Crudo Tuesday, February 11
Chef Cullen Campbell's Crudo will host a four-course, wine-paired Olive Oil Dinner showcasing the variety of flavors and culinary uses for extra virgin olive oil. Each of the courses is designed to highlight a different Italian region and a signature olive oil. The menu includes ahi with olio verde, lemon, avocado, Iitois onions, as well as whipped Crows Dairy goat cheese with watermelon, honey and olive oil. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and costs $65 a person. Reservations are required. Call 602-358-8666.
See also: 20 Valentine's Day Dining Options in Metro Phoenix
Chocolade van Brugge Wednesday, February 12
Needs some last-minute tips on love before the big day? You're probably not the only one. And that's why Chocolade van Brugge, the Belgian chocolate spot in Old Town Scottsdale, is bringing relationship coach Elisabeth Davies, M.C. to the store from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Davies will dish out free tips for great relationships and ideas and tips for singles, too. Special Valentine's Day products will also be available in-store, including 12- and 24-piece boxes and a heart-shaped box filled with truffles. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the Anthony Bates Foundation, which seeks to eliminate preventable Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Luci's Healthy Marketplace Thursday, February 13
Luci's Healthy Marketplace will kick off the EatTable DrinkBar Cooking Series: Tastes of Italy with Chef James Monaci. The six-class series will run through December 2014 and starts with "Pasta and St. Valentine's." The course will teach how to make Spaghetti, Fettuccine and Papardelle, in addition to some from-scratch sauces intended to "orchestrate the flavors, textures and colors." The class will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and costs $39.99 a person. You can sign up and view the complete schedule online.
Petite Maison Friday, February 14
If nothing on our list of 20 Valentine's Day Dining Options in Metro Phoenix struck your fancy, don't worry because we've got a few more options up our sleeve. Petite Maison in Scottsdale will be serving the annual "Aphrodisiac Valentine's Dinner," with a menu that features "22 scientifically proven aphrodisiac foods." The menu includes Hudson Valley foie gras torchon with fingerling bananas, and five-spice kettle corn, as well as Angus filet mignon, with butter poached crab, and black truffle Hollandaise. The dinner costs $69 a person with wine pairings available for $24. Call 480-991-6887.
A couple more options include:
Taggia at the Firesky Resort The restaurant will be serving an "Italian-Style" three-course Valentine's Day menu including lobster ravioli with funghi trifolati, saffron and creamed fennel, and raspberry mousse with beet crumble and white chocolate fondata for $50. Call 480-424-6095.
Lon's at the Hermosa Inn Executive chef James Ducas will be serving a "Sweethearts" menu with scallop "rockafeller," red wine pastrami salmon, and Kobe duo "pot roast" for $75 per person with an optional $35 wine pairing. Call 602-955-07878.
See also: 10 Valentine Gifts from Metro Phoenix Bakeries and Candy Shops
NutwhatsDiscover the utterly delightful lovechild of nut brittle, cookie bits, and granola: @Nutwhats, today's #OneGoodFind. http://t.co/DMed3tmEig
— SAVEUR (@SAVEURMAG) February 4, 2014
Our favorite locally-made chocolate got some love from Saveur magazine last week, which means that we're even more inclined to want to get our hands on some. The Chandler-based company is one of the few bean-to-bar chocolate producers in the state and specializes in their signature Nutwhat creations. You can find Nutwhats, created by Lisa and Jim Rast, at local farmers markets, AJ's Fine Foods, The Phoenix Public Market Cafe, and Bodega, as well as online.
