Crawl, chew in South End Feb. 3

New idea: In a last-minute kind of happenstance, the South End gallery crawl and Food Truck Friday have combined for tonight (Feb. 3). Food trucks -- including Herban Legend, Goody Woody's, Napolitano's, Roots Farm Food, The Tin Kitchen and Gourmet to Go -- will serve 5-9 p.m., at Camden and Park Avenue. The crawl runs 6-9. More info here.

Secret Charlotte menus?

Do you order a dish at your favorite area place that actually isn't on the menu? It might be a dish the place used to serve, but removed from the menu (but regulars know the kitchen is still willing and able to make it, occasionally), or it may be a special preparation or presentation of a regular dish.

I'd like to hear about it -- here, or through e-mail at hschwab@charlotteobserver.com. Restaurateurs: If you offer something only to insiders who know how to ask, or if there's an old favorite you make for a few folks and want to share, shoot me an e-mail.

In the meantime, Zagat's found a bunch of national "not-on-the-menu" dishes; they're here. Have to say, I'm most excited by the "Boozy Donuts" at the fabulously named Flex Mussels in New York... (Photo from thewhiskeydame.wordpress.com)

And in case you didn't know about In-N-Out Burger's secret menu (you can get just about anything "Animal Style" except the "Flying Dutchman"), you can get the skinny here.

Valentine's updates

Lulu plans a five-course dinner Valentine's night for $75 per person, with choices that include foie gras with chanterelle butter and braised fennel; "cowgirl" ribeye; ravioli with lobster claw; and more. The regular menu will also be available. 1911 Central Ave.; 704-376-2242

La Paz plans a three-course Valentine's meal. Among the choices: mojito-poached shrimp; roasted pork and scallop tamale; pan-seared salmon with pear and mango chimichanga; Mayan chocolate terrine; and more. 1100 Metropolitan Ave.; 704-332-6322.

Terrace Café will offer a four-course dinner - including soup, salad, entrée and Champagne with chocolate-dipped strawberries - Feb. 10, 11 and 14. $95 per couple; Piedmont Town Center, 704-554-6177; Ballantyne Village, 704-369-5190.

Valentine's specials will run Feb. 10-14 at Georges Brasserie, with special entrees, Champagne and live violin music on Valentine's Day. 4620 Piedmont Row Drive; 980-219-7409.

Harvest Moon Grille will serve a "Feel the Love" menu, with options ranging from Grateful Growers pork roulade to pappardelle with rabbit, and more. $90 per couple; 235 N. Tryon St.; 704-342-1193.

Savannah Red at the Charlotte Marriott City Center offers a meal that's part of a Valentine's package offered Feb. 11: $395 per couple (with a max of 12 couples) buys a 17-course dinner and 12 wines from Hartford Court Wines; a night's lodging; and breakfast for two. 100 W. Trade St. Info: 704-358-6571.

P.F. Chang’s has a four-course Valentine's meal for two, available now, for $39.95: two soups, one appetizer, two entrees and two mini-desserts. Phillips Place, 704-552-6644; Northlake, 704-598-1927.

Fern will do a four-course vegetarian wine dinner on Valentine's Day for $45 per person. Among the courses are fig and caramelized onion tart with housemade "bacon" (as in a vegetarian form), and mushroom, artichoke and winter onion stew. 1323 Central Ave.; 704-377-1825.

Sibling Halcyon will host a Bitter Beer Dinner Feb. 16 as an "Anti-Valentine's Day event": Five courses of meat-centric dishes, each with a beer pairing (and no dessert) for $55. Among the offerings: charred lamb heart pho with 21st Amendment IPA; mussels with vaporized beer and pimento cheese fondue, with Stone Ruination IPA; and chicken and waffles with Midnight Madness from NoDa Brewing Company, served in a firkin (essentially a quarter-barrel), tableside.

