VALENTINE’S DAY DINNERS
If you’ve been waiting for a great excuse to explore some of the many newish (and not at all new) restaurants around town, Valentine’s Day offers the perfect opportunity to doll up and splurge. Here are several promising dinner options, including highlights from the often extensive menus. As told to the Food Filer by a local romance and food expert: “Food and love are super-additive pleasures: Pleasure in one sense spills over into pleasure in another. One gets the illusion of good-tasting things from good- looking things, and good- smelling things make all the senses come alive. Waking up all of your senses, good food can enliven dormant feelings of passion. Modest sips of alcohol can accelerate the process.”
Azura
A singles event of passed appetizers: Kobe beef sliders, sushi rolls, and fried oysters. $30 includes a glass of champagne. www.azurabistro.com
Beato Food & Wine
A five-course Italian tasting menu. $75/$94 with wines. www.beatoseattle.com
BOKA Kitchen+Bar
Oysters, hearts of palm and avocado salad, chicken roulade with black truffles. $65/$105 with champagne pairings. www.bokaseattle.com
Cafe Flora
Gingered plantain soup, yuca vegetable fritters with allspice-scented squash sauce, devil’s food brownie with scotch caramel. $45. www.cafeflora.com
The Hunt Club
Kusshi oyster with mignonette sauce, wild mushroom truffle soup, lemon verbena raspberry tart. $75/$95 with wine. www.hotelsorrento.com/dining-hunt-club.php
The Georgian Room at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Spinach salad with ashed goat cheese, seared scallops with melted leeks and crispy Yukon golds, caramelized pineapple with ice wine sorbet. $115/$145 with wine. www.fairmont.com/seattle
Maximilien
Seared scallops with wild mushroom, brandy, and black truffle sauce; pork loin with potatoes au gratin; gâteau au chocolat with Grand Marnier. $79. www.maximilienrestaurant.com
Pomegranate Bistro
Five-course prix-fixe menu: delicata squash agnolotti, sautéed lamb loin, baby mâche salad. $75/$110 with wines. www.pomegranatebistro.com
Six Seven
Seared Atlantic sea scallops, braised Wagyu boneless short rib, raspberry semifreddo with lemon curd. $95. www.edgewaterhotel.com
Troiani
Butternut squash flan, roast duck breast, finale di cioccolato. $50–$70. www.troianiseattle.com.
Many, many more romantic dinner options (supergourmand and less so) are listed in the restaurant capsules on the following pages.
Food and/or beverage news or events? E-mail food@seattleweekly.com.
For expanded food coverage, see www.seattleweekly.com.