Witty title using the word Corduroy

Hallmark is much maligned for giving sappy clichés a bad name, but when it comes to its trashy commercialization of innocent holidays I’m all for it. Years of greeting-card-induced sentimentality have conditioned me, Pavlovian female that I am, to equate Valentines Day with good food. This is a roundabout way of saying that last Monday night found me at Corduroy Restauarant at 12th and K.

This is a great back-to-the-classics place with emphasis on quality over creativity. Since it was Valentines day the set menu started with champagne- I fear I don’t know enough about bubbly yellow liquids to try rating, but it was very nice. Following was a creamy snapper soup- fabulous with a perfect bitter edge to it- and Malpeque Oysters that could made you think you were standing on a Sanabel Island beach.

Second course was a seared Salmon and Bok Choi dish, and sheep cheese raviolis with freaky tender lamb. Wine was a randomly chosen (but tasty!) Pinot Noir that our waiter made us promise not to drink until we had finished the oysters. By the time we finished it we’d forgotten where it was from. Sorry-

Alright, can someone tell me what you call a chocolate soufflé but where it’s much wider and shallower than usual? We had one. It was heavenly. And some vanilla bean crème brulee. Because we could.

The traditional hotel restaurant décor-sparse and unimaginative (with the exception of the bar which sports a chain-link curtain) – means I can’t say this was the most romantic place I’ve ever been. On the other hand, the food definitely makes it into my top 15. Hallmark, you done good.