By: Evan Milberg
Where to take your sweet for Valentine’s Day.
Bastille: Don’t have the money to fly out to Paris for Valentine’s Day? Bastille brings the tastes of France to you with a four-course tasting menu for $85. Chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux offer a variety of options, including: lobster bisque with caviar and veal topped with anchovy and sweet garlic sauce. Dessert offerings include: Roquefort ice cream garnished with poached pears or a tanori marquise. / Bastille, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria; 703-519-3776
Brabo: This five-course meal features lobster with Anaheim chili and a vanilla-passion fruit vinaigrette, duck with candied kumquat and candy stripe beets and Roseda Farms beef striploin with a chestnut puree, chanterelle mushrooms and marble potato. $85pp for meal with choice of $50pp wine pairing. / Brabo, 1600 King St., Alexandria; 703-894-3440
Breaux Vineyards: This aphrodisiac wine dinner promises to tantalize your senses with a seven-course meal with courses romantically named for each part of a date. First comes “the seduction:” clove blinis paired with sparkling pineapple wine. Then comes “foreplay:” an asparagus tower paired with a 2012 Sauvignon Blanc. The “prelude to a kiss” is oysters with Chardonnay. After that, “French kiss:” poached lobster with a 2012 Viognier; “Streetcar Named Desire:” a crispy coriander duck with a 2007 Nebbiolo; “as good as it gets:” a hanger steak paired with 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve; and “the last seduction” is Vanilla hazelnut pot de Crème, death by chocolate truffle, pistachio brittle, and raspberries. $125 pp. / Breaux Vinyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane. Purcellville; 800-492-9961
Claire’s at the Depot: A three-course plus dessert meal offers filet mignon and shrimp, herb-crusted lamb medallions, lobster tail and crab imperial, crispy Maryland rockfish and more. Click here for a full menu. $70 pp/ Claire’s at the Depot, 65 S 3rd St. Warrenton. 540-351-1616
Doukenie Winery: While you’re being serenaded by the jazz stylings of The Brian Litz duo, enjoy a four course meal prepared by The Chef’s Table. Main courses include salmon filet, braised short rib and baked stuffed shrimp, each of which can be paired with one bottle of Doukenie wine. Dessert is a classic, mocha and raspberry cheesecake trio. RSVP by Feb. 10. Seating begins at 7 pm. $95 pp. / Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Purcellville; call Maria, 540-668-6464 , ext. 202
The Grille at Morrison House: The Grille at Morrison House is offering a six course Valentine’s Day tasting menu including dishes such as terrine of foie gras with passion fruit, pumpkin bread, sauternes gelee and gold leaf, black buck antelope carpaccio with black winter truffle, smoked red chiogga beets and endive and pan-seared langoustine with Carolina gold rice grits, butternut squash, leeks and country ham broth. $95 pp with the option of beverage pairing for $45. / The Grille at Morrison, 116 S. Alfred St, Alexandria; 703-838-8000
Jackson 20: Jackson 20’s Valentine’s Day’s menu has a bitter theme this year. Chef Brian McPherson has created a bitter menu with dishes such as crispy pickle brined quail, Carolina gold rice and sorghum ($14), coffee barbecue smoked brisket with warm potato salad, radicchio and white bread ($25) and bitter chocolate lemon meringue pie ($9). / Jackson 20, 480 King St., Alexandria; 703-842-2790
Maple Ave: See Water & Wall. / Maple Ave 147 Maple Ave W, Vienna; 703-319-2177
Not Your Average Joe’s: If you’re looking for something a little less formal but still on the classy side, Not Your Average Joe’s is offering you a taste of one of their 20 wines at $20 a bottle or their “Smokin’ Joe” wines at $8 a glass. They also offer “his and her” cocktails. For her, a “flirtini,” which is Absolut acai, pomegranate juice, strawberry sparkling wine and a floating edible orchid. For him, a classic with Jim Beam, muddled mint and freshly squeezed lemon. For a full menu, click here. Deal runs from Feb. 13-16. / Not Your Average Joe’s, 15101 Potomac Town Place, Suite 150, Woodbridge; 571-989-5637.
Notaviva Vineyards: While you dine, enjoy hilarious stand-up from Last Comic Standing semi-finalist Jason Weems. Dinner is rotisserie chicken with aioli on the side, a mixed green salad, cilantro-lime rice and black beans. Wine is not included in the ticket price, but can be purchased the night of the event by the glass or bottle. Buy tickets here. / Notaviva Vineyards, 13274 Sagle Road, Purcellville; 540-668-6756
Society Fair: Don’t feel like going out for Valentine’s Day? Pick up Valentine’s Day dinner at Society Fair. For $100, they are offering a “Date Night Bag” for two: a demi-baguette, baby greens salad, heart-shaped Couer de Bray cheese with quince preserves, triple chocolate roulade cake and red and sparkling wine. Click here to nab the coupon. / Society Fair, 277 S. Washington St, Alexandria; 703-683-3247
Savoir Fare: In Round Hill there’s an eclectic menu featuring traditional French appetizers, oysters Rockefeller, cold water lobster pot pie and Maryland-style crabcakes. For a full menu, click here. The menu is available from Feb. 13-15. / Savoir Fare, 1 West Loudoun St., Round Hill; 540-338-8300
Trummer’s on Main: From Feb. 14-16, Trummer’s on Main will be offering their three-course Valentine’s Menu for $84 per person. It features pan-seared diver scallops with crispy kale, oven roasted tomatoes and sauce Nero and Border Springs lamb with rack of lamb and lamb osso bucco served with curry chickpea puree, glazed turnips and rosemary mint demi. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try their four-course “Aphrodisiac Tasting” menu for $98 per person. / Trummer’s on Main. 7134 Main St., Clifton. 703-266-1623
The Wine House: Enjoy a night of seared tuna, rolled salmon filled with jumbo crabmeat, a lobster puff pastry, pheasant breast, beef tenderloin with foie gras or New Zealand rack of veal. Dessert is a choice of passion fruit mousse or chocolate terrine. $75 pp. Reservations available for 6 and 8:30 pm. / The Wine House, 3950 University Drive, Suite 212, Fairfax. 703-352-2211
Water and Wall: Water and Wall will be hosting a special Valentine’s Day tasting dinner and cooking demo which includes lambchetta, duck, beef tartare, seared radicchio and a sweet plate. The tasting table dinner will also be held at Maple Ave on Thursday, February 13th at 5:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The early bird seating (5:45) is $59pp, the 8:30pm seating is $70pp. Additional wine pairing (20pp) will be available for both seatings. / Water and Wall, 3811 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington; 703-294-4949
Wildfire: Between Feb. 13-16, Wildfire is offering an $85-for-two Valentine’s Day menu that puts an emphasis on sharing. The appetizer, salad and dessert options are all shared. The main course is a solo affair with options ranging from crusted seafood to filet mignon. For a full list of options, click here. /Wildfire, Tysons Galleria, 3rd Floor, McLean; 703-442-9110
