Also this issue:

Par For The Course
The Wooden Iron is like a country club without the greens (unless you count the salad).
-Maxine Keyser

February 6-12, 2003

food

offthemenu

by Frank Lewis

V-Day Invasion

Yes, Valentine's Day is completely out of control, the first and still most shocking example of the greeting card cartel's growing worldwide influence. And you know what? You're still going to have to buy him/her something. Here are some dinner options. (Paying for dinner, by the way, does not necessarily relieve one of gift-related obligations.)

Avenue B, 260 S. Broad St.: Four-course tasting menu, including seared day boat scallops and handmade ravioli, $55 per person, 215-790-0705.

Chez Colette at the Sofitel, 120 S. 17th St.: Oysters (wink wink), an entree such as ahi tuna carpaccio or roasted rack of lamb, a glass of champagne and Lenotre chocolates for $65 per person, 215-569-8300.

Joseph Poon Asian Fusion Restaurant, 1002 Arch St.: A five-course "Beauty and the Beast" menu featuring venison (beauty), lobster (beast) and Asian fusion rice, $38.80 per person, 215-928-9333.

McCormick & Schmick’s, 1 S. Broad St.: Special dishes changing weekly throughout February, a la carte or prix fixe ($19.95), 215-568-6888.

Striped Bass, 1500 Walnut St.: "His and her" tasting menu, including black sea bass ceviche and seared bigeye tuna, $75 per person, 215-732-4444.

After V-Day

Author and chef Anna Tasca Lanza will host a five-course Sicilian wine dinner at Fork (306 Market St., www.forkrestaurant.com) on Feb. 19 and 20, with seatings at 5 and 8:30 p.m. each night. The cost is $65 per person; call 215-625-9425 for details.

Cuba Libre (10 S. Second St., www.cubalibrerestaurant.com) is helping The Philadelphia School cover the cost of sending 32 students to Cuba for nine days in March. The restaurant will host a "Kids to Cuba Brunch" -- featuring a three-course meal and tropical juice demonstrations -- on Feb. 9, and more than half of the $45-per-person admission will go to the kids' trip. Call 215-627-0666 for reservations.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (137 E. Main St., Newark, Del., www.ironhillbrewery.com) will host "Brewers' Reserve Night," featuring special brews from the chain's other locations, on Feb. 21. On tap will be Russian Imperial Stout, Bourbon Porter (Iron Hill's Pig Iron Porter, aged in bourbon barrels) and Abbey Dubbel. Free pint glasses for the first 50 guests. Call 302-266-9000 for details.

As if restaurants like Joe’s Peking Duck House and Lee How Fook weren't enough, there's another reason to visit Chinatown this month -- lion dances, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. The dances will be performed every Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for "a couple of weeks" after new year's day (Feb. 1), according to www.phillychinatown.com.