Valentine’s Day can be tricky. There is so much room for interpretation and misunderstanding. And those expectations! But since the way to (most of) our hearts is through our stomachs, let the Where To Eat Guide Portland assist you in sending the perfect message. Depending on the type of person you are, the type of person that special someone is and the nature of your relationship, there should be something in our amazing dining city that is just right. This week’s blog will offer some ideas for a “Passionate,” “Sweet” or “Intimate” Valentine’s Day. Watch for Part Two next week: “Adventurous”, “Only the Best” and “Single But Not Lonely.”
Photo: ¡Oba! Restaurante Facebook
Passionate:
Want to add some fire to your romance? The Nuevo Latino menu, full bar and extensive wine list at ¡Oba! Restaurante is an excellent place to start. Turn up the heat with a Mojito or Margarita flavored with prickly pear, mango, guava, blood orange or Oregon marionberry, accompanied by appetizers like Ceviche del Día, Chipotle Calamari and Bacon-Wrapped Jalepeños Rellenos. Then, on to entrées like Churrasco Style Hangar Steak with chimichurri, Pollo Asado and Enchiladas de Vegetales. Dietary preferences are gladly accommodated, so if your tango partner requires vegetarian, dairy- or wheat-free options, ask about them when making a reservation.
The Parish creators Ethan Powell and Tobias Hogan work directly with oyster farms up and down the coast for the freshest possible selection. Wow your date with a plateful of these well-known aphrodisiacs, followed by some zesty yet comforting Cajun dishes. Try the Roasted Game Hen with smoked oyster bread pudding topped with au jus, or enjoy the Fried Chicken Dinner for Two, which includes mashed potatoes, Cajun brown gravy, cole slaw, buttermilk biscuits and honey butter. Dessert is Pecan Pie, Southern Bread Pudding, Crème Brûlée (gluten-free) or Warm Chocolate Cake. Feeling really daring? Try the absinthe!
Another project created by Ethan Powell and Tobias Hogan, this Cajun and Creole café also features the freshest farm-direct oysters. Great news! This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, so you can treat that special someone to a live New Orleans-style jazz brunch at EaT with Reggie Houston's Box of Chocolates. This band plays every Sunday from 11 am to 2 pm. Try a biscuit piled high with toppings like sausage, ham, meatloaf, eggs or gravy. Or, for something sweeter, have Belgian Waffles with seasonal fruits and crème chantilly, house-made Cinnamon Rolls or Beignets with whiskey hard sauce. Enjoy a cocktail like a Build Your Own Bloody Mary, the Big Bottle Mimosa or the EaT Hurricane with your romantic brunch, .
Photo: Pix Pâtisserie Facebook
Sweet:
Pix Pâtisserie is the last word in sweets. If you are ordering ahead and would like something elaborate, you can go big with a Croquembouche or a Carmen Miranda tart piled high with vibrant fruits. Also ask about creations with names like Aphrodite, Amelie, Queen of Sheba and Jane Avril, named after one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s favorite can-can dancers! If all you need are some dainty treats, Pix Pâtisserie has the finest macarons, éclairs and truffles. Pix’s famous champagne collection was awarded World's Best Champagne and Sparkling Wine List in 2014 and 2015 by London's World of Fine Wine Magazine. Enjoying your treats in-house? Pix’s Bar Vivant has a tapas menu.
Intimate:
What could be more romantic than sitting with your beloved by a glowing fireplace? Relax with a Pear, Walnut Cranberry Salad, Wild Mushroom Risotto or Steak Frites with Béarnaise Sauce and Hand-cut Fries. Linger a little longer over Crème Brûlée with a Touch of Raspberry or Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake.
Petisco Eggs Benedict. Photo: Stephanie Forrer
Northeast Portland’s little taste of Europe is a lovely choice for Valentine’s Day brunch, lunch or dinner. For brunch, try Pain Perdu (French Toast), Corned Beef Hash or Eggs Benedict. Lunch for two might be Pork Sausage and Porcini Mushrooms with Gnocchi or Chicken Confit. Dinner selections include Bacon-wrapped Meatloaf with port wine demi-glace or Brussels and Pork Au Gratin. Save a little room for Petisco’s house-made desserts--Chocolate Pots De Crème, Fresh Fruit Crisp, Peanut Butter Pie or Atlantic Beach Pie. Great for sharing!
If a Happy Hour is right for your Valentine’s Day plans, Thirst is a delightful pick. Thirst focuses on Pacific Northwest wines, such as Domaine Drouhin and Owen Roe, to be enjoyed by the taste, glass, flight or bottle. Thirst also offers craft beers and cocktails made with local spirits--Indio Vodka, Voyager Gin and Buffalo Trace Bourbon. The bistro food menu also features Pacific Northwest ingredients, such as a Charcuterie Platter with meats from Olympia Provisions, Baked Brie in Puff Pastry and Wild Sockeye Salmon. Finish your intimate repast with a dessert such as Brûléed New York Style Cheesecake, a Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie or Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding.
In love yet?
