. 14 only.
V-Day at East India Co.
Get spicy this V-Day with a surprisingly inexpensive Indian feast including paneer, saffron-infused chicken kabobs, jumbo prawns, rosemary naan, chocolate kulfi and more. East India Co., 821 SW 11th Ave., 227-8815. Dinner hours Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14. $60 per couple. $80 per couple with wine pairing. Call to reserve.
Julie & Julia Dinner & a Movie at the Heathman
Okay, this is damn sweet idea for the obsessive foodie dork in your life. The Heathman screens the charming Julia Child biopic Julie & Julie while you grub on a six-course dinner revolving around recipes from Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, from the infamous duck en croute to lobster thermidor and tarte tatin. I know, best idea ever. The Heathman, 1001 SW Broadway, 790-7752. 6:30 pm Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. $75 per person. Call to reserve.
V-Day at the H50 Bistro
Hotel Fifty’s swank little bistro touts four-courses for under $40 this V-Day, with tastiness including rocket salad, seared diver scallops and whimsical “marshmallow gnocchi” with Nutella pudding and “smoke.” V-Day for Two hotel package also available (room, bottle of sparkling wine, chocolates, long stem roses, $100 dining credit at H50) starting at $219. H50 Bistro, 50 SW Morrison St., 484-1415. $39 per person. Call to reserve.
Kenny & Zuke’s Cheap Date
Bless the frugal bunch at Kenny & Zuke’s. The deli boys are pimping two three-course meals (a pair of fully loaded sandwiches and sides, soup our salad and a sundae for two) for $20 a couple. Kenny & Zuke’s, 1038 SW Stark St. 222-3354.Dinner hours only Sunday, Feb. 14. $20 a couple.
V-Day at Meriwether’s
The Northwestern chalet promises a roaring fireplace, candlelight and a four-course dinner packed with squash soup, duck egg raviolo or lobster and beignets in a bag. Meriwether’s, 2601 NW Vaughn St. 228-1250. Dinner hours Sunday, Feb. 14. $75 per person, $95 with wine pairings. Call for reservations.
V-Day at Lincoln
The North Williams dining room makes love to your mouth with three courses of Northwesten eats, with choices like pork paillard with polenta, sorcetti with mustard greens and bittersweet chocolate terrine with griottine cherries. Bonus: local florists Quince will deliver flowers right to your table if you plan ahead. Lincoln, 3808 N Williams St. #127, 288-6200. Dinner hours Sunday, Feb. 14. $50, not including drinks or gratuity. Call for reservations. Contact Quince at 407-2999 or inquiries@quinceevents.com.
Jupiter Hotel Distillery Row Sleepover
The Jupiter Hotel knows the secret to getting busy: a deal that includes a tour of local distilleries, from House Spirits to New Deal with transportation there and back, and a cushy “deluxe metro” hotel room to play in afterwards. The deal also includes a pair of $20 coupons for bottles at participating liquor dens. Free breakfast too. There’s also a “Love & Lust package that involves thong underwear too if you’re so inclined. Jupiter Hotel, 800 E Burnside St., 230-9200. $169 for one night, $259 for two nights. Call to make reservations or visit jupiterhotel.com.
For the Love of Nigori
Oddly enough, sake and chocolate are a perfect match. Let Forest Grove’s sweet wine maker SakeOne elaborate with a cacao and sake tasting blowout. This year, 15 percent of proceeds are donated to Haiti relief. SakeOne, 820 Elm St., Forest Grove, 357-7056. 11 am-5 pm Saturday-Sunday Feb. 13-14. $10.
V-Day at Nostrana
Make this V-Day a literary feast. Romantic Nostrana lady Cathy Whims creates a big, seven-course Italian feast inspired by author Marlena de Blasi’s love story A Thousand Days in Venice. Chapters include baked oysters, leek gratin, tortellini, quail sausage and the “mythical orange tart of Anacapri” and more. The end. Nostrana, 1401 SE Morrison St., 234-2427. V-Day menu available dinner hours Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14. $50. Call to reserve a table.
V-Day at Ned Ludd
The wood-fired oven obsessed eatery presents a clever idea for V-Day: a six-course dinner with drink pairings, where each couple gets two different dishes during each course, from smoked trout with lemon cream to scallops and escarole. Get it? You’re gonna have to get close and share to taste everything. Ned Ludd, 3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 288-6900. 5:30 and 8 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $85 per person. Call for reservations.
Rogue Beer and Chocolate Tasting
Genius! Observe V-Day with the two things Portlanders love most: beer and chocolate Rogue holds an event pairing 10 beers with the sweet stuff this Sunday. Rogue Ales Public House, 1339 NW Flanders St., 222-5910. 6 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $35. Call for tickets.
V-Day at Metrovino
The oenophilic Pearl District restaurant with a four-courser boasting everything from a stellar charcuterie board and oysters with Dungeness crab to salmon with lobster sauce or short ribs and a chocolate and sesame semi freddo served in a “phyllo nest” with bruleed bananas. Metrovino, 1139 NW 11th Ave., 517-7778. Available 5-9 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $60. Optional wine pairings $25 or $50. Call for reservations.
V-Day Mint & 820
Saying “I love you” at Lucy Brennan’s wee dining room and adjoining cocktail hideaway means lamb osso buco, crab cakes with ginger-caper rémoulade and cinnamon infused caramel chocolate fondue among other vittles. Plus, an avocado daiquiri or two never hurt anybody. Mint, 816 N Russell St., 284-5518. Sunday, Feb. 14. Call for reservations or visit mintand820.com.
