Too often, we treat Valentine’s Day strictly as a night for dining out. But anyone who has been in a serious relationship knows that a nice dinner, and nothing but a nice dinner, doesn’t really cut it.
There has to be a gift. Maybe it’s just a box of drugstore chocolates, but there has to be something.
Restaurant critic Phil Vettel brims with confidence when it comes to dining suggestions, but gifts? Not so much. For that, we turn to Ellen Warren, who is to shopping what Noel Coward was to wordplay. Between them, you’ll have everything you need for a memorable Valentine’s Day–except a date. (They can’t do everything.)
PHIL VETTEL … with dinner!
FOR YOUR NEW SQUEEZE
How better to communicate that your expectations for the evening are not uncomfortably high than by taking your date to a place called Extra Virgin (741 W. Randolph St., 312-474-0700)? You can have a low-key, order-off-the-menu dinner, and the rustic Italian food is very good. The special four-course dinner ($110 per couple, $150 with matching wines or champagne) might be a little excessive for a first V-Day, but that’s your call.
FOR ‘JUST FRIENDS’
Grab two other “low-key couples” and head to McCormick & Schmick’s (41 E. Chestnut St., 312-397-9500), where each party of six that reserves one of the restaurant’s “snugs” (semi-private tables for six) will receive a free bottle of champagne (which should go nicely with the seafood offerings there). Or splurge on the “O So Decadent” six-course Chocolate Dinner Party for six at Narra (Hotel Orrington, 1710 Orrington Ave., Evanston, 847-866-8700). Cost is $414, including wine.
FOR THE IMPENDING BREAKUP
So, the relationship’s played out but you want one last romantic Valentine’s Day together? Then make the commitment to Trio Atelier (1625 Hinman Ave., Evanston, 847-733-8746), which is hosting its final Valentine’s Day (owner Henry Adaniya announced Trio’s end-of-February closing) with a four-course tasting menu for $75. When you finally do break it off, your ex-sweetie will realize, in retrospect, that you provided a big hint with your V-Day choice. If that’s a bit too steep, call 708-458-4450, ext. 516, and make a reservation at White Castle. That’s right–22 Chicago-area locations are accepting reservations for Valentine’s Day, and dolling up their restaurants with tablecloths, candles, soft music and waiters for the night. Even if the subsequent kiss-off is brutal, he/she will always have that White Castle Valentine memory.
FOR YOUR MISTRESS OR PARAMOUR
How can you pass up Valentine’s Day at mk (868 N. Franklin St., 312-482-9179), whose V-Day theme is “An Affair to Remember”? Todd Stein’s five-course, contemporary-American menu concludes with one of Kate Neumann’s eight desserts–each named for a romantic film, such as “Casablanca” (cinnamon-risotto pudding, candied pistachios) and “Sleepless in Seattle” (espresso mousse, caramel cashew candy, cappuccino syrup).
FOR YOUR LIFELONG SWEETHEART
Scale the heights of romance at Everest (440 S. LaSalle St., 312-663-8920), where you and yours can delight in the 40th-floor views as well as Jean Joho’s superb, four-star cuisine–a truly special experience. The Valentine menu ($150 per person; add $89 for matching wines) includes such treats as warm lobster salad, poppyseed-crusted sea scallops and a trilogy of desserts.
FOR A HAPPY ENDING TO THE EVENING
Put your date in the mood with the aphrodisiac-inspired Valentine’s menu at–where else–Harry Caray’s (33 W. Kinzie St., 312-828-0966; 10233 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont, 847-699-1200). OK, this might not be the first place you’d associate with romance, but with four-course menus ($84 with wine, $64 without) studded with ingredients such as ginger, honey, asparagus, oysters, bananas and chocolate, something’s gotta work. (It might be; it could be; it is! Holy Cow!) And if not, you can always get a great steak.
FOR THE PERSON LOOKING TO COMMIT ROMANTIC SUICIDE
Salad Spinners, which has three downtown locations, offers “Send Lunch to Your Sweetie.” The delivered packages include three roses, a heart-shaped cookie and chocolate kisses, a personalized love note and a lunch selection “from Salad Spinners’ healthy menu.” (Healthy menu? Are you saying I’m fat? Then why did you send me a salad? Where are you taking me tonight, Weight Watchers?) Order online at www.saladspinners.com.
ELLEN WARREN … with gifts!
FOR YOUR NEW SQUEEZE
This could set the standard for Valentine’s Days to come, so shop carefully. Her to him: Show him you’re not the clinging, needy type. Gift him with two tickets to a sports event–for him and a buddy. His gift to her? A pearl and silver choker will make her swoon. Bloomingdale’s (900 N. Michigan Ave., bloomingdales.com) has two that are just right: three mother of pearl discs or squares with a tiny silver heart clasp, $70, by Patty Anderson, or glass pearls and tiny silver beads with a dangling silver heart, $45, by Carolee.
FOR ‘JUST FRIENDS’
Nifty refillable roller-ball pens that look like a yellow No. 2 pencil or a Crayola crayon are $32 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Store (220 E. Chicago Ave., mcachicago.org). For a little more whimsy, the MCA store also has Breezy Singers, lifelike plastic motion activated birds in six different breeds ($15) with realistic chirping, head, beak and tail movements. For friends only!
FOR THE IMPENDING BREAKUP
And now for my very (if cruel) favorites. As you are closing the door, hand your soon-to-be ex a small gift box from the MCA. Inside is a pin ($1.50) showing a photo of Andy Warhol and these words: “Your 15 minutes are up.” Accompany that with a down-loaded CD of “I Told Ya I Love Ya (Now Get Out)” written by Chicago’s own Johnny Frigo.
FOR YOUR MISTRESS OR PARAMOUR
Not that I’m endorsing adultery. However, for spouses committed to straying, here are gifts that manage to be at once lavish and practical: luxury overnight bags for those naughty trysts. For him, Barneys (25 E. Oak St., barneys.com) has a handsome option in black or brown, $775. For her, pick up the “Keepall 45” in red Epi leather, $1,170 at Louis Vuitton (919 N. Michigan Ave., louisvuitton.com).
FOR YOUR LIFELONG SWEETHEART
You are too a sensitive guy. And to prove it, buy her a (pink?) iPod or MP3 player and download these world-class love songs: “How Deep is the Ocean?” (Irving Berlin); “The Very Thought of You” (Ray Noble); “Lucky To Be Me” (Betty Comden-Adolph Green-Leonard Bernstein); “Two Sleepy People” (Frank Loesser-Hoagy Carmichael). Or cuddle in matching red V-neck cashmere sweaters from the men’s department of Club Monaco (900 N. Michigan Ave., clubmonaco.com) reduced from $179 to $59.
FOR A HAPPY ENDING TO THE EVENING
This handy volume was designed for just such an evening: “InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook” by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge ($15.92 on amazon.com.). Use the book’s recipes to whip up some homemade massage oil, then offer Red Fire Chocolate from Vosges Haut Chocolat, $6 for a 3.3-ounce bar (520 N. Michigan Ave., vosgeschocolate.com). And please don’t forget that bottle of wine.
FOR THE PERSON LOOKING TO COMMIT ROMANTIC SUICIDE
Two words: Dirt Devil. Even the name of this hand vacuum sends the wrong message ($39.95 at dirtdevil.com).
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pvettel@tribune.com
shopellen@tribune.com