Back to Valentine's Day proper:
The Wine Shop at Foxcroft will do two seatings (6 and 8:30) for Valentine's night, and menu will be $45 per person, including a glass of sparkling wine. Among chef Justin Solomon's choices: truffled parsnip soup with lobster salad; tomato fettuccine; braised pork cheeks; and more. 704-365-6550; 7824 Fairview Road.

Bar Cocoa at the Ritz-Carlton offers its five-course, all-dessert Chocolate & Champagne Dinner 7-10 p.m. Feb. 11-14: five Champagnes with five desserts for $125 plus tax and tip. 201 E. Trade St. Reservations: 704-547-2244.

Passion8 hosts a Sweethearts Champagne Brunch Feb. 12 for $29 (entree selections include N.C. trout, lobster ravioli and more), and will open Feb. 14 for a "Love Bug Dinner Date" that includes live music. 3415 Highway 51 N, Fort Mill; 803-802-7455.

Sonny’s Valentine’s Special: all-you-can-eat babyback ribs for $13.99 Feb. 11-14 at 440 Tyvola Road; Arboretum; 7820 Lyles Lane, Concord; 328 W. Plaza Drive, Mooresville; and 2781 Cherry Road, Rock Hill.

Red Rocks Cafe at Strawberry Hill offers a $38, four-course, fixed-price dinner with choices including mini crabcakes, twin medallions of filet and more, Feb. 10-14. (You can also order the entrees a la carte for $24.95.) 4223-8 Providence Road; 704-364-0402.
The Red Rocks at Birkdale will offer an a la carte special menu, along with its regular dinner menu, Feb. 10-14. Birkdale Village; 704-892-9999.

Gallery offers a four-course fixed-price menu Feb. 10-14, with choices that include filet mignon and Georges Bank lemon sole. $65; 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; 704-248-4100.

New at Bobcats games

Bobcats home games will have some new fare, including gluten-free and more health-focused dishes, we're told. Look for veggie burgers, grilled veggie kabobs and salads; "Veg Out" and "Fruta" snack cups; grilled chicken sandwiches and Caesar wraps; and a gluten-free snack cart. Also on hand at Time Warner Cable Arena this year: "Meatball Mania" items, including traditional beef meatballs with marinara, chicken meatballs with green chile verde, and Thai pork meatballs with ginger-soy barbecue sauce.

Trattoria Antica opening

Augusto Conte's latest, Trattoria Antica, is scheduled to open Feb. 4 at 3909 Providence Road South in Waxhaw. Among the menu offerings: linguine with shellfish, lasagne alla Bolognese, gnocchi with tomato sauce and basil, Neapolitan-style pizzas, Mediterranean sea bass, lamb shanks, veal scallopine, and more. 704-243-0633.

Updated: New uptown spot

Chef Jamie Lynch will be at the kitchen helm of 5Church, slated to open in spring at the corner of Church and 5th streets (in the former Molly MacPherson's), with a New American menu. N.C. foodstuffs will figure prominently in what's being described as "an eclectic blend of multicultural flavors" and the lineup will include housemade breads, pastas and cheeses. Other press-release descriptions: The interior is a "tongue and cheek (sic) interpretation of a neo-Victorian décor”; expect lunch, dinner and weekend brunch that are "casual, yet refined."

Lynch, most recently at Barrington's in Charlotte, has worked at Le Cirque, Café Boulud and Aureole, and plans here, according to a press release, "to develop New American-style seasonal menus that reflect the purity of local products and to advocate proper techniques of food preparation in a respectful manner.”

Champagne dinner

The Wine Vault has scheduled "National Champagne Lover Come Out of the Closet Day" Feb. 12 at Aria's upstairs lounge, uptown at . $25 for tastes (with explanations) of Duval-Leroy Brut NV (that means non-vintage); Duval-Leroy Rose NV; Duval-Leroy Cuvee Paris NV; Duval-Leroy Clos des Bouveries 2004; Duval-Leroy 1995 Femme de Champagne; and Duval-Leroy 2000 Femme de Champagne. Aria will also offer three courses for $30 that evening. 100 N. Tryon St.; 704-548-9463.