Turn Up The Heat With Cheese, Bread & Wine

Sitting at Bar Pastoral’s cheese counter is pretty sexy.

There are dozens of special Valentine’s Day dinners going on next week, but for my money, I’m just as happy sipping a sparkling rosé while noshing on a runny Brillat-savarin or a salty manchego (with quince paste and Marcona almonds of course). While most places put on the dog-and-pony show for the 14th, offering a prixe-fixe with oysters, passionfruit and chocolate-dipped strawberries (nothing says ‘I really care about you’ like an all-white Driscoll’s strawberry from Jewel dipped into Dairy Queen-like hardshell chocolate from a bag), the folks at Bar Pastoral and big brother Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine are running romance-related events all week long (and frankly, you don’t need a partner to enjoy all of these) .

Tomorrow, February 8th, they’re holding a Bubbles, Cheese & Chocolate class from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at their Loop location, 53 E. Lake St. They’ll feature some of their favorite cheeses with small batch confections and bubbly. Tickets are $50 and you can get them at pastoralartisan.com.

On Tuesday, the 11th, it’s An Evening of Cheese, Bubbles & Chocolate, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway. Pastoral’s Beverage Buyer and Head Cheesemonger (great title) will lead a tasting that includes: Taleggio (chocolate-dipped bacon, biscuit); Dante (Oaxacan mole, tortilla, cilantro); Driftless (chocolate tart, peanut crust) and a few more. Tickets are $65 and can be had at barpastoral.com.

On V-Day, the 14th, Bar Pastoral has a four-course dinner with meat and vegetarian options, at either 5:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. There will be hand-pulled mozz, arancini, braised beef cheeks, wild mushroom galette…you know, the stuff that gets you hot. Menu is $55 and wine pairings will add $30. Price includes tax and tip. See the full menu here. Have a great weekend!