BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

MENU SPOTLIGHT:

RAKU

Raku is an old dependable at Bethesda Row that manages to stay fresh. The sushi restaurant with a hint of "Asian fusion" aspirations, Raku is a nice spot for lunch or a first date. It also has fabulous outdoor dining space on Woodmont Avenue - if you can snag seats!

I can't help but start with Raku this week, because - to the best of my recollection - this is the first Restaurant Week menu Raku has made available outside of the restaurant. Kudos to Raku, as it is very helpful for Restaurant Week diners who have many choices, to be able to preview the menu. So here we go!

RAKU DINNER MENU $30

Course 1:

Grilled Shrimp Salad with Wasabi Yuzu Vin Blanc (a dressing combining Wasabi root flavor with mustard and the juice and rind of the Japanese Yuzu fruit - spicy, tart and delicious!), watercress, frisee (endive leaves) and radish

OR

Cream of Napa Soup with Snow Crab and White Truffle Oil (Napa is a type of cabbage)

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Course 2:

Nigiri Sushi (Tuna, Salmon, Hawaiian Amberjack, Shrimp, Eel) - Hawaiians call amberjack "kahala," Mexicans call it "Pez Fuerte" (strong fish)

OR

Salmon Fettucine with Lemon Butter sauce, Salmon Roe, Brown Beech Mushroom (a nutty, buttery mushroom) and Korean cabbage

-----

Course 3:

Beef Tenderloin with Shiitake Duxelles, ginger bordelaise, zucchini, yellow squash and Korean sweet potato (Shiitake Duxelles is more Paris than Tokyo; it's a sauce of mushrooms, onions, shallots, butter and herbs)

OR

Walnut-crusted Alaskan Halibut with warm, sundried tomato vinaigrette, fried baby potato, baby bok choy and miso tapenade (a soybean and barley/rice paste)

=======================

As you may notice, there are plenty of options for those in your party who are not sushi fans.

So stop by Raku tonight, or one of the many other restaurants at Bethesda Row, as we enjoy Restaurant Week 2012 through April 22.

VALENTINE'S DAY

IN

BETHESDA

The most romantic restaurants!

The best gifts!

Save money! Save relationships!

Trying to make last minute plans for Valentine's Day? You've come to the right place!

This list is for use by men and women, but ladies, here is some free advice: if you are having to make the Valentine's Day plans, you are definitely dating the wrong guy.

RESTAURANTS

While spontaneous and impulsive work sometimes, it would be pretty odd to not start Valentine's Day evening without dinner.

Nando's Peri-Peri_____

You already read about this on my blog two weeks ago, but it bears repeating: $39 gets you a full dinner for two, and a bottle of wine.

The Parva_____

Is Latin America the most romantic part of the world? I'm going to go ahead and say, "Yes!"

For a Valentine's trip to Latin America, The Parva offers Latin fusion cuisine in a Miami-inspired setting. Chef Andy traveled all over South America before creating these recipes, and sources his ingredients fresh daily from that continent.

His special Valentine's Menu will transport you and your date to Argentina, Peru, Colombia, to name a few. Just pick one item from each category:

APPETIZERS/SALADS

Arepa de queso (a Venezuelan classic!)

Patacon Wafers

Beef Empanadas (beef empanadas are a personal favorite of mine)

Caprese Salad

Dulce Sandia

Tropical Salad

ENTREES

Lomo Saltado (the only Lomo Saltado en Bethesda!)

Risotto de Quinoa (healthy choice; quinoa is a natural super food)

Pollo con Champinones

Passion Fruit Rose (I believe this is a salmon dish, if I recall correctly)

DESSERT

Tres Leches

Mousse de Mango

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Total: $35 each w/Moet & Chandon Imperial bottle, $30 without

To top it off, Trio Caliente will perform gypsy rumba, Latin jazz, Flamenco pop, bossa nova and salsa throughout the evening.

PLAZA DEL SOL_____

This unassuming new Mexican restaurant on St. Elmo Ave. is combining cuisine Mexicana con la musica romantica de Espana: Flamenco!

