Cocina Poblana Restaurant in Oakland Serving Spicy, Romantic Dinner This Valentine’s Day Weekend

Feb. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- White tablecloths, twinkling lights flickering off the still waters of San Francisco Bay, and soft, romantic Latin music, are on the menu at Cocina Poblana: The Art of Mexican Cooking this Valentine’s Day weekend.  Chef-owner Lito Saldaña will be serving lovers from 4 to 10 pm this Sunday and Monday from a very special three-course, $39 prix fixe menu.  The restaurant is located at 499 Embarcadero West in Oakland’s historic Jack London Square.  Its sister restaurant is located at 1320 65th Street in Emeryville.
“Valentine’s Day in Mexico is called El Día del Amor y la Amistad or ‘the day of love and friendship’ where people show appreciation and affection toward their romantic partners and also their friends,” said Chef Lito Saldaña, founder of Cocina Poblana.  “We are a very upscale Mexican restaurant in a romantic location—the perfect place for an intimate dinner with your lover or small group of friends.”
The three-course prix fixe menu for $39 per person includes choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
First Course
•   Ahi Tuna Ceviche -fresh diced ahí tuna, made with avocado, cilantro, chile de arbol, served on a slice of tomato and garnished with a pomegranate reduction
•   Ensalada de Camaron - marinated tiger prawns with avocado, cucumber, tomatoes and onions served in a romaine lettuce leaf
•   Tamalitos Mama Elena - mini tamales with slices of grilled chicken breast, smothered with mole negro and garnished with queso fresco
•   Cocktel de Ostiones - oyster cocktail, served with cocktail sauce, avocado, onions and cilantro
Main Course - each entrée is served with Poblano rice, tropical mango salsa, a pomegranate reduction, and choice of salsa chipotle, salsa de Habanero or salsa Poblana
•   Salmon a la plancha - pan-fried salmon
•   Mahi mahi a la parrilla - grilled mahi mahi
•   Camarones salteados - sautéed  shrimp
•   Bistek a la parrilla - grilled rib eye steak
•   Pechuga de pollo a la parilla - grilled chicken breast
•   Chile Relleno - vegetarian chile relleno
Dessert - each dessert is accompanied with café de olla
•   Churros Mexicanos - served with vanilla ice cream, smothered with caramel & chocolate
•   Flan de café – flan with coconut garnish and Mexican chocolate
•   Pastelito tres leches - cake garnished with fresh strawberries
Wine pairing are available for $25 per bottle, and include a choice of 2008 Stonehead Cabernet from Mauley Valley, Chile, 2009 P.K.N.T. Chardonnay from Santiago Chile,  or Coastal Vines sparkling wine from Mendoza, Argentina.
Tequila flights are available for $18.  Choose from the Poblana: Chinaco blanco, Partida reposado, and Paqui Añejo08’ Filus Malbec or the Presidencial: Tesoro blanco, Claze Azul po, and Patron Añejo.
Flights are samples of tequila served in quarter shots.  Drinking tequila in a flight is a great way to sample multiple products at one sitting.  Cocina Poblano boasts over 200 types of tequilas.  Guests are bound to find something they love among the samples.

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About Cocina Poblano : The Art of Mexican Cooking
The term “The Art of Mexican Cooking” is a humble, yet colossal affirmation that conveys not only the cuisine but the style of service which Cocina Poblana brings to the San Francisco Bay Area. We feel that there is a need for refined Mexican cuisine focusing on traditional colonial flavors and fusing them with modern techniques and trends.
Poblana is the region of Puebla, Mexico—the heart and soul of fine Mexican cuisine. Culinary traditions have been passed down for centuries from generation to generation so that the essence of the people’s ancestors is kept alive. Poblana’s cuisine is a perfect blend of the refined delicate flavors of Puebla and the robust and rustic style of Jalisco.
Poblana also refers to “the pueblo,” or township. Many of the restaurant’s dishes display the warm qualities of the home-cooked meals of rural Mexico.