I HEART YOU
It’s odd that each Valentine’s Day so few eat what you’d think would be the logical dish. One place to track down the real thing is La Bodega (1277 Howe Street) where you can order a grilled, medium rare tapa of marinated veal heart. Two skewers cost $6.50.

SUN, SAND, AND SIPPING
It’s Bordeaux Month at Liberty Wine Merchants (various locations). As you shop on-line for by-the-case Lafite Rothschild at www.libertywinemerchants.com/, you can click over to the Club Med site and enter to win a stay for two at their Opio resort in Provence. By the way, not all Bordeaux labels run you the cost of a flat-screen TV. Staff suggest the Mouton Cadet Reserve ($24.99) or Château Cailleteau Bergeron ($29.99), both 2005. Drop by this weekend and see if they’re pouring samples.

MORNING BUZZ
Personally, we’d rather be in our jammies. But if you prefer to get an early start at work, the new Caffe Artigiano at 574 Granville Street can pump you full of caffeine from 6 a.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. weekends.

DOC ALERT
A new documentary, Hijacked Future, explores the fragility of our industrialized food system. An excerpt will precede a discussion with producer-director David Springbett and other food-conscious guest panelists on February 22 at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver (949 West 49th Street). For info and advance tickets ($20, $25 at the door, including dinner), call FarmFolk/CityFolk at 604-730-0450.

DINE ON
Just when you thought Dine Out was done, both Quattro on Fourth and Gusto di Quattro will be carrying on until February 28 (except from February 14 to 16). See www.quattrorestaurants.com/ for menus. Although Vancouver Community College’s J.?J.’s restaurant (the corner of Hamilton at Dunsmuir) has finished its Dine Out run, the value goes year round with the $23 table d’hôte. Reserve at 604-443-8479.

SALUTE TO SUDS
In its annual nod, CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Vancouver has named the best of local brews and more. This year’s best B.C. brewery is Phillips Brewing Co.; top B.C. beer is Central City Imperial IPA; Steamworks garnered top local brewpub honours; and Brewery Creek Cold Beer & Wine Store is the best local liquor shop. See members.shaw.ca/homebrewboy/pr-2008awards.htm for more.

SPIRITED SELL OFF
It’s not just clothing and shoe sales that are steals right now, but wine and spirits, too. Roam your nearest LDB store and you’ll see plenty of markdowns, like the $10 reduction we spotted on ultra-premium Van Gogh Vodka. Marquis Wine Cellars (1034 Davie Street, www.marquis-wines.com/Great-Values.html?) has slashed prices by $20 to $40 on treats from California, France, Austria, and beyond.

CRU DO
If you’ve ever wondered about the ins and outs of food-and-wine pairing, sign up for a relaxed, informative, and tasty wine-and-food pairing dinner on February 24 at Cru (1459 West Broadway). Owner-sommelier Mark Taylor will tune your taste buds by matching each of five courses with a stellar international wine. Cost is $85; reserve at 604-677-4111.