Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, and I speak from personal experience when I say that it seems like all of San Diego flocks to charming Coronado for Valentine’s Day. Where will you dine on February 14th? This year, Bluewater Boathouse is offering a delicious and affordable tasting menu now through the end of February, and it would be the perfect spot for your Valentine’s Day meal.
When it comes to romantic spots on the island with consistently exquisite food, I always recommend Bluewater Boathouse. There is no other restaurant in Coronado in which you can literally dine on the water, surrounded by docked sailing vessels. The perfect low lighting, tasteful nautical decor, and extensive menu make Bluewater a favorite for our family and our visitors.
Bluewater is offering its traditional monthly tasting menu, and this one is crafted with Valentine’s Day in mind. The tasting menu is a very affordable $40, and includes a choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert.
Bluewater Boathouse’s “Foods of Love” Tasting Menu
Served as a Tasting Event on Feb. 7 and throughout February 2017
Starter:
3 Oysters with Shallot Mignonette
or
Red Crab Salad with Sugared Squash, Roasted Pepitas, Goat Cheese
and Orange Vinaigrette over Mixed Greens
Entree:
“Surf & Turf”
Grilled Prime Top Sirloin and Saffron Crab Risotto with Asparagus and Red Wine
or
Seared White Seabass with Scalloped Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Beurre Blanc
Dessert:
Salted Butterscotch Pot de Crème topped with Whipped Cream and Peanuts
or
Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberries and Raspberry Coulis
On February 7th, my husband and I tried the tasting menu, and I can highly recommend it — and would love to enjoy it again on Valentine’s Day!
For the starter, I picked the three oysters with shallot mignonette. My husband raised his eyebrows at me; “are you sure you want raw oysters?” But I did, and they were delicious, a sure bet for all lovers of fine dining, seafood, and aphrodisiacs. I tipped each shell into my mouth, and each oyster was fresh, raw, and unadulterated by cooking or overpowering ingredients. “I feel like I just ate the ocean,” I said.
I chose the grilled prime sirloin for my main entree. We don’t eat a lot of red meat, but my husband and I both love it, so the steak was a treat. The chef had grilled the tender meat to perfection, finishing it with a perfect warm pink center. I enjoyed the accompanying saffron crab risotto almost as much as the steak, though, as each bite melted in my mouth. I was also pleasantly surprised by the asparagus, which had been grilled and retained the charcoal flavor of the grill. I generally just saute our asparagus at home, so this was a unique spin with a lot of flavor.
I finished with the lava cake. I rarely can resist dessert when we dine out, and it helps when dessert is a part of the menu. Impossible to turn down! The warm cake was homemade and melted into the vanilla ice cream, and I savored each bite. Oysters, steak, and chocolate — truly a romantic and indulgent meal!
My husband chose to order from the menu that night, and he also thoroughly enjoyed his choices. He picked the mixed clams and mussels for his starter, and we both loved the plump shellfish as well as the buttery broth. Bluewater Boathouse provides unlimited plates of hot, fresh sourdough bread and salted butter, and I had to stop myself from dipping more than my half of the bread into the shellfish broth.
For his main dish, my husband ordered the ahi tuna with two sides. He and I both love sushi, and the ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce glaze tastefully complimented the perfectly-seared tuna. We learned the tuna had just been caught that morning, so we were truly eating the freshest fruits of the sea.
As always, the Bluewater staff bent over backwards to make sure we had everything we wanted and needed, and that we had a pleasant dining experience. I wish to especially thank Gustavo Herrera, a new manager at Bluewater, who went above and beyond to take care of us that night.
I encourage you make your reservation now for a memorable Valentine’s Day dinner at Bluewater Boathouse. Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill is located at 1701 Strand Way in Coronado, directly across from (and closely resembling) the iconic Hotel del Coronado. For reservations, call (619) 435-0155, or visit their website here.
