Dining

Courting with Calories

BY VALERIE VINYARD Let’s face it: Valentine’s Day is one of the craziest days to visit a restaurant.

Like New Year’s Eve and Mother’s Day, Valentine’s ranks as a night to avoid dining out among veteran diners. However, it is a special day, and special days should be celebrated.

So, we’re going to offer up five restaurants—no matter the day—serve up a healthy dose of romance. Even if you choose not to brave February 14, these spots always offer an aura of love. Café Poca Cosa, 110 E. Pennington Street Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays Information: 622-6400 or cafepocacosatucson.com

If you ever have read a travel story about Tucson, Café Poca Cosa is sure to be mentioned. The Mexican restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Susana Davila, the sunnily effusive and often-present owner.

Davila, a former model, has been focused on providing impeccable service and unforgettable food to the masses for decades. If you have visitors to Tucson, this is the place to take them.

Newbies who visit are enthralled by the twice-daily-changing menu of Mexican dishes, which are presented by savvy, efficient servers.

However, don’t expect tacos or combination dishes on this menu: On these menus, you won’t find popular Sonoran dishes, such as enchiladas, burritos or tacos. Instead, you’ll discover a variety of savory, complex dishes to include moles, such as the ever-popular Pollo en Mole Negro, and vegetarian-friendly sweet green corn tamales with a variety of fruit or vegetable toppings.

Each meal comes with a leafy green salad with fruit or veggies; rice and charro beans served family style; corn tortillas; and an incredible roasted salsa with chips. In other words, a feast.

The best thing to order is the Plato Poca Cosa, which is the chef’s choice of three smaller portions of the day’s entrees with all the accouterments. If more than one person orders the Plato, everyone will receive three different items. This means there’s more to share. Le Rendez-Vous, 3844 E. Fort Lowell Road, 323-7373 Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 5 p.m. to close Tuesdays through Sundays Information: rendezvoustucson.com

In a way, it’s not fair. The French always get kudos for being romantic.

But hey, when the shoe fits … Le Rendez-vous is the essence of romance. Whether it’s dining on escargot (which whether or not you like snails, anything with copious amounts of garlic and butter has to be delicious) or choosing a safer, but equally delicious meal of Chateaubriand or beef wellington, Le Rendez-Vous is an exquisite location for delectable French food.

The service is solid, the food is fantastic and the experience is memorable. Go— even if you’re single. PY Steakhouse, Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays; 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Information: 324-9350 or casinodelsol.com/dining

Casino del Sol is a prime location for people who love to gamble, watch sports, check out live entertainment and enjoy a great meal.

The greatest of the great meals at Casino del Sol is PY Steakhouse.

Executive chef and cookbook author Ryan Clark, a Culinary Institute of America graduate who has cooked at several highend restaurants, will offer a hands-on “Valentine’s Day Secrets” cooking class at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, called Valentine’s Day Secrets with Flying Aprons Tucson (call 261- 1996 to reserve a spot). The class will teach people dishes they can learn to cook with each other and eat.

If classes aren’t your thing, a visit to PY Steakhouse is still a romantic endeavor.

“It’s a special occasion dining experience,” Clark says of his steakhouse. “PY is a romanHere are some cozy restaurants to get your romance on

PY Steakhouse

tic dining room. We have an extensive wine list of hundreds of bottles, and it’s a place to make memories.”

On Valentines’ Day, there’s a four-course prix fixe menu for $99, which includes longstemmed chocolate-dipped strawberries, a rose and a glass of champagne. Reservations are a must.

Even if you don’t make the class or Valentine’s Day, PY Steakhouse is a memorable— and romantic—experience.

Plus, Casino del Sol just finished constructing another 150-room hotel on its property, so there’s no excuse not to book a room after a memorable dinner.

