Valentine

[Lunchbox]

This place is just so f'n good. And they serve food late (full menu all the way up to 11pm), which has made for very happy post-show bellies after several recent events downtown.

Last night was a simple and straightforward sharing session with Mrs. Lunchbox. We started with an appetizer that looked interesting to me. I'm a sucker for a date and this was a tasty dish but the dates were SUPER sweet so they overpowered everything. I totally get the intention of it and it totally works, but a slightly thicker cut on the bologna would just round this out better. But that's splitting hairs. Good start to our meal.
"smoked frippers bologna with mesquite-pecan honey & wood-fired dates with pine nut miso, pomegranate agrodolce, pistachio."

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Mrs. Lunchbox declares the Valentine little gem salad, with sunflower vinaigrette and goatija cheese, the best salad in the city. I kind of think she's on to something here. The way Chef Donnie Hawk uses texture is pretty perfect. And it looks like it's going to be overdressed but it's not. I could eat this salad everyday. It's one of those things that you think to yourself, dammit why don't I cook like this for myself at home? Please don't ever take this off the menu Chef!

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Another dish that would have an uprising of customers with pitchforks and torches show up at the front door if it's ever removed from the menu. Again the texture is perfect. It tastes of corn but not too much. The pasta is always perfectly al dente with a perfect little bite.
"elote pasta, house-made tagliarini, hassayampa asiago, crispy corn, arbol"

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I wanted a protein and some potatoes. So we went with the Chicken and potatoes. I'm a sucker for dill and the herb yogurt with a bite of that hot chicken was just heavenly. I know it's just chicken but it's done with thought and perfect execution of how chicken should be done. Everything was juicy, hot, and tender. The dark meat was delicious as was the perfectly cooked breast. Great rendered fat under the skin swimming in a tasty broth with wheat berries and greens.
"smoked two wash ranch chicken, wheat berries, toasted greens, herb yogurt"

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But then I had a bite of the potatoes. Holy shit these potatoes. Easily one of the top 10 things I've eaten this year. Like I will get in my car, drive 30 miles from Gilbert to have these stupid potatoes. I'm not trying to oversell these things but dammit they hit on all sides.
"twice-cooked potatoes, yuzu aioli, charred chili verde & salsa secca"

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I know they have a talented pastry chef in Crystal Kass who is a 2024 James Beard semifinalist, but it was late and they were out of the dish that Mrs. Lunchbox would have tried. We had to let the dog out or I would have tried a couple of things. I'll be back soon for those potatoes anyway...

Valentine
https://www.valentinephx.com/
4130 N 7th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
info@1912phx.com
(602) 612-2961

[Brownie Queen]

Thanks for this. I have been meaning to get here and you've just given me a shove. I live in Estrella, but that looks worth the travel.

[honartvandelay]

Couldn’t agree more. Over a few different menu iterations we have had some amazing meals there. I’m not a vegetarian but I live in a house with vegans and vegetarians. I think in addition to being a fantastic restaurant overall it’s also one of the best vegetarian restaurants in town. The pretzel, salads, potatoes, elote pasta, the cabbage (holy sh*t) and the cauliflower are all unbelievable. It’s probably not on your radar as a vegetarian destination but I don’t think anyone in town right now is doing vegetarian at a higher level.

[jayj]

I really wanted to love the elote pasta, but it fell flat for me. Maybe it was a bad night, but lacked seasoning.

You absolutely have to check out brunch at Valentine. I know ... brunch. But the pastries!! Seriously fantastic pastries. Had a scone that verged on savoury in the best possible way. And the pain au chocolate flaked all over the place in the best possible way.

Stand out brunch dish was their tamale. Incredibly light, super tasty sauce, and just such a wonderful way to highlight some fantastic ingredients.

[Wilbur]

JayJ is correct about the pastries at Valentine. We rocked up right after they opened for some coffee and pastries, and the A-team was definitely in operation in the baking department.

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The Green Chili Cheddar and Chorizo Scone on the top left was immensely, massively delicious. It was dense and savory and satisfying.

The Piñon Croissant on the bottom was lusciously filled with some sort of soft, fruit creme, but the croissant itself was even better, buttery and crisp and flakey.

The Curry Puff (possibly not what the menu called, it, but that is what it was) was again flakey and lovely, although the innards were not as Curry-fied as I might have wished.

The Chocolate Chip cookie, top right (again, probably has a fancier name) was incredible. Chewy on the inside, dense and floury, and yet also crispy and sweet on the outside.

We also drank various fancy coffees that were great, but you are a better man than me, Gunga Din, if you can remember the names. Mine was a New Mexican coffee with chili powder and ice, and it was the right complement for that chocolate chip cookie, which is a completely normal breakfast food, and I am an adult so I can eat what I want.

It has been twelve hours since the two of us consumed these treats, and I am still not hungry yet. So filling and satisfying.

[Wilbur]

Some more breakfast / brunch items that are outstanding include the following.

The taco trio features bacon that is close to being brisket, along with potatoes bathed in butter with a dense, sophisticated sauce served on the side.

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The breakfast sandwich includes a sausage patty that is spicy and savory and would be right at home in a boulangerie in an Alpine village.

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I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

[Skillet Doux]

Sooooooo, since this place has been a tomb, we've not had a chance to discuss the end of the Hawk era at Valentine.

No need to rehash the wailing and the gnashing of teeth, but Nico is a damn fine chef in his own right and I'm really looking forward to seeing what he's doing over there. Anybody been recently?

[Twegi]

We usually go for pastries and coffee — no change there. Crystal Kass is still hitting home runs! The mesquite chocolate chip cookie is a must-have (inspiring my own attempt at a knockoff with David Lebovitz’s recipe: https://www.davidlebovitz.com/a-chocolate-chi/ — though I still need to figure out how to incorporate Kass’s miso) and the date pecan tahini cookie with sesame seeds is an addictive addition + the newest pastry or morning bun is always worth a try (the squash sticky bun and pumpkin empanada are not to my taste).

We’re still getting used to the full-service for breakfast — you only order at the counter for to-go orders now.

The chiltepin shakerato = perfect combo of coffee and spice.

[Skillet Doux]

Welcome, Twegi!

Crystal Kass is still hitting home runs!

Sadly, in a bit of unfortunate timing, it looks like she's going to be hitting them for somebody else :-/

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Posted today, to Instagram.

[Twegi]

Noooooo!

What crazy timing and interesting choice by Valentine to change what works. Guess we need to see where she ends up.