Valentine's Day is the worst—especially in Portland, where a plain ol' box of chocolates, or a date night without local oysters and Oregon truffles just doesn't cut it. We've sussed out some of the most romantic gifts for food-lovers, along with the top V-Day prix fixe menus around town (including some of our favorite pop-ups). Grab a fork and pucker up.

BRING IT HOME

Olympic Provisions Salami Bouquet

What smells better than a bouquet of roses? A meat bouquet with notes of garlic, cumin, and paprika. Olympic Provisions’ carnal gift-pack features Italian, French, Spanish, Greek—and of course chocolate—salami. Available for purchase online, sold in three, six or thirteen “stems.”

Salt & Straw Chocolatier Ice Creams
Multiple Locations 

No stranger to collaboration, Salt & Straw tapped Portland’s top chocolatiers for a special February collection. Behold, Salt & Straw’s five over-the-top chocolate ice cream flavors: Sahagun’s Oregon Kiss, Xocolatl de David’s Bacon, Woodblock’s Peruvian Pisco & Chocolate, Alma’s Boozy Bon Bon and a vegan Missionary Chocolate blood orange chocolate sorbet. Order pints online or call 971-271-8168. 

T Project Fro-Yo at Eb and Bean
1425 NE Broadway

The all-natural, organic, locally-sourced fro-yo gurus at Eb and Bean are partnering with T Project to create a silky, romantic “Lady Gray” flavor infused with Assam, bergamot, lemon myrtle, orange peel, and lavender and topped with Bakeshop caramel sauce. Pick some up in-store, or call 503-281-6081 for more info.

Macarons from Nuvrei
404 NW 10th Ave

Nuvrei’s 8-piece V-Day package of Parisian macarons ($25) is dotted with white chocolate, milk chocolate, grand cru, salted caramel, raspberry, lychee rose, champagne & strawberry and orange blossom. For bonus points, bake your own confection with one of their flourless chocolate brownie mixes ($12). Call 503-972-1700 for more information.

Farm to Fit’s Valentine’s Dinner Delivery
2608 NE Sandy Blvd

Don’t want to go out for Valentine’s Day? Stay in and order four courses from Farm to Fit’s Valentine’s menu featuring Dungeness crab strudel, grilled filet mignon, salmon and chocolate salted caramel tartlet. Dinner for two is $90 plus delivery fee, or pick up at the Sandy Blvd location for free. Order online at www.farmtofit.com or call 503-688-9248.

DINE OUT

Acadia
1303 NE Fremont St

A Cajun-style supper sizzles with dishes like lobster Acadianne with smoked tomato butter sauce, foie gras and ginger cake terrine, and oysters vinaigrette. Top it off with a house-made ice cream banana split for two. Five courses for $80 per person. To make a reservation, call 503-249-5001 or book online.

Aviary
1733 NE Alberta St

Aviary’s four-course Valentine’s Day feast features Tasmanian sea trout, candied cumin hoisin-glazed Muscovy duck leg, and yuzu kosho slaw. Finish with a rich chocolate torte alongside crème fraîche cheesecake with blood oranges and matcha shortbread. $65 per person, with optional $35 wine pairing. To make a reservation, call 503-287-2400 or book online.

Beast
5425 NE 30th Ave

James Beard award-winning chef Naomi Pomeroy delivers a prix fixe Valentine’s dinner highlighted by poached sturgeon with wild mushroom and Siberian caviar alongside chestnut foie gras-stuffed quail and Périgord truffles. End with a caramel-hazelnut tarte and chocolate-covered feuilletine for dessert. $200 per person for dinner, pairings and gratuity. Book reservations via email or call 503-841-6968.  

Bollywood Theater
2039 NE Alberta St, 3010 SE Division St

The fast-casual Indian restaurant is serving up a dose Bollywood romance, offering special dishes and blood orange cocktails at both locations. Offerings include Trishna’s-style Dungeness crab, mixed vegetable uttapam flatbread with coconut chutney and sambar. For reservations, call 971-200-4711, or visit their website for more information.  

Bluehour
250 NW 13th Ave

At Bluehour’s All Valentine’s Weekend Dinner, you’ll find smoked duck breast and Quinault steelhead served alongside celery root salad with Dungeness crab and creamy haiga rice risotto. Enjoy a prix fixe dinner in the dining room, or walk-in seating and a la carte options available at the bar. $75 per person. Book your reservation online or call 503-226-3394.  

Cocotte
2930 Northeast Killingsworth St

Indulge in Cocotte’s aphrodisiac-heavy Valentine’s Day tasting menu, replete with truffled French toast, Shigoku oysters, duck breast with cherries, and petit chocolate madeleines. $70 per person with $35 wine pairing. To make a reservation for Feb 14 or 15, call 503-227-2669 or book online. 