V-Day at Proper Eats
St. John’s homey vegan market and eatery spreads the meat-free love this year with a four-course feast, wine/beer included. There are even gluten/soy free options for loved ones with allergies. Proper Eats, 8638 N Lombard Ave., 445-2007. Seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $30. Call for reservations. Info at propereats.org.
V-Day at Saucebox
The original downtown swank scene, Saucebox, pimps this VDay with a special cocktail spiked with Schizandra, a potent Chinese herb that apparently fixes everything from irritable bowel syndrome to skin disorders in addition to “strengthening sex organs.” Saucebox, 214 SW Broadway, 241-3393. Dinner hours Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. Call for reservation or visit saucebox.com.
St. Valentine’s Dinner at Suzette
New Alberta crêpes haunt Suzette gets sweet with a Roaring ’20s theme dinner complete with silent Rudolph Valentino flicks, swoony music and a prix fixe menu of crostini, savory crepes (crab, leek and gruyere; three mushroom), garden salad and bittersweet chocolate soufflé tartlet for two with port poached cherries. Suzette, 2921 NE Alberta St., suzettepdx.com. Seatings at 5:45, 6, 7:15 and 7:30 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $20. For reservations e-mail jehnee@suzettepdx.com.
V-Day at Simpatica
Portland’s friendliest dining hall celebrates with four-courses for $55. We’re talkin’ wood grilled oysters, blood orange salad with a “Dungeness crab puff,” beef cheeks with truffled spuds and frozen chocolate mousse. Simpatica Dining Hall, 828 SE Ash St., 235-1600. 7 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $55, plus wine and gratuity. Call to make reservations or email rsvp@simpaticacatering.com.
V-Day Dinner and Brunch at Salty’s on the Columbia
Live with a view of the Columbia River this weekend. The special menu includes smoked salmon Gruyere fondue or shucked oysters, lobster ravioli or king crab and mocha porter cheesecake among other treats. Salty’s on the Columbia, 3839 NE Marine Drive, 288-4444. Dinner hours Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14. Three courses for $52.95-$79.95. Call to reserve.
Teardrop V-Day Cocktail Pairing Dinner
The mixology masters at Teardrop (David Shenaut and chef Chris Degenhardt) unleash a high class liquor and food journey with a grape-based theme for V-Day. There’s only one seating, at the bar, so reserve your seat asap. Teardrop, 1015 NW Everett St., 445-8109. 6 pm Sunday, Feb. 14. $100. RSVP to daniel@teardroplounge.com.
V-Day at Ten 01
Chef Michael Hanaghan gets diners in the mood with oysters, braised pork belly, Wagyu culotte with crispy bone marrow and chocolate fudge cake with a salted caramel core. Ten 01, 1001 NW Couch St., 226-3463. Dinner hours Sunday, Feb. 14. $65 per person. Call for reservations.
V-Day at TeaZone/Camellia Lounge
Sip tea and nibble on scones, Devonshire cream and lemon curd with your Valentine all weekend. TeaZone, 510 NW 11th Ave., 221-2130. 11:30 am-4 pm Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. $18.95 per person. Reservations required, call to reserve your seat.
V-Day at Urban Farmer
The Nines dining room scores one in the theme department with its “Foods to Feed Each Other” menu, which includes cold water oysters and caviar with hominy cakes. Urban Farmer, 525 SW Morrison, 802-4900. Dinner hours Sunday, Feb. 14. Menu prices.
EARLY VDAY: Wildwood Chocolate Dinner
Northwest hub Wildwood gets a little crazy with a fabulous, five-course chocolate-themed dinner dreamed up by pastry chef Michelle Vernier that’s got dishes like short ribs with bitter sweet chocolate on the roster. All proceeds benefit local nonprofit ChristieCare. And you’ll walk out with a box of Wildwood chocolates. Wildwood, 1221 NW 21st Ave., 248.9663. 7 pm Friday, Feb. 12. $125 per person. Call for reservations.
Whole Foods Chocolate Fest
The fancy pants grocer helps out the V-Day cause with a cheap Chocolate Fest at local stores. Stuff your face with tons of local and artisan chocolate; all proceeds go to mental health nonprofit ChristieCare. Whole Foods, all local stores. 4-7 pm Friday, Feb. 11. $5. Store info at wholefoods.com.
V-DAY RAW MATERIALS
V-Day To Go Meals
Planning to skip the restaurant hassle and serve your beloved in bed? Local markets can help make that happen. Elephant’s Deli (elephantsdeli.com or call 299-6304) offers a whole V-Day meals at $19.95 a pop that include everything from crab stuffed mushroom caps and Florentine steaks to chocolate dipped strawberries and housemade Ding Dongs.
The Meadow Chocolate Class
Salt masters hold a class on their other favorite subject: chocolate. Trace the sweet process from bean to bar with plenty of tastes in between. Reminder: FYI–You ought to swing by the shop for excellent V-Day gifts in any case. Himalayan salt blocks are sexy. Double FYI–The Meadow’s got an artisan salt event coming up on Feb. 23. Reserve a seat now. The Meadow, 3731 N Mississippi Ave., 288-4633. 6 pm Thursday, Feb. 11. $20. Visit atthemeadow.com for tickets.