Valentine's Day at Vine & Wheel

Listen, I just wanted to take Kyleigh somewhere nice and somehow ended up picking up the most romantic date spot in the Springs. Or at least that’s what my friends said. Not that I really cared; we just wanted to treat ourselves to dinner.

Once there, it actually wasn’t as romantic as my friends had suggested. The vibe is cozy and intimate for sure, but nowhere near what I was worriedly picturing in my head.

Our server went over the menu, then proceeded to let us yap for like 15 minutes before taking our order. I had already decided what I wanted a few days before, and to my pleasant not-surprise, Kyleigh ordered the exact things I thought she might – which just meant more stuff for both of us to try.

She hadn’t been planning on drinking but ended up with a cocktail on the house – the same one I ordered, too. She’s so patient with me, remarking that “the camera eats first”.

With all our food choices ordered in advance, all that was left was to sit back and enjoy the stream of food without being interrupted halfway through our conversation about why dating in Colorado is so abysmal (in the words of our wonderful server, not mine).

A bread service for the both of us and a salad for each; the bread was to die for – crusty on the outside, yet perfectly soft and steamy on the inside. The whipped honey butter spread easily over the warm surface, melting into all the little nooks and crannies. The salad (local lettuce, champagne vinaigrette, winter veggies) on the other hand, had me thinking of ways to describe a salad that is *just* fine. Roy Kent said it best.

The lobster and cauliflower bisque with herb oil and vanilla was light, silky, and delicious – albeit not tasting much of lobster. The dry-aged beef crudo with crispy shallot, egg yolk, capers and lavash could have benefitted from more texture in the crudo itself and not outside of it, but the quality of the beef was undeniable. A much more filling bite.

For her main, Kyleigh chose the 24h braised short rib and local mushroom risotto with sofrito, crispy brussels and brown butter. The risotto was very garlicky (which I love), and the short rib practically melted in your mouth. The brussels sprouts balanced out the textures well and gave the dish some heft.

Duck always makes me wary ever since an at-home incident circa 2014 where my dad made the best duck I had ever had and then promptly developed an intense aversion to it for no good reason. I couldn’t even hear a quack without wanting to puke. Thankfully it’s no longer the case, but the experience definitely left its mark.

So, with a little caution, I ordered the duck breast and crispy leg a l’orange with carrot puree, strawberry jam, and orange sauce. A great decision, honestly, because it was the best thing out of everything we had that night. The crispy golden skin hid perfectly juicy meat, and the slightly gamey flavor meshed well with the roasted sweetness of the sauces. My only complaint is that the strawberry jam had a somewhat artificial flavor to it which took me out of the experience for a second.

Duck Breast and Crispy Leg a L’Orange (from Vine & Wheel)

To bring it all together, a perfectly portioned slice of opera cake for me, and strawberry shortcake for Kyleigh. Just enough to satisfy our sweet tooth without putting too much of a strain on our digestive system. Likely the same fluffy and moist base, hers had a light vanilla buttercream, strawberry mousse, and a strawberry sauce (which tasted better/more real than the one on the duck, mind you). Mine had a dark chocolate ganache, chocolate mousse, and a coffee and chocolate drizzle. Both delicious.