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Valentine's Day Dining 2004

Stare into each other's eyes over a tasty meal.
Tuesday Feb 03, 2004.     By Kate Schwartz
Centerstage Chicago Nightlife City Guide Arts

Aria

Feast on a menu designed with lovers in mind. In addition to the regular menu, Valentine’s Day specials include seared oysters, grilled veal chop with white winter truffle, and a rose petal Bavarian raspberry compote coconut crisp. Pair that with The Lover’s Edge, a glass of Moet & Chandon Rose Champagne with fresh pomengranate juice, served with rose-flavored Turkish delight. The menu will be available Feb. 13-15.

Bin 36

Your four-course prix-fixe dinner costs $68 and includes a glass of dessert wine paired with the fourth course. Options include wild mushroom and ricotta ravioli with grilled asparagus and Puerto fino sherry sauce, pan roasted Atlantic salmon, and warm flourless chocolate cake. Additional wine pairings are available for a supplement. Champagne and roses may be ordered in advance.

Brasserie Jo

Add a bit of French romance to your evening with a four-course meal at Brasserie Jo. Dinner selections include New York Strip au poivre, vegetable crepes, and crème brulee. Dinner is $49 per person.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

Strolling violinists add a European flavor to your oh-so-romantic night. The freebies don’t end there. Enjoy a complimentary glass of Cava del Amor in celebration of Valentine’s Day; each lady will receive a flower as well. And don’t forget the food—Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Will offer an expanded selection of tapas. Valentine’s Day Special Seating at 5 p.m.

Cafe des Architectes

Chef Frederic Castan’s four-course prix-fixe menu includes beef, veal, seafood, chicken and rabbit choices for $65.

Everest

You’ll be at the top of the world—literally—in the 40th floor space that Everest occupies. Chef J. Joho’s six-course menu includes cold-smoked salmon with Aigreletter sauce, macaroni gratin with veal medallions and forest mushrooms, and pistachio chocolate crepe with cherry compote. Dinner is $175 per person, exclusive of wine.

Gioco

Salute your Valentine with a bit of Italian charm at Gioco. Start off with The Valentinia, a cocktail with raspberry vodka, Campari, and lemon and Cranberry juice, garnished with candy hearts.

Marche

Guarantee Valentine success with the Love Potion, a blend of puree orange vodka and a splash of sour. Marche’s holiday dessert choice is a chocolate and strawberry trio: a warm chocolate soufflé, a frozen strawberry parfait, and a chocolate strawberry sandwich.

mk Downtown

Select the four-course tasting menu, featuring seductive items like chilled Malpeque oysters, poached Maine lobster, hearts of palm with a fennel-scented lobster veloute, and roasted loin of Summerfield farm lamb. Seal the deal with Mint Love Letters; the dessert includes chocolate crepes, minted chocolate mousse and crispy chocolate brittle. $60 per person.

Mon Ami Gabi

Wield your free spirit with an a la carte menu of French dishes that include herb ribeye with sweet potato gratin, haricot vert and veal jus; duck a l’orange; oysters with pink peppercorn migonette; and strawberry ice cream profiteroles with white chocolate and cinnamon hearts.

Opera

Give her a kiss that’s out of this world with Opera’s Cosmic Kiss, a tasty red-hued concoction of plum wine, citrus vodka and cassis. Opera’s Valentine’s Day specials include the Slow Roasted Foie Gras Terrine and royal sharks fin soup alongside BBQ grilled mako shark with wild mushroom stir-fry. Cap off your meal with the Heart-Shaped Chocolate Box, made with passion fruit, chocolate marshmallows, chocolate-dipped raspberry meringue, macademia cherry hearts and chocolate cappuccino.

Red Light

Liquify a traditional Valentine’s favorite with a frosty Chocolate Martini served with Chocolate-covered strawberries. Cap off your meal with the Heart-Shaped Chocolate Box, made with passion fruit, chocolate marshmallows, chocolate-dipped raspberry meringue, macademia cherry hearts and chocolate cappuccino.

Saiko

Target your true love with a bit of Cupids Arrow, a cocktail of Godiva white chocolate liquor, Absolut vanilla and Chambord, garnished with raspberry and chocolate sauce. Saiko’s menu includes the Ultimate Surf-n-Turf: pan-seared Kobe beef, Maine lobster, Madeira sauce with shallot, carrot and morel sauce, miniaturized Kobe beef nigiri and lobster tobiko sushi. Cap off your meal with the Heart-Shaped Chocolate Box, made with passion fruit, chocolate marshmallows, chocolate-dipped raspberry meringue, macademia cherry hearts and chocolate cappuccino.

Scoozi!

Enjoy special Valentine’s Day treats like heart-shaped bruschetta, a chocolate trio of chocolate marchese cake, budino cake, and chocolate Italian pudding cake. Receive complimentary tomato- and heart-shaped cookies at the meal’s end.

Shaw’s Crab House

You’ll remember this Valentine’s Day thanks to Shaw’s Tastes for Two aphrodisiac menu. The meant-to-be-shared utensil-free menu is priced at $45.95 per person. The specials menu also includes jumbo shrimp cocktail, 1 ½ pound whole Maine lobster, oysters, and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine.

 

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