Café a la Cart, 150 N. Main Avenue Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays Information: 628-8533 or cafealacarttucson.com

This downtown gem is located across the way from the Tucson Museum of Art’s courtyard, and it’s a must visit—whether you enjoy art or not. Located in the 1865 Stevens House, Café a la Cart is a fast-casual restaurant for breakfast and lunch, which means you order at the counter and they drop off your food at the table, but the service is friendly and accommodating. The ginger-almond chicken salad croissant is a longtime favorite, and there are at least eight more sandwiches, two burgers and eight salads on the menu. Lemonade lovers will love the ever-changing flavor of the day.

If you decide to visit for dinner, there’s table service, and the entrees are stepped up from the usual sandwiches, soup and salads. Try the short rib with the roasted potatoes or the herb-crusted salmon with charred tomato vinaigrette and goat-cheese mashed potatoes.

For entertainment, the Little House of Funk with Connie Brannock performs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Of course, we’d be remiss not to mention the café’s award-winning desserts. A large display case in the restaurant shows the various desserts of the day, which can range from the Chocolate Bomb—chocolate ganache, chocolate mousse and chocolate cake—to the triple berry cake and other tarts and cheesecakes. For those with a tiny sweet tooth, smaller sweets include housemade cookies.

Flying V Bar and Grill, 7000 N. Resort Drive Hours: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays; 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Information: 615-5495 or loewshotels.com

Think cozy ski lodge with a roaring fireplace. Located on the grounds of Loews Ventana Canyon in Northeast Tucson, the Flying V is the resort’s flagship restaurant.

The views will not include snowy ski runs but rather stunning views of the adjoining award-winning golf course or the Santa Catalina mountains.

Impeccable service pairs with wellthought-out Southwestern fare to make this a destination restaurant. You’d be remiss not to order the tableside guacamole, where a “guacamoliere” prepares your favorite rendition of the popular appetizer.

Other Southwestern dishes dominate the menu, and a full bar—with an impressive array of tequilas—will complement anything you might order.

The best part? Book a room and you won’t need to drive home for the night.

Scottsdale Parada Del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival Feb 8 | FREE | Old Town Scottsdale Horses, Kids Area, Food, Dancing, Bands and Entertainment • Free Family Parade (Save The Date) | 10am-Noon • Trail’s End Festival | Noon - 4pm ScottsdaleParade.com

SCOTTSDALE

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Western Week Events: ScottsdaleWesternWeek.com

Feb. 1 • 2pm-3pm Maynard Dixon Art & Spirit Museum of the West Feb. 5 • 1pm - 3pm Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier Museum of the West Feb. 6 • 6:30pm to 9pm • FREE Gold Palette ArtWalk: Western Spirit Arts District Feb. 7 • 9:30am - 5pm • FREE Museum of the West Museum of the West Feb. 7 • 11am - 1pm • FREE 62nd Annual Hashknife Pony Express & Food Truck Round-Up Museum of the West/Marshall Way Feb. 7 • 6pm - 10pm Parada del Sol Rodeo Kick-Off Party Parada del Sol Museum, Brown & 2nd St

Feb. 8 • 8am - 1pm Farmers Market Old Town-Brown Avenue Feb. 8 • 9:30am - 5pm • FREE Museum of the West Museum of the West

Feb. 8 • 10am - 12pm • FREE 67th Annual Parada del Sol Parade Old Town Scottsdale

Feb. 8 • 12pm - 4pm Parada del Sol Parade Trail’s End Festival Old Town Scottsdale

Feb. 8 • 10am - 6pm Arizona Indian Festival Scottsdale Civic Center Mall - West Lawn Feb. 8 • 10am - 10pm Parada del Sol Rodeo Kick-Off Party Parada del Sol Museum, Brown & 2nd St

Feb. 8 • 6pm - 9pm Arizona Native Edible Experience Museum of the West

The Dinner Detective Interactive Murder Mystery Show SATURDAYS Take control and tackle a challenging crime while enjoying a fourcourse meal at the Dinner Detective Show. Keep a lookout for the murderer or you may  nd yourself as the prime suspect! This dinner event is rated PG-13 and geared toward adult content. Children ages 15 or older are allowed in with adult supervision. Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Avenue, 622- 3000, thedinnerdetective.com, 6 to 9 p.m., $59.95

Farmers Market at Steam Pump Ranch SATURDAYS Regional farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers will share their naturally grown veggies and fruits. Visitors will also  nd ranchfed beef, pork and farm-fresh eggs carrying on Steam Pump Ranch’s agricultural traditions. Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 882-2157, heirloomfm.org/markets/oro-valley, 8 a.m. to noon, free.