Din Din
920 NE Glisan St

Every year, Din Din offers an edgy Valentine’s dinner; this year table settings and servers styled by artist Fredrick H. Zal match a meal with a touch of avant garde. The menu includes octopus saffron & leek terrine, rack of venison, chestnut-madeira soup, and chocolate fondant cake with currant licorice ice cream. Eight courses with wine pairings cost $100 plus gratuity, with a five-course $55 version offered the Saturday after Valentine’s. Book your reservation online or call 971 544-1350.

Either/ Or
8235 SE 13th Ave

Sellwood's maverick coffee shop is curating "An Unlikely Pair": a one-hour coffee and cheese pairing for V-Day. You'll sample four cheeses alongside carefully chosen brews, plus their signature "Negroni" mocktail with a small dessert course. Seatings at 5, 6, and 7pm. $40 per couple. Email [email protected] for reservations. 

Little Bird
215 SW 6th Ave

Little Bird’s Bistro unloads three and five-course menus for the big day. The set chef’s menu includes foie gras torchon, gnocchi Parisienne, cassoulet, aged Gouda with pretzel fondue and ends on a sweet note with a plate of cinnamon muscovado bread pudding. $55 for three plates; or $95 for five. Visit www.littlebirdbistro.com or call 503-688-5952 for reservations.  

Oso Market + Bar
726 SE Grand Ave

On V-Day, Oso partners with Ransom Winery & Spirits for a night of intimate cuisine. Expect Kumamoto oysters on the half shell, peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin with wild mushroom reduction, and coconut crème bruleé. $89 per person, for reservations call 503-232-6400 or book online.

Remedy
733 NW Everett St

The sleek northwest wine bar is going all out on the 14^th, with dungeness crab salad, wine-braised pork shoulder, and dark chocolate budino with smoked sea salt and cocoa wafers. Plus, you'll find the wine bar's always-impressive selection of pairings by the glass and by the bottle. Call 503-222-1449 or reserve online.

Simpatica
828 SE Ash St

Dine at Simpatica’s communal tables and enjoy supper served for two with dishes like steelhead tartar, rabbit rillettes, crab salad with citrus, and glazed cipollinis. Don’t forget dessert: a dark chocolate graham delice with hazelnuts and marshmallow. $59 per person including wine and gratuity. Book your reservation via simpaticapdx.com or call 503 235-1600.

POP-UP

Morgan St. Theater
5027 NE 42nd Ave

Food, wine, y Flamenco come to Morgan St. Theatre. This Valentine’s event, “An Evening in Spain,” combines Spanish flavors with Seattle’s Cuerdas y Clavus flamenco for a night of dessert, dance and song. The evening’s menu includes Spanish-inspired ice cream sundaes flavored by Burgos sheep’s milk ice cream, harissa ice cream with carrot dust, and an olive oil ice cream “Spain-wich.” February 15, 8:30-10:00pm. $50 for dessert and drink pairings from Portland Wine Shop. Book tickets online here.

Date Night In Dinner at Clyde Common
403 SW 10th Avenue

Ashley Rodriguez, creator of the award-winning blog Not Without Salt, and her husband Gabe Rodriguez, will host a romantic dinner at The Cleaners at Ace Hotel. Chef Carlo Lamagna of Clyde Common will create a four-course, prix fixe dinner with wine pairings, drawing inspiration from Rodriguez’s new cookbook (Date Night In, $27.50; 287 pages) for the menu. For those who prefer to stay in and avoid the masses on V-day, Date Night In is filled with recipes and stories to fall in love with over homemade food. $95 with drinks and gratuity. Book tickets online here. —Brooke Bass

Farmer’s Feast at Tabor Bread
5051 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Farmer’s Market gem Kathryn LaSusa Yeomans dives into Mexican flavors for Valentine’s Day, using wild and cultivated mushrooms to complement handmade tamales, tlacoyos, queso fundido, and sultry mole Coloradito. Add farmhouse-style seating, live music and sparkling cava cocktails for una noche romantica. $55 per person. Book reservations via email or call 503-734-4329.

GET OUT OF TOWN

4^th Annual Valentine’s Day Wine Country Loop

Want to get out of town and enjoy V-Day all weekend? The annual Valentine’s Day Wine Loop offers tastings and pairings at five Willamette Valley wineries including: Alloro Vineyards (22075 SW Lebeau Road, Sherwood), Ardiri Winery & Vineyards (35040 SW Unger Road, Cornelius), Cooper Mountain Vineyards (20121 SW Leonardo Lane, Beaverton), Ponzi Vineyards (19500 SW Mountain Home Road, Sherwood) and Raptor Ridge Winery (18700 SW Hillsboro Hwy., Newberg). Each winery offers its own drink-friendly bites, from local cheese spreads to chocolate tastings to full-on wood-fired pizza dinners. Collect stamps from 3 of the 5 participating wineries for a chance to win a ‘Wine Lovers Package,’ including items from each winery.