New place, new chef

Bluprint, slated to open later this month at 227 W. Trade St. uptown, calls itself "the Bluprint of how a restaurant should be ran [sic]" and promises "Breakfast in California, Lunch in Charlotte, Dinner in New York." The idea from co-owners (and all younger than 30) chef Barry Francois, George Sheppard, Justin Moore and Marcus Thompson: different decorative themes in different sections of the restaurant. Among signature dishes: sweet potato crepes and chicken and waffles for breakfast.

Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse has a new chef: Andres Arboleda, most recently executive chef at the SouthPark location of McCormick & Schmick’s. Before coming to Charlotte, he was chef de cuisine for The Grill Room at the Riverside Hotel in Florida. Look for a new menu by mid-March. 215 S. Main St. in Davidson; 704-237-3246.

Updated: Valentine meals and deals

Georges Brasserie will do its regular menu, plus a special menu including filet mignon and oysters, Feb. 11-14. Violinist Christine Robinson will play on Valentine's evening. 4620 Piedmont Row Drive; 980-219-7409.

TOMI doesn't usually open on Mondays, but will be for Valentine's Day from 5-9 p.m., with its regular menu plus a special one: three courses for $25, with soup, Taiwanese-style lobster tail with ginger sauce and lemon cream cake. 7741 Colony Road; 704-759-1288.

Terrace Cafe will be open for dinner Feb. 14, with a special three-course meal for $60 per couple. On that menu, choices include blue crab bisque, fennel-pollen-dusted red grouper, farfalle pasta with shrimp and more. The menu will also be offered for dinner Feb. 12, along with the regular dinner menu. Piedmont Town Center; 704-554-6177.

Both locations of Cosmos Cafe will offer a four-course dinner for $35 per person Feb. 11-14, with entree choices ranging from a petite filet mignon to roasted duck. Reservations requested; 8420 Rea Road, 704-544-5268; 300 N. College St., 704-372-3553.

Global's Valentine deal is as follows: First seating is at 6 p.m. and second at 8:30 for a five-course meal costing $65 ($95 if you get wine pairings). Among the courses are duck confit and braised wild boar. 3520 Toringdon Way; 704-248-0866.

New South Kitchen will have a special menu for two Feb. 11-14, with dishes such as crispy shrimp cocktail, surf and turf, salmon and crab strudel and more. Each person chooses a first course and dessert, and couples share an entree platter; prices range from $70-$80 for two. Also available all the time at New South is what it calls the RSVP Menu: three courses, plus a glass of wine, for $25. 8140 Providence Road; 704-541-9990.

D'Vine Wine Cafe offers four courses for $40 per person Feb. 11, 12 and 14. Among the choices: ricotta gnudi (dumplings) with wild mushroom ragout and truffle cream; pomegranate braised lamb or beef; Champagne and saffron poached lobster tails and more. Reservations required: 14815 John J. Delaney Drive; 704-369-5050.

For Valentine's Day, Foskoskies will serve its regular dinner menu along with several specials, ranging from lobster-scallop cannelloni to Chateaubriand (here, that means two filet medallions, one topped with goat cheese bernaise sauce and the other with sauce Bordelaise) plus chocolate fondue for two. 2121 Shamrock Drive; 704-35-2220.

Vida plans a $35 three-course Valentine menu offered Feb. 11-14, with choices including coconut shrimp ceviche, grilled filet Oscar, ahi tuna tacos and more. 210 E. Trade St.; 704-971-8432.

All of the Stratos Restaurant Group places -- ilios noche (704-814-9882), Big View Diner (704-544-0313) and Nolen Kitchen (704-372-1424) -- will offer four-course fixed-price menus through Valentine's weekend, along with their regular menus.

300 East offers a three-course menu for $45 per person Feb. 11-13, with choices that include roasted winter root vegetable salad, grilled lamb satay, bistro steak with pink peppercorn cognac sauce, wild mushroom and lentil pot pie and more. Reservations: Haley at 980-230-3403; 300 East Blvd.

Kabuto at Lake Norman will offer Sweetheart Specials of hibachi combination of chicken, shrimp and steak, plus dessert, for $59.95 per couple ($29.99 per person) Feb. 11-14. Reservations required; 16516 Northcross Drive in Huntersville; 704-655-0077.

The Mint Hill Hawthorne's Pizza offers a couples menu for $50 (including a bottle of house wine and a dessert to share): choices range from shrimp bruschetta to steak Gorgonzola alfredo. 7319 Matthews-Mint Hill Road; 704-545-8089.

Mimosa Grill hosts brunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 13, with family-style service and a menu that ranges from walnut-crusted French toast with banana chutney to bistro steak with aged cheddar scrambled eggs. $22; 327 S. Tryon St.; 704-343-0700.

Blue plans a whole week of celebrating for Valentine's, beginning with "Mi Amore Wine & Food Pairing" Feb. 9 for $39.99; a chocolate and Champagne tasting Feb. 10 for $25; Lobster Lover's Delight three-course dinner Feb. 13 for $34.95, and specials for the weekend. These include a three-course dinner for $34.95 with seating at 5-6 p.m. Feb. 11, 12 or 14. Reservations are requested; Hearst Tower at the corner of 5th and College streets; 704-927-2583.