Breakfast Ride SUNDAYS AND THURSDAYS Ride horses and enjoy blueberry pancakes, ranch-style eggs, bacon and orange juice early in the morning at Tanque Verde Ranch every Sunday and Thursday. Explore the rolling hills and towering cactus as you make your way to the Old Homestead. Tanque Verde Ranch, 14301 E. Speedway, 800-234- 3833, tanqueverderanch.com, 7:45 to 10:15 a.m., $75.

Rillito Park Farmers Market SUNDAYS The Rillito Park Farmers Market invites future and current farmers, ranchers and artisan foodies to check out the locally grown food in Tucson. This tight-knit community opens up every Sundays for locals and people visiting to come see the state-of-the-art permanent farmer’s space. Rillito Park Food Pavilion, 4502 N. First Avenue, 882-2157, heirloomfm.org, 8 a.m. to noon, free.

Savor Food and Wine Festival FEBRUARY 8 It’s time to “savor” Tucson’s culinary movement. This event features more than 60 of the region’s  nest chefs, wineries, breweries, local foods and restaurants highlighting exceptional menu tastings. Tucson Botanical Garden, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, 326-9686, saaca.org, noon to 3 p.m., $79.

Valentine’s Day at PY Steakhouse FEBRUARY 14 Love is in the air and the food is hot. Get ready for a four-course menu special that includes a long-stemmed rose and a champagne toast. Menu options include choices of  let and lobster tail, tru ed lobster risotto, duo of oysters, beet salad, rigatoni pasta and chocolate desserts. PY Steakhouse, 5655 W. Valencia Road, 324-9350, casinodelsol.com/dining, 4 to 11 p.m., $99.

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Hacienda Del Sol FEBRUARY 14 TO FEBRUARY 16 This Valentine’s Day, Hacienda Del Sol will be featuring an expertly crafted grill dinner menu with a few chef-created specials sure to wow your taste buds. Enjoy the spectacular views, romantic ambiance and decadent food with your loved one by your side Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening. Pair your dinner with a glass or bottle of wine from Hacienda Del Sol’s award-winning, 800-label wine list. Hacienda Del Sol, 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol Road, 529-3500, haciendadelsol.com, 5 to 9 p.m., reservations required.

Cruise, Barbecue and Blues Festival & Car Show FEBRUARY 15 The event invites thousands of people out to rev up the weekend with live oldies music, kids’ activities and great food. The oneday event will feature live blues music on the main stage, classic barbecue on the grill, and an endless supply of everything you have come to love about fast cars and classic autos. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 602.553.2664, saaca.org, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $5, cash only.

Dinner with Chefs & Farmers FEBRUARY 18 The 2020 dinner series at PY Steakhouse features farmers from Southern Arizona partnering with Chef Ryan Clark to create menus that will include hand-picked, mindfully sourced, Arizona-grown ingredients. This month’s guest farmer/chef is Anne Loft eld of High Energy Agriculture. PY Steakhouse, 5655 W. Valencia Road, 324-9350, casinodelsol.com/dining, 6:30 p.m., $75.

National Pancake Day (IHOP) FEBRUARY 25 Who doesn’t love a warm short stack of pancakes to start o the day? On National Pancake Day at IHOP, a short stack of buttermilk pancakes will be free. Plus, guests will have a chance to win pancakes for life and help support a local charity. Various IHOP locations, ihop.com, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., free admission.

