Enjoy dining and dancing at the Valentine’s Ball at Doña Emilia’s Bar & Grill (101 San Jacinto, 478-2520), where they’ll offer a special dinner menu and dancing in the upstairs Atrium Lounge to the music of Latin blues rockers Los Gallos. Reservations suggested; Saturday, Feb. 10, 8pm.
Spicewood Vineyards (830/693-5328; www.spicewoodvineyards.com) invite you to their annual Valentine’s Dessert Extravaganza during the two-weekend Wine Lover’s Trail, where $10 gets you samples of six of their estate-bottled wines paired with festive holiday desserts prepared by yours truly; Saturdays, 10am-5pm; Sundays, noon-5pm, Feb. 10-11, 17-18.
Chef and Chronicle contributor Mick Vann will present A Bonehead’s Guide to the Seductive Valentine’s Dinner at It’s About Thyme Garden Center (11726 Manchaca, 280-1192); $15, reservations suggested; Sunday, Feb. 11, 2pm.
Celebrate the grand opening of the first Batter-Up Kids Culinary Center (1715 W. 35th, 407-9961, www.batterupkids.com) this weekend with face-painting, giveaways, and lots of kids cooking. Meet founder Barbara Beery and local franchise owner Cecily Rodman; Sunday, Feb. 11, 2-5pm.
The Austin Slow Food Convivium invites members and interested friends to a Slow Food Sunday potluck dinner at Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons, 926-4650). Carol Ann Sayle and Larry Butler will discuss their fall trip to the International Slow Food Terra Madre meeting in Turin, Italy. Bring a covered “slow food” dish to the lunch, or come later for the program; Sunday, Feb. 11: lunch, 2pm, program, 3:30pm.
Experience the delights of pairing beer and chocolate at A Bittersweet Evening: Beer and Chocolate Class at North by Northwest Restaurant & Brewery (10010 Capital of TX Hwy., 467-6969). The class exploring the pairings of craft-brewed beers with decadent chocolates and desserts is taught by Mary Thompson; $35, reservations suggested; Monday, Feb. 12, 7pm.
Here’s the solution to your Valentine’s dinner and a movie dilemma. The Alamo Drafthouse Village offers the quirky romance Harold and Maude with a five-course menu of fine aged foods paired with wines and younger items. At the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, treat your beloved to a sumptuous five-course Chinese feast and the foodie porn of Ang Lee’s lovely Eat, Drink, Man, Woman; $60 per person for Harold and Maude/$75 per person for Eat, Drink, Man, Woman; reservations necessary at www.originalalamo.com; Wednesday, Feb. 14, 7 and 9:45pm.
This article appears in February 9 • 2007.