Last year, our group of Portland food bloggers made restaurant recommendations for a Valentine’s Dinner first date in Portland (which, oh my Lord, do NOT go on a first date on Valentine’s Day). I told you all to cook your own damn romantic dinner, more or less. This year, the assignment is dinner advice for the single among us.*

Eating Out

Even though I have spent nearly a third of my life in a relationship with Dave, I’ve also spent Valentine’s Day by myself a fair amount over the years. And in general, I really like going out to eat by myself: I like that the servers are often more attentive and sometimes the kitchen sends over extra dishes; I like that I don’t have to negotiate sharing; I like that I can read my book at the table. It makes me feel adult and sophisticated. It is, further, the kind of thing that you have some obligation to do if there are people in the world who refer to you as “Aunty V.”

But I cannot in good conscience advocate going out to eat by yourself on Valentine’s Day. I have this theory that the people who are really committed to the idea of Valentine’s Day and romantic dinners out on Valentine’s Day do not understand the particular allure of an Adult and Sophisticated Lady/Gentleman eating dinner alone. You do not need to be pitied by women who are pleased with gifts of heart-shaped necklaces from Kay Jewelers.

If you must go out to eat, I would recommend going somewhere that does not radiate “romantic restaurant.” Go someplace brightly lit that doesn’t take reservations. Go someplace where it would feel inappropriate to hold hands across a table.

I recommend Enzo. I don’t know that I’ve written about Enzo here before, but it is just my favorite. It’s on Congress Street, right next to its conjoined twin Otto Pizza.** Enzo is the eat-in restaurant side of things. The lighting is dim, but it’s dim in a bar-type way, rather than a gaze-into-my-eyes-lovingly type way. The space is tiny, with a bar and pass-through to Otto running along one side and a few tables smashed up against the opposite wall. Even better, there are no two-person tables in the place.

You get your pizza from Otto by way of the pass-through behind the bar. If you order pizza by the slice, you go to the counter at Otto, see what they’ve got available and place your order, tell them you’re eating next door, then go grab a table. The bartender will bring over your slices and get your drinks. I enjoy the butternut squash pizza, as well as the mashed potato, but it’s hard to go wrong. The crust is thin and chewy, there are plenty of toppings but not so many that you get overwhelmed or things get soggy, they are not afraid to layer carb-based toppings onto a pizza crust. I also like that they pour wine in juice-glass-like tumblers, and although it’s hard to judge because the shape is different from traditional wine glasses, based on personal experience I strongly suspect that you’re getting a large amount of wine. There isn’t much that two slices of great pizza and a giant glass of wine can’t fix. The bartenders are also lovely.

Eating In

And of course, it would not be vrai-lean-uh without the recommendation to stay home and cook. And by that I mean, actually cook yourself dinner. It’s worth respecting the emotional power of a real, home-cooked meal. In the months when Dave and I have been apart (for a variety of work- and school-related reasons, it adds up to a bit over a year all told), I often half-assed dinner with a combination of cheese and crackers and some lame salad situation. But a real dinner was (and is) gratifying in a way that cereal on the couch while watching The Bachelor will never be.*** You can invite a friend over or not, but if you’re at a loss for what to make, I’d recommend Pasta Puttanesca.

First, the name translates to “pasta in the style of prostitutes”, which is amusingly evocative for a Valentine’s Day dinner. Second, it is delicious. Third, you can use all the anchovies you want because you answer to no man (or woman)! Fourth, you’re not going to be overwhelmed with dishes when you’re done.

Pasta Puttanesca

3 - 4 servings

Bring a pot of salted water to boil.

Heat 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add 4 garlic cloves, either minced or put through a garlic press, and 4 chopped anchovies. Cook until garlic is lightly golden.

Add one 28 oz. can of plum tomatoes to the skillet with the garlic and anchovies. You can buy the diced ones or break them up with your hands or spatula. Add some salt and pepper. Cook until the liquid is slightly reduced.

Add 1/2 cup chopped kalamata olives, 2 tablespoons capers, and 1/2 a teaspoon red pepper flakes to the sauce. Continue to simmer.

Meanwhile, cook 3/4 to 1 lbs of spaghetti until tender but not mushy. Drain, and toss with the sauce. Top with some chopped parsley if you have it.

* And as A. pointed out, it doesn’t actually matter a huge amount what the assignment is, since we’ll all just write about whatever we want anyway.

** There was recently a bit of a kerfuffle about Otto pizza and its similarity to Mario Batali’s Otto Pizza (embarrassingly, even though I have been to Otto Pizza in New York, I did not notice the similarities until they were pointed out to me). Strong language was used and people left with Feelings. You can make up your own mind about the issue and the extent to which it matters to you.

*** I do still appreciate the particular use and value of cereal on the couch while watching The Bachelor. Also, at some point we should talk about how, even though Courtney is legitimately awful, Emily really has to just let. it. go.