University of Arizona Wildcats Men’s Basketball vs. Southern California FEBRUARY 6 The Wildcats host the mighty Trojans of the University of Southern California in early February, in the first of the team’s two-game homestand against teams from the L.A. basin. The Trojans are coming off a 16-17 campaign in 2018-19, and feature three fearsome scorers in forwards Onyeka Okongwu, Nick Rakocevic and Isaiah Mobley, who are averaging 17.7, 12.5 and 8.6 points per game, respectively. The team’s tipoff against the Trojans is scheduled for 7 p.m. Arizona time, with ESPN2 carrying the contest live. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $26.

University of Arizona Wildcats Men’s Basketball vs. UCLA FEBRUARY 8 The Wildcats and Bruins have met 97 times on the hardwood, with the Bruins winning 55 of those contests. The rivalry has become one of the premier annual (or biannual, depending on the year) showdowns in the Pac12 Conference, given both programs’ history in the sport at large. UCLA has won three of the past five showdowns with Arizona, including a 90-69 thumping in Westwood last January. The tipoff for the team’s contest is 8 p.m. local time, with either ESPN or ESPN2 carrying the game live. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 8 p.m., tickets start at $40.

University of Arizona Women’s Basketball vs. Washington FEBRUARY 14 The Wildcats’ women’s program is ranked in the Associated Press top 25 for the first time in more than two decades, thanks to winning its first 12 contests to open the year. Adia Barnes’ team opened Pac-12 play with a 58-53 win over in-state rivals ASU on December 29, showing the team’s resolve and improvement a year after winning the Women’s Invitational Tournament over Texas Christian University. The Wildcats return home to McKale Center in mid-February to host the Washington programs, starting with a 1 p.m. tipoff against a Washington Huskies team that’s 9-3, as of January 2. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $5.

Visit Tucson Sun Cup FEBRUARY 15 TO FEBRUARY 22 Five Major League Soccer sides join United Soccer League squad Phoenix Rising in this year’s event, which serves as a de facto Spring Training for the league. The teams,

which include Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamos, FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew, will play a series of friendlies in Tucson, hosted by USL League One team FC Tucson. All games will be played at Kino Sports Complex, located at 2500 E. Ajo Way, close to Interstate 10, with times and exact dates to be announced. Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way, 724- 5466, fctucson.com/2020suncup, times TBA, tickets N/A.

University of Arizona Women’s Basketball vs. Washington State FEBRUARY 16 The Wildcats continue their home stand with a noon tip against the Cougars of Washington State, as Barnes’ team looks to solidify its positioning in March’s NCAA Tournament. Junior guard Aari McDonald has been the key cog in the team’s offense this year, leading all Wildcats, with 19.9 points per game, while averaging 5.5 rebounds as well. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, noon, tickets start at $5. Heat at 7 p.m. local time, with Friday night serving as the team’s Rodeo Night 1, 2, 3 promotion, while Saturday’s contest is youth jersey giveaway and beach night. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Ave., 791-4101, tucsonroadrunners.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $11.

University of Arizona Men’s Basketball vs. Oregon Ducks FEBRUARY 22 The Wildcats return to McKale Center to host AP top 25 team Oregon on Saturday, February 22. The Ducks won 11 of their first 13 contests to open the season, with guard Payton Pritchard leading the charge offensively, averaging a team-high 18.5 points per game to go with 6.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game this year. Fellow guards Chris Duarte (12.3 PPG), Anthony Mathis (10.8 PPG) and Will Richardson (10.3 PPG) are the Ducks’ other double-digit scorers, anchoring coach Dana Altman’s fast-paced, three-point-centric offense. The game between the Ducks and ‘Cats tips off at 8 p.m. local time, with ESPN or ESPN2 carrying the contest nationwide. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 8 p.m., tickets start at $26.

