Starting at the Chowgirls Parlor (1224 NE. 2nd St., Mpls.): The private events space is throwing a five-course, locally sourced meal featuring ingredients from sunchokes (in a bisque) from Harmony Valley Farm in Viroqua, Wis., to chicken (infused with citrus and grilled) from Callister Farm in West Concord, Minn., and kabocha squash (roasted, with maple syrup from Sapsucker Farms in Mora, Minn.) from Featherstone Farm in Rushford, Minn. Cost is $75 person, which includes a cocktail, glass of wine or beer; reservations at chowgirlsvalentines2012.eventbrite.com.
No reservations necessary at the family farmer-friendly Birchwood Cafe (3311 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-722-4474, www.birchwoodcafe.com), where chef Marshall Paulsen and his crew plan to assemble a special small-plates menu for their counter-service menu. Oh, and Tuesday is when all bottles of wine are half-price, even on high-traffic Valentine's Day.
Another drop-in V-Day option is Common Roots Cafe (2558 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-871-2360, www. commonrootscafe.com), which is notable for its affordable prices, commitment to locally sourced fare -- love the four-pour stout flight ($6.50), featuring a quartet of Minnesota-Wisconsin breweries -- and large vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. On Tuesday, the counter-service restaurant is also offering a $40-per-couple program that includes a shared starter, two entrees and two desserts.
Three cheers for the $35-per-person, five-course feast at the Chinese- and Indian-inspired Chin Dian Cafe (1500 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls., 612-676-1818, www.chindiancafe.com). Along with a papaya salad, fried rice and a banana tempura dessert, chefs/co-owners/spouses Nina Wong and Thomas Gnanapragasam will offer choices in both the first course (lemongrass chicken skewers, tofu with cilantro or a salmon roll) and the entree, where diners can choose two items among pork, shrimp, tofu, chicken and beef selections.
While a few seats (early, or late) remain for the three four-course, $65-per-person Valentine's Day meals at Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (289 E. 5th St., St. Paul, 651-699-3536, www.heartlandrestaurant.com), chef/co-owner Lenny Russo is also catering to drop-ins in his restaurant's lounge, with seasonally inspired a la carte items (whitefish chowder, lamb sausage with a white bean ragoût) culled from the evening's fixed-priced menu.
SAY IT WITH SWEETS
Turn to a Twin Cities baker for a non-Godiva kind of Valentine's Day treat.
Patisserie 46 (4552 Grand Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-3257, www.patisserie46.com) owner John Kraus is an avid candymaker, and while I'm all over his inventive truffles -- Earl Grey-infused chocolate ganache, or lemongrass-mint -- what really makes an impression are the orange peels he dips in chocolate and rolls in candied almonds ($6.50), an uncomplicated but inspired play on complementary flavors and textures.
Nothing says I Will Love You Forever like peanut butter and jelly, right? At least when it's in the hands of the Bars Bakery (612 Selby Av., St. Paul, 651-224-8300, www.barsbakery.com) mother-daughter ownership team of Sandi Younkin and Kara Younkin Viswanathan, who twist the basic DNA of a Linzer-style cookie ($2.50) by subbing out almonds for peanuts and filling the sandwich with raspberry jam; a heart-shaped cutout completes the Feb. 14 picture. It's beautiful, it's delicious and it's not your basic Valentine's Day chocolate-covered strawberry.
Although speaking of chocolate and berries, one way to lavish your sweetie -- and yourself -- is with the gorgeous extravagance that is the raspberry-chocolate mousse cake ($9 and $16) from Rustica (3220 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-822-1119, www.rusticabakery.com).
