February 10, 2010 - Awesome. Organic. And All About Love

GGN's Coast-to-Coast Guide on Where to Dine on Valentine's Day.

Share elegant entrees and decadent desserts this Valentine's Day with your sweetheart at our favorite restaurants from coast-to-coast.  Their menus are fresh, organic and most importantly, all about love. Your city not on this list?  Check out our green guides via the link here for more cities and restaurants.

Atlanta - L'Thai Organic Cuisine and Wine Bar

Looking for something a little more exotic? L'Thai is an award-winning restaurant serving authentic Thai food made only from fresh organic ingredients. Their five-course Valentine's Day dinner ($40/person) is a traditional thai meal, featuring spinach and basil rolls, tuna nam-tok and grilled chicken wraps for an appetizer, followed by vegetarian wonton soup or tom kah chicken soup.  A papaya salad is followed by a variety of appetizers, including fried lobster, filet mignon or sea bass.  Dessert is "T.L.C", a mixture of sweet coconut rice, diced tarot, longan fruit, lotus seeds and coconut meat. Reservations are recommended. http://www.lethai.com/

Austin - Aquarelle

Aquarelle offers authentic French cuisine in a romantic home in the heart of Austin.  This elegant restaurant uses local ingredients to create fresh, inspired cuisine.  The decadent Valentine's Day menu ($100), accompanied by Taittinger champagne, starts with a variety of appetizers including an oyster trio and roasted tomato soup.  The five-course meal continues with seafood options including Maine lobster poached in butter and tuna carpaccio. The next course offers choices of a pan-seared beef tenderloain, roasted chicken accompanied by truffle scented cauliflower puree and brown white wine jus, loin of venison and duck breast.  A fromage plate is followed by decadent dessert choices of chocolate cake, banana chocolate mousse parfait, passion fruit custard or a poached pear with chocolate ganache and butterscotch cream.  Reservations are recommended. www.aquarellerestaurant.com

Boston - Lumiere Restaurant

Bostonian couples willing to make the trek to Newton this Valentine's Day to eat at Lumiere Restaurant will not be disappointed.  This green certified restaurant buys fresh ingredients local farms and seafood purveyors to create sophisticated dishes that are organic and sustainable.  Chef Michael Leviton created a romantic Valentine's Day dinner ($70/person) featuring wild Maryland striped bass, Long Island duck breast, veal carpaccio and seared sea scallops. Diners will have their choice of champagne sorbet, valrhona manjari chocolate cake or muscate poached apricot tart for dessert - a simply divine Valentine's Day offering. Reservations are recommended. www.lumiererestaurant.com

Chicago - Cousin's Incredible Vitality

Cousin's IV restaurant specializes in vegan raw foods and detoxes. This Valentine's Day menu ($40/person) features tom yum soup, chrimsom rawvioli, sprout sensation and crunchy passion. These dishes are followed by heavenly touch, a drink with sage, lemon and ginger, and orange chocolate spice for dessert.  Reservations are recommended. www.cousinsiv.com

Denver - 1515 Restaurant

Denver couples are in for quite a treat this Valentine's Day at 1515 Restaurant. This elegant restaurant offers contemporary American cuisine made from organic ingredients grown in its rooftop greenhouse and garden, fresh local meats and fresh seafood.  1515 Restaurants is Denver's only Sous Vide Certified restaurant, a technique that helps preserve flavor and moisture in fresh ingredients. Chef Chuck James has created a romantic five course Valentine's Day menu ($55/person) featuring dishes like unagi, smoked lobster ravioli, ahi tuna and beef short ribs. Desserts are warm chocolate soup or a red velvet cupcake. Reservations are recommended. www.1515restaurant.com

Houston - Cullen's American Grille

Citysearch 2009 honored Cullen's American Grille with Best Houston Steak, Best Houston Fine Dining, and Best Houston Romantic Dining, making it the perfect spot to take a loved one on Valentine's Day.  This premier restaurant features locally grown fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood and dry-aged meats to create dishes with bold flavor and elegant presentation. Executive Chef Paul Lewis created a romantic Valentine's Day Pre-Fixe menu ($50/person) that begins with oysters on the half shell or buttered asparagus salad, followed by licorice-smoked salmon or chocolate and espresso rubbed beef filet and foie gras.  Dessert options are a raspberry caramel dome or white chocolate mouse. Reservations are recommended. www.cullensgrille.com

Orange County - 118 degrees

In the heart of Orange County's anti-mall, The Camp at Costa Mesa, 118 degrees serves fresh, organic cuisine that is sure to delight your palate. In addition to entree salads, 118 degrees also offers tapas style salads served on a flat platter and can be shared by everyone at your table. The dinner menu features items such as a mushroom taco plate, macadamia coconut curry wraps, and florentine lasagna. Guests can choose the Chef's Special, a five-course meal consisting of an appetizer, salad, two entrees, and dessert served with organic wine or a house drink. www.shop118degrees.com

Las Vegas - Garfield's Restaurant

For couples spending Valentine's Day weekend in Sin City, Garfield's Restaurant in the beautiful community of Summerlin is the place to be. Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet and his staff continually try to make the dining experience more sustainable by buying locally and organically grown products. The Valentine's Day prix fixe menu ($65/person) includes a complimentary rose to begin the evening. Guests can choose from a tasty selection of main courses-grilled organic Scottish salmon, glazed black cod, pan seared peppercorn filet mignon, crispy seven hours leg of lamb, braised short ribs and organic rotisserie chicken-followed by a special Valentine's Day dessert. Reservations recommended. www.garfieldslasvegas.com 


