Stearns. Chef Stearns is busy with both Café Verona and Ophelia’s (a sister restaurant located on the northeast corner of the square). He works countless hours overseeing the daily operations of both eateries while ensuring the highest quality of cuisine possible, as well as creating new dishes. Chef Stearns’ dish, Salmon Portofino, proved to be a delicious culinary blend of foods and flavors; lightly- crusted salmon with scratch-made potato gnocchi, baby spinach, mushrooms and pine nuts all bathed in a lemon cream sauce; an excellent choice. Since arriving through the courtyard gates, echoes of love danced in the air as if on the notes of the music playing softly in the background. My train of thought kept going until it arrived at the ultimate destination, Valentine’s Day; because there’s not a more romantic day of the year. Furthermore, when it comes to dessert, what better way to celebrate than with chocolate. A made-in-house vanilla and chocolate gelato delivered in adorable chocolate teacups with decadent chocolate ganache proved to be a welcomed ending to a
delicious meal. Many thoughtful traditions take place during the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Gents escorting their ladies on an evening of romance with fine dining, maybe a beautiful piece of jewelry to adorn her neck line, chocolates to make her swoon or a bouquet of roses to fill the air with a sweet fragrance, all a wonderful way to let your loved one know you care. In the same fashion, that takes us back to the iron gate and fence that divides present time and past Roman times at Café Verona. Padlocks, of every size, shape and color imaginable hang on their fence and gate. These are special padlocks, they are love locks. A love lock is a sweet tradition, a pledge of love between two people. The placing of love locks is a custom whereby couples affix a padlock to a bridge, fence, gate or similar fixture so professing one’s unbreakable and everlasting love. It’s a romantic notion that often stirs strongest around Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, Café Verona is not accepting any more love locks on their fence or gate due to structural damage on the adjacent walls.
Distinctive art reaffirms the Italian theme throughout Cafe Verona.
38 VINTAGEKC WINTER 2018
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