Gallery will do a four-course special menu from Feb. 11 through Feb. 19, with choices that include shrimp and grits, New York strip and chocolate strawberry torte, for $45. Also coming up: a Pommery Champagne tasting Feb. 12 for $50 per couple, $30 per individual; 1000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; 704-248-4100.

Both locations of Red Rocks Cafe will offer a four-course meal for $36 for Valentine's weekend, with choices that include crab cakes, she crab soup, chicken Oscar, filet mignon and halibut. Entrees can be ordered a la carte for $23.95. Birkdale Village, 704-892-9999; Strawberry Hill, 704-364-0402.

Lava Bistro plans a special menu for the weekend - Feb. 11-14 - with choices that range from seafood trifle to grilled sirloin to peanut butter pie. $35, including one glass of house red or white; 8708 J.W. Clay Blvd., 704-549-0050.

Andrew Blair’s, not usually open Monday nights, will do so for Valentine's, serving a menu that will also be offered Feb. 11 and 12. Among the choices: fried oyster po boy, filet with bacon, monkfish in sun-dried tomato cream, ginger-infused crème brulee and more. $59.99 per couple, including one glass of Champagne per person; 1600 Montford Drive, 704-525-8282.

Deals and tastes

When Dilworth's Sole closed, its owners moved some of its most popular items onto the menu at the nearby Zen, which they also own. Now Zen will host an event that Sole did for nine years: an annual wine and tapas tasting. Feb. 20 is the date, from 6-8:30 p.m., for $45 per person. 1716 Kenilworth Ave.; 704-358-9688.

Lulu now offers a fixed-price menu Sunday-Thursday (not on Valentine's Day, though) of three courses for $19.11. Also on special: Get $30-or-less bottles of wine for half-price each Tuesday. 1911 Central Ave.; 704-376-2242.

Panera’s new calorie-conscious menu additions include Thai chopped chicken salad, low-fat wild berry smoothie, and low-fat chicken noodle soup, and new winter treats include the Valentine Cookie, Valentine Petites, Irish Soda Bread and Strawberry Hot Cross Buns. Multiple locations.

Do good, dine out...

IHOP has a national online contest called “Stacks for Good Acts”: Submit a 250-or-fewer-word story about a good deed you or someone you know did in 2010 and submit it at www.IHOPPancakeDay.com before Feb. 26. One winner will get free pancakes for a year (defined as "one free short stack of buttermilk pancakes per day for 365 days"). The winner will be announced March 1, National Pancake Day, which is IHOP's annual fundraiser benefitting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. That day, guests get a free short stack from 7 a.m.-10 p.m., and are asked to donate to the fund.

The Jason’s Deli at the corner of Woodlawn and Park roads is donating 10 percent of receipts to the 2011 Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk. Dine there on Feb. 10 and/or March 10 to contribute.

Fans of 300 East/White Horse!

300 East turns 25 this year – well, to be technical, it’s a combined sort of anniversary with the former White Horse as well – and Catherine Coulter is looking to get in touch with old friends, regulars and employees. She’s got a Facebook page (look for “Friends of The White Horse and 300 East's 25th Anniversary”), on which folks have posted everything from thanking the business for their marriage to anecdotes that involve ice machines and underwear parties – not together, thank God. Not on Facebook? You can contact her at cat300east@gmail.com or 704-201-8884.
Meanwhile, the Dilworth restaurant, whose actual anniversary is Feb. 14, plans to offer old favorite menu items from 1986 as specials Feb. 16-20 (it will be closed the evening of Feb. 15) and will have special pricing on the Matilda Wong, the house cocktail.

Bits, crumbs, and new beer

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery started its newest seasonal promotion this week highlighting CPA, described as a West Coast style IPA brewed using three hop varieties: "Pronounced citrus hop flavor and aroma dominate while Munich and Amber malt provide body and subtle sweetness." To go with it are menu items ranging from pepperoni pizza rolls and fish taquitos to coconut shrimp and Greek flatbread. Diners can enter to win a trip for two to Denver for the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in September, and the menu runs through March 6. 401 N. Tryon St.; 704-334-2739.

Sante in Matthews will extend its Restaurant Week deal through Feb. 5. 165 N. Trade St., Matthews; 704-845-1899.

The Palm's bar offers a $4.50 menu 5-7 p.m. and 9 p.m.-closing weekdays. Among the choices are Prime steakburger sliders, a charcuterie plate and crispy blue corn fried oysters. 6705-B Phillips Place Court; 704-552-7256.

Barbecue: Michelle, Michelle

“Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an 'up by the bootstraps' mentality ... And of course, great barbecue,” said the First Lady in announcing the Democratic National Convention's coming to town.

Some will quickly scoff, particularly the Lexington and Shelby and Greensboro contingents, whose members believe there's no 'cue in Charlotte worth entertaining.

But I'd say there's some relatively good stuff, and certainly good enough to educate folks who still labor under the misconception that barbecue can ever be anything other than pork. Spoon's, Bubba's, Mac's, Old Hickory House. Maybe the Rockstore if you're not making "Charlotte" strictly Charlotte.

Go ahead: Weigh in. Must the delegates rent cars immediately, or can they get a fix in Charlotte that wouldn't embarrass the Carolina barbecue brand? And, from a 30,000-feet perspective, does her mentioning this immediately bode well or ill for the nation's view of our city's cuisine?