University of Arizona Men’s Basketball vs. Oregon State Beavers FEBRUARY 20 The Beavers of Oregon State are primed to reach their first NCAA Tournament since 2016, thanks to the largerthan-life exploits of forward Tres Tinkle. Tinkle, who’s the son of coach Wayne Tinkle, is averaging 20.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this year, guiding the Beavers to a 10-2 start entering conference play. The Beavers have wins over Iowa State, San Jose State and Wyoming in the nonconference portion of their schedule. The Wildcats have won their last seven matchups with the Beavers, with their last loss coming in 2015 in Corvallis. Arizona’s last defeat at home to Oregon State came in 2010, when the Beavers defeated the Wildcats, 63-55. The team’s tipoff time for their February matchup is 6 p.m. local time, with the Pac-12 Network carrying the contest live. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 6 p.m., tickets start at $26.

Tucson Roadrunners vs. Stockton Heat FEBRUARY 21 AND FEBRUARY 22 The Roadrunners are atop the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division, with 48 points to their name, as of early January. The squad, which is the highest affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, is seeking its first playoff berth since the 2017-18 season, after missing the postseason by a single point in 2019. The team has won 24 of its first 31 games, outscoring opponents, 120- 78, with forwards Lane Pederson (16 goals and 16 assists), Brayden Burke (15 goals and 14 assists) and Dakota Fasching (11 goals and 8 assists) leading the charge offensively for coach Jay Varady’s squad. The Roadrunners drop the puck on both nights against the

Tucson Roadrunners vs. San Diego Gulls FEBRUARY 26 The Roadrunners’ final home game of of February pits them with fellow Pacific Division rival San Diego, with the game starting at 7 p.m. The two teams share a blood feud that dates back to Tucson’s inception in 2016, with the season-long winner of the rivalry receiving the I-8 Cup, in commemoration of the Interstate highway that separates the two cities. Fans in attendance on February 26 can purchase hot dogs for $2, or group tickets for $12, available online at tucsonroadrunners.com. Tucson Arena, 260 S. Church Avenue, 791-4101, tucsonroadrunners.com, 7 p.m., tickets start at $13.

University of Arizona Women’s Basketball vs. Stanford FEBRUARY 28 The Cardinals at one point were the top-ranked team in the nation, with coach Tara VanDerveer, who is in her 34th season in Palo Alto, leading the team toward another deep NCAA Tournament run. Stanford has won two national titles, with their most recent crown coming in 1992. This year’s squad features a trio of double-digit scorers in Lexie Hull (14.4 PPG), Kiana Williams (11.8 PPG) and Haley Jones (10.8 PPG). The Cardinals have outscored their opponents by 20.9 points per game this year, thanks to a potent offense that’s averaging 79.2 points per game. A win over the Cardinals would provide a huge boost for the Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament hopes as the team tries to qualify for the first time since 2005 this spring. The Wildcats and Cardinals tip off at 6 p.m. local time, with the Pac-12 Network carrying the contest live. McKale Memorial Center, 1721 E. Enke Drive, 621-2211, arizonawildcats.com, 6 p.m., tickets start at $5.

14 15 10 11 12 13 SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 21 22 16 FEBRUARY 17 18 19 20

ARI 1:10 28 29 23 24 25 26 27 OAK 1:10 CLE 1:10 LAD 1:10 TEX 1:10 CIN 1:10 SEA 1:10 LAD 1:10 9

MARCH 1 2 3 4 5 LAA 1:10 SF 1:10 CHC 1:10 CLE 1:10 8 9 10 11 12 CLE 1:10 KC 1:10 CIN 1:10 CWS 1:10

6 7 KC 1:10 COL 1:10 13 14 MIL 1:10 SD 1:10

D-backs Home Game Rockies Home Game MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament 20 21 15 16 17 18 19 CHC 1:10 SF 6:40 CWS1:10 GCU6:10 OAK 6:40 LAA 1:10 SEA 6:40 22 23 24 COL 1:10 SEA 12:10

All times subject to change. All times Arizona time.

TEX 1:10

MIL 6:40