Lisa Higginson
Food and romance are the perfect partnership. They go blissfully together like sunshine and seasides, Sunday mornings and sleep-ins, spritzers and sundown. Weâve all heard about oystersâ ability to âlight your fireâ, or at least get it smouldering, and did you know that a sniff of an almond is said to spark all sorts of desires in a woman? Even aniseed has special sexual powers, according to the Greeks. Aphrodisiacs aside, there is still something about the pleasure of food, sharing it, shopping for it, even spreading it places in a state of undress (ahem). It has a natural power of bringing people together and letâs face it, those âold wivesâ knew what they were talking about when they told us that â the way to a manâs heart is through his stomachâ?.
So with Valentineâs Day almost upon us, why not swap the cute cuddly bear for a three-course meal and celebrate the food of love with your partner, friend or family. Many of Manchesterâs restaurants are getting in the romantic mood by offering special menus and purse-friendly dining deals to ensure you have a special weekend. The City Innâs stylish eatery City Cafe (www.cityinn.com) is offering a three-course a la carte menu for just £31.95 from Friday to Sunday, and the price also includes a special gift for your loved one.
Meanwhile, West Didsbury favourite Rhubarb (www.rhubarbrestaurant.co.uk) is offering a Valentineâs Day Champagne Brunch for £14.95 (from 10am-12noon), when you can choose from a selection of morning treats such as a full English breakfast, banana pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup or a Fontina cheese, sun blush tomato, potato and fresh herb omelette. The restaurant is also offering a three-course lunch for £19.95 (12.30pm-3.30pm) and a Valentineâs dinner from 4pm, which features choices of oysters as well as dry-aged fillet steak, pan fried sea bass and an indulgent chocolate plate on the menu. The three-course dinner costs £29 for early diners before 5.45pm and £39 after 6pm.
The seductive surroundings of Opus One and Alto Bar and Restaurant at the Radisson Edwardian(www.radissonedwardian.com) lend themselves to a Valentineâs Day treat and head chef Russ Brown has come up with a special four-course menu, which will be served over the weekend in both eateries.
Walrus (www.walrusmanchester.com) , in the Northern Quarter is also offering a six-course Asian-inspired meal with matching wines for £35 on Sunday, created by ex Nobu chef Paul Day, while a few streets away Malaysian favourite Ning (www.ningcatering.com) is offering a gourmet Valentineâs Day banquet for £27.50.
Those who fancy a cosy night in can enjoy an Italian feast courtesy of Gusto in Didsbury. The eatery is offering any 12â? pizza and a pasta dish and a tub of Haagen Dazs ice cream for £19.95; and for an extra £20 you can wash it down with a bottle of rose prosecco. Order at www.athomewithgusto.com from Friday to Sunday.
If you fancy wooing your Valentine with your culinary skills then take a trip to Evans of Didsbury (www.evansofdidsbury.co.uk) and pick up half a dozen fresh oysters or some plump scallops to serve alongside slivers of crispy pancetta and a light pea puree. A few doors down is the Cheese Hamlet (www.cheesehamlet.com) where you will find an array of European cheeses, including a deliciously indulgent Pecorino Dolce, and a selection of wines to accompany them. Fillet steak is a traditional Valentineâs dish and you can get your hands on the finest limousin beef at award-winning butchers Howarthâs of Flixton (www.pjhowarthbutcher.com).