I am excited to have my beautiful and talented friend, Lauren Palmer, guest blog for me this week! Lauren is a writer, blogger and content creator in Seattle. She works with businesses and media outlets to produce engaging content that brings awareness to products, events and brands. She covers topics ranging from stories about food, drink and travel to home, fashion and lifestyle. Contact Lauren at lauren.kartic@gmail.com. Enjoy!

I’m not a parent, but from what I hear, date nights after kids are few and far between. To many couples, Valentine’s Day is often seen as a forced effort. It can also be a great excuse to hire a sitter and have a special evening with your partner. Even if it isn’t on the designed lover’s holiday, find a date to have some alone time.

Explore a New Restaurant

There’s never a shortage of new places to try in Seattle. If you’re in the mood to experience one of the newest locales in town, try one of these:

Ernest Loves Agnes. The name is inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s love for Agnes Von Kurowsky, his nurse at a hospital in Milan during WWI. This cozy Italian kitchen serves pizza, pasta and Italian wines. Their cocktail list is made up of Hemingway inspired cocktails, including Death in the Afternoon, the cocktail supposedly created by Hemingway, consisting of Absinthe and Champagne, the Mariel, named after his granddaughter and the Hemingway Daiquiri.

http://www.ernestlovesagnes.com/

http://www.opentable.com/ernest-loves-agnes

Bateau. Chef and Owner, Renee Erickson’s latest contribution to the city. The steakhouse focuses on showcasing beef with cuts from nose to tail. All beef is butchered and dry-aged in house. The menu, displayed on their chalkboard, is changed daily and served à la carte with your choice of butter, but you’ll regularly find pomme frites with aioli and bone marrow butter on the menu.

http://www.restaurantbateau.com/

http://www.opentable.com/bateau

Stateside. The much talked about restaurant opening of last year, Stateside’s menu is inspired by Chef/Owner, Eric Johnson’s time spent in France and China. Beyond the raved about Warm Mushroom Salad and Chili Cumin Pork Ribs menu items, the restaurant is beautifully designed and feels both comfortable and glamorous.

http://www.statesideseattle.com/

Urban Wine Tasting

Wine tasting in Washington used to mean traveling east of the mountains or north to Woodinville. With new tasting rooms and wineries popping up all over Seattle, wine tasting doesn’t have to be a full day (or weekend) commitment. Head to SODO for an afternoon, where you can taste at Kerloo Cellars, Structure Cellars and Scarborough Winery, all right next to each other. A two minute drive, will take you to Bartholomew Winery, located in the old Rainier building. Then, head to Pioneer Square where will you find the new Estates Wine Room tasting room, where you can taste the wines of Double Canyon from Horse Heaven Hills and Archery Summit from the Willamette Valley.

Check out a whole list of Seattle Urban Wineries here:

http://www.seattleurbanwineries.com/cms/

http://www.kerloocellars.com/

http://structurewines.com/

http://scarboroughwines.com/

http://www.estateswineroom.com/

Enjoy a Classic Seattle Dining Experience

Le Pichet. Located right next to Pike Place Market, Le Pichet is a quaint, French bistro with classic, simple fare. Opened by the former chef of Campagne, the atmosphere is authentic, the food is delicious and the wine list is great and reasonably priced. Share the signature Roast Chicken for Two. Afterwards, explore the Market and have a nightcap in Il Bistro’s intimate bar.

http://lepichetseattle.com/home/

Bizarrro Italian Café. Unassuming and unpretentious, Bizzarro is a quaint Italian café in Wallingford. The décor is made up of local artist works. Their pastas, bread and desserts are handmade. Start with the arancini. Don’t skip dessert. And since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, they will be serving their famous meatballs.

http://www.bizzarroitaliancafe.com/

Canlis. Always a classic choice, but there’s a reason Canlis has been the top special occasion restaurant in Seattle for decades. The food, wine list, service and view is impeccable. If you’re in serious need a romantic evening, it won’t disappoint.

http://canlis.com/

http://www.opentable.com/canlis

Remember: It’s Oyster Season

Oysters always say romance. And right now, it’s high season for oysters. Enjoy local oysters and a glass of bubbles at one of these Seattle establishments known for their oyster bars.

Ballard Annex. An oyster bar. A Dungeness crab and Main lobster tank. Multiple steam kettles. If you want Seafood, head to the Ballard Annex. The atmosphere is cozy and casual and the seafood is fresh and simple.

http://ballardannex.com/

http://www.opentable.com/ballard-annex-oyster-house

Walrus and the Carpenter. This Ballard oyster bar usually has a wait, but that’s just because it’s consistently a great meal. The restaurant is simple and pretty. Start with oysters, but don’t stop there. Next up, order the Brussel sprouts, Scallop crudo and steak tartare.

http://www.thewalrusbar.com/

Westward. A water-inspired restaurant, with a Mediterranean meets Northwest menu. The view is unbeatable. If you’re willing to brave it, sit on the patio’s Adirondack chairs next to the fire. The flames, a wool blanket and a cocktail should keep you warm.

http://westwardseattle.com/

http://www.opentable.com/westward

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