Guitarist Miguelito will be joined by dancers Sarah Louisa and Ginette for three performances: 7, 8 and 9 PM on Valentine's night.

The chef at Plaza del Sol is the former executive chef from Lauriol Plaza downtown.

AMERICAN TAP ROOM_____

Dancing torches and gas lamps out front lead you past the tinkling ivories of a live piano player, and into a warm dining room complete with crackling fireplace. Welcome to Bethesda Row's American Tap Room, and here is your Valentine's Day menu:

First off - if you are absolutely sure you are with the right person, order two Love Potion #9 cocktails, made with Ciroc vodka, Cruzan mango-flavored rum, Cointreau, Wild Cherry Juice, Lemon, White Cranberry Juice, and ginseng ($15).

Course 1: Lavender citrus tea Smoked Shrimp & Blue Corn Cake

Course 2: Grilled Snake River Kobe Beef

Course 3: Frozen Stout Souffle and Porter Gingerbread

Total: $100/couple with beer or cocktail pairing with each course, $75 w/o

$55/$41 for singles

MON AMI GABI_____

If Latin America is the most romantic region, is there any city more romantic than Paris? Save on airfare and dinner with their special Valentine's Day menu:

APPETIZER

Lobster Bisque avec Lobster Pomme Puree

or

Wild & Tamed Mushroom Tartine w/poached egg and chive aioli

ENTREE

Sauteed Sea Bass avec Crab Mashed Potatoes, Champagne butter sauce

DESSERT

Blood Orange and Coconut Sorbet

or

Red Velvet Cake

Other restaurants to try: Redwood, Jaleo, Black's Bar & Kitchen, Woodmont Grill, Grapeseed, Tragara

=================== GIFTS=====================

I won't insult your intelligence by gender-labeling gifts...

"THE BUM'S RUSH"

Okay guys, you blew it. You waited til the last minute for whatever reason, and time is running out. Let me save you from disaster with a one-stop solution: The special kiosks near Nordstrom on the Lower Level at Westfield Montgomery Mall!

The Dessert Affairs kiosk has special Valentine's cupcakes packaged for you. Then move over to a handy kiosk that sells both flowers and teddy bears.

As the mall spokesperson puts it so succinctly: "Sweets + Flowers + Cuddly Teddy Bear = Happy Lady!"

And, Happy Guy, because you stay out of the doghouse - for now.

"THE ROMANCE OF CLASSIC CINEMA"

By all means, take in The Vow if you must on Valentine's Night.

But for gift purposes, buy 2 tickets to the February 24 screening of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" - exactly the way lovers would have seen it in 1927!

At this special AFI Silver Theatre event, this masterpiece will be fully-restored with 25 minutes of new footage, and presented with the accompaniment of a full, live orchestra!!

This will be an unforgettable evening for that movie buff, modernist or futurist special someone in your life. $20.

http://www.AFI.com/Silver

"MY HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK"

At Barnes & Noble Bethesda Row:

"The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie"

Obvious choice.

OR

"The Art of Captain America: First Avenger"

Incredible concept art from an incredible movie. Fantastic for fans of comics, vehicle design, things that go *boom* or the style and fashions of WWII America.

OR

Nook or Nook Color e-readers

Happy Valentine's Day from Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row!

PERI PERI

IS FOR

LOVERS

Valentine's Special at Nando's Peri Peri

All Month Long During February

Love is in the air at Bethesda Row: Nando's Peri Peri on Bethesda Avenue is offering special Valentine's Day dinner package they call "Peri Peri is for Lovers." The best part is, it is available every day in February. After all, is it possible to have too many romantic dinners?

Here's what comes with the package: One whole Nando's Chicken in Fiery Peri Peri Sauce, your choice of two large side dishes, a bottle of Cara Viva wine, and a Chocolate Spoon Cake.

Grand total for this date night: $39.99!

Starts Wednesday at Bethesda Row.