Our favorite Valentine’s Day dinners and drinks

Sweetest Lovey Dovey Menu: RN74, Seattle

Boy are we suckers for puns. Especially when they’re meaningful and delicious. Executive Chef David Varley of downtown’s RN74 has planned a menu devoted to couples. Think a starter of ahi tuna tartare for two followed by shareable Alaskan Red King crab pot pie, a black truffle polenta “love letter” and a milk chocolate “Kit Kat” made with Valrhona. Plus, we hear the restaurant’s new soundproofing upgrade will make it easier to actually exchange sweet nothings. The five-course menu is $135 per person with wine pairings ranging from $65-$100 per person. Seatings are available on Feb. 13 or 14. For reservations, call 456-7474. RN74, 1433 4th Ave., Seattle.

 

Best Reason to Leave Seattle: ChucH, Tacoma

Jon Maley, executive chef of the University of Washington Club, started this pop-up (pronounced like Chuck) as an homage to his father. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, Maley worked as sous chef at Seattle’s highly-acclaimed Book Bindery under chef Shaun McCrain before joining the team at UW in 2011. Chuch the pop-up gets all kinds of high praise and previous menus have included octopus terrine and beef tenderloin with huckleberry bordelaise. Be different. Celebrate the night before. Only 30 seats available. Email chuchbyjon@gmail.com for tickets. 7 p.m. Feb. 13, Vino Aquino, 4417 6th Ave., #1, Tacoma.

 

Best Class (to Sip ‘n’ Smooch): Golden Beetle Couple’s Mixology Class

Learn the sumptuous ways that whiskey, aged rum and anejo tequila mix together with farmer’s market ingredients to make magical cocktails at Maria Hines’ Ballard Mediterranean restaurant. 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 13. $75 per person includes cocktail ingredients, instructions, snacks and recipes for three drinks to recreate at home with your main squeeze. Golden Beetle, 1744 NW Market St., Seattle. For reservations, visit online or call 206-706-2977.

 

Best New Romantic Dinner: Eden Hill

 Chef Maximillian Petty of Queen Anne’s Eden Hill is making some of the prettiest food in Seattle right now, so by our estimations, his debut Valentine’s menu might be poetry-worthy. Think indulgent ingredients such as bone marrow butter, foie gras and duck heart tartare – and that’s just to start. Dinner will include the likes fermented beet pavlova, rabbit porchetta, duck heart tartare and wagyu beef shortribs. The five-course menu begins with two amuse, ends with housemade truffles and will be offered Feb. 12 to 14 for $100 per person with optional $60 wine pairing. See the full menu online or call 206-708-6836 for reservations.