Los Angeles - Lucques

Lucques' Chef Suzanne Goin, whose two years at Berkeley's Chez Panisse influenced her to use organic ingredients purchased locally, has made a special Valentine's Day menu ($110/person) for native Angelenos and visiting couples alike. The Maine lobster salad is served with green goddess dressing, followed by potato gnocchi with wild mushrooms, asparagus, English peas, and pecorino. For the main course, guests can choose either grilled wild striped bass or herb-roasted rack of lamb. The meal concludes with vacherin glace with hazelnut praline, vanilla ice cream and crushed coffee beans for dessert, as well as house-made chocolate and confections. Wine pairing is supplemental. Reservations recommended. www.lucques.com

Los Angeles - Inn of the Seventh Ray

Tucked away in the Santa Monica Mountains is what may be L.A.'s most romantic restaurant. The Inn of the Seventh Ray is known not just for its varied history, but also for its sustainable practices such as using organically grown foods and grains, natural meats and only the freshest fish. Some of the Valentine's Day menu items thoughtfully cater to vegans. For couples looking to share, the Lovers Plate For Two offers the Be My Seafood Plate Medley and the I'll Be Your Vegetable Plate Medley. $100/person for the traditional menu, $90 for the vegetarian menu. Reservations recommended. www.innoftheseventhray.com

San Francisco - Roots Restaurant

Located within the Orchard Garden Hotel, the chef creates menus daily based on what's available seasonally, locally, and can be obtained sustainably. For $45/person ($70/person with wine pairings), couples can head to the Roots Restaurant on Valentine's Day and enjoy main course dishes like seared duck breast, Duxelle mac & cheese, or cioppino with Dungeness crab, P.E.I. mussels and Gulf shrimp bisque. Reservations recommended. www.therootsrestaurant.com

San Diego - Solare Ristorante

Located near the ocean in the laidback San Diego community of Point Loma, Solare Ristorante offers the perfect ambiance for a full dinner experience. Solare's menu features a blend of Mediterranean culture and cuisine with Asian materials. Appetizers range from calamari and roasted Italian olives to meat plates and fresh mozzarella with prosciutto. Pastas and pizzas abound on the menu, and so do Solare classics such as beef carpaccio, black truffle risotto, and shrimp fettucine. For a romantic dinner, couples can enjoy their meal in the glass wine room or on the patio featuring views of the historic architecture of the old Naval Base. www.solarelounge.com

New York - Candle Cafe

Candle Café, the first Certified Green Restaurant in New York City, aims to improve the health of the individual by serving food "fresh from farm to table." The organic vegan cuisine reflects itself in the Valentine's Day menu ($52/person). Some of the delicious entrees include porcini crusted tofu, chili-lime grilled seitan, and macadamia crusted tempeh. The chocolate peanut butter pie is just one of four mouth-watering dessert options. Reservations recommended. www.candlecafe.com 


Reno - Blue Water Bistro

If you are in Lake Tahoe for a romantic Valentine's Day weekend, there is no better place to celebrate with your sweetheart than the over-the-lake dining at the Blue Water Bistro on Timber Cove Marina's Boardwalk Pier. The restaurant offering Lake Tahoe's largest organic wine selection is also featuring an excellent Valentine's Day menu ($49.95/person). The first course aims to start the evening off romantically with fresh roses and champagne, followed by scallop ceviche. After a choice of soup or salad, guests can select one of the enticing main courses-filet mignon medallions, black sesame seed encrusted ono, lobster and crab fettucine, black angus New York strip steak, broiled salmon, or philo dough stuffed mushroom triangle. Reservations recommended. www.bluewaterbistrotahoe.com/

Seattle - Stumbling Goat Bistro

This restaurant in Seattle that was originally supposed to be named the Drunken Boat supports local farmers and purveyors that are committed to sustainable organic practices. The Valentine's Day menu ($50/person) offers several choices for each of the three courses. Appetizer selections consist of arugula and cornice pear salad, sunchoke soup, seafood crudo trio, and Dungeness crab bisque. The main course features items such as rack of lamb, winter truffle risotto, roasted guinea fowl, or pan seared wild steelhead salmon. To finish, couples can choose from orange and cardamon infused coffee, chocolate and brandy cream, gianguja and milk chocolate mousse, or lemongrass infused mascarpone. Reservations recommended. www.stumblinggoatbistro.com

Washington DC - Nora's

With a healthy following of environmentalists and politicians, Nora's is the first certified organic restaurant in the United States.  Chef Nora Pouillon has created an elegant Valentine's Day feast ($115/person).  The first coarse is a choice of Maine lobster bisque, roasted beets and pan-seared Maine Day Boast scallops served with caviar.  The next course offers Maine crab salad, a red pepper and black trumpet tart and Amish house-cured duck pastrami.   Diners will have their choice of pan seared Maine lobster, truffled macaroni and cheese soufflé, Amish veal loin roast, filet mignon or Alaskan black cod with a sake glaze.   And, after my own heart, the menu offers five dessert options, ranging from simple fruit sorbets to a molten bittersweet chocolate cake with cappuccino ice cream. Reservations are recommended. www.noras.com

Danielli Marfori is a Contributing Writer for the Green Guide Network. She can be reached at danielli.marfori@gmail.com.

Danielle Stowe is a Contributing Writer for the Green Guide Network. She can be reached at daniellestowe@gmail.com.

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