By Erin Byers
In the dead of a New England winter, most people can't help but cuddle up to one another. And it's in those conditions when love has been known to hit faster than you can say nor'easter. For a little romantic kick this winter, escape from the cold and retreat to one of the state's love-inspiring restaurants, where a little wine, delicious food and yes, more cuddling await.
Hidden away in the countryside of Tyngsboro, Silks at Stonehedge Inn is a luxurious getaway for dinner or a whole weekend. Wine racks line the walls of the light and airy dining room, showing off just a few bottles from the restaurant's vast collection. Snag a table for two, dip into the wine list and sample dishes from the wine-pairing menu. Chef Andreas Mensch will happily ply you and your sweetheart with a platter of rich, succulent goose roasted with sautéed chestnuts, or medallions of elk lightly seared over a bed of fingerling potatoes. After the meal, make your way to one of the inn's cozy rooms for a long winter's nap.
Escape the snow-covered streets of Boston 's Back Bay and slip through the wrought-iron doorway into L'Espalier for a tryst. Chef Frank McClelland's classic French cuisine is grouped in a number of prix fixe and seasonal menus. Munch on caviar and foie gras over whispered conversation, the appropriate tone in this quietly elegant dining room. For a big date, try Chef McClelland's Tasting Journey, an 11-course feast created just for your table.
Warm Up To Winter
Sipping brandy by the fire does not have to be a stay-at-home affair. Pull a chair up to the fireplace at the newly renovated, library-like Bristol Lounge in the Four Seasons. Or scout out a corner table or a seat by the window for a view of the Public Garden . Share the lounge's famous Bristol sirloin burger — big meaty bites between two toasted buns. And if brandy is not your drink of choice, the Bristol is renowned for its seasonal cocktails that celebrate new flavors year round.
Nothing beats the candlelit ambiance of a country inn during the cold months of winter, and the Old Inn on the Green, in New Marlborough in the Berkshires, captures that mood perfectly. Mahogany tables and round-backed Windsor chairs give you a private setting to sit back and enjoy each other's company, as well as chef and owner Peter Platt's creations — comfort dishes like braised Colorado lamb shank and pan-roasted duck breast are a specialty here. The inn serves prix fixe meals on the weekend, but á la carte options are available throughout the week. Be sure to check for weeknight specials, which offer a room and a meal at a discount.
Whether you opt for the stately dining room or the intimacy of the restaurant's wine cellar, the Federalist adds a dash of sophistication to date night. The lighting is low and sultry, the room is modern and sleek, and the food is fine-tuned. Start with the paper-thin Kobe beef carpaccio delicately dabbed with olive oil and lemon. Then move onto a Maine lobster steeped in butter under a luscious Sauternes reduction before diving into the Federalist chocolate cake. It is the ultimate meal to fall in love with.
RESOURCES:
Bristol Lounge, Four Seasons Boston, 200 Boylston St. , Boston ; 617.338.4400; fourseasons.com
The Federalist, 15 Beacon St. , Boston ; 877-.XV.BEACON or 877.982.3226; xvbeacon.com
L'Espalier, 30 Gloucester St., Boston; 617.262.3023; lespalier.com
Old Inn on the Green, 134 Hartsville New Marlborough Road., New Marlborough;
413.229.7924; oldinn.com
Silks at Stonehedge Inn, 160 Pawtucket Blvd. , Tyngsboro; 978.649.4400; stonehedgeinn.com
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