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FLAVOR OF THE MONTH continued from page 59 though the CSO is still Tesori's bread and butter, this place is anything but a typical symphony restaurant. Su says, "Now, people who have never been here say, 'This is so beautiful. Why don't we come here all the time?' Laughing, she adds, "Well, yeah, you should." MA NoMI is a perfect restaurant to celebrate special occasions. Terry's Toffee, in cranberry orange Terry Opalek and Michael Frontier The Rosa from Tesori SEEING RED According to Brady, Tesori's gregarious, one-named lead bartender, Champagne is "an easy sell" to the preshow crowd that fills the place before performances by the CSO or the nearby Book of Mormon. No surprise, then, that the restaurant's most popular libations are bubbly cocktails like the Rosa, a distinctive red elixir of vodka, elderflower syrup, and rosé Champagne. "Elderflower flavor is classic," says Brady, "and it creates a nice floral effect with the rosé Champagne. It's not cloying on the palate, it goes down quick, and it's a pretty drink, which never hurts." THE ROSA (BY MARIO FLORES) 1 oz. Page's Elderflower Syrup 1.5 oz. Tito's Handmade Vodka 4 oz. Moët & Chandon Imperial Rosé Shake the elderflower syrup and vodka in a chilled cocktail shaker, then strain into a martini glass. Top with the rosé Champagne, and finish with a spray of rose flower water (available at Merz Apothecary). For an extra flourish, garnish with a hibiscus flower. 60 let's get cozy THE OWNER OF A VALENTINE'S DAY SWEET SPOT TAKES US ON A TOUR OF HIS FAVORITE ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS. BY MEG MATHIS T erry Opalek, along with his partner, Michael Frontier, began selling his signature almondfilled McCall's Classic toffee at a holiday craft fair years ago. Fast-forward to 2013: Terry's Toffee (1117 W. Grand Ave., 312-733-2700; terrystoffee.com) is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is one of the city's most well-known sweets brands. More than 80 specialty markets nationwide carry Terry's 15 award-winning flavors, including three Opalek says are particularly perfect for Valentine's Day ("They're all really sexy and romantic," he says): Chai-cago Spice, McCall's Classic, and Lavenilla, a blend of lavender and vanilla in white chocolate containing 31 percent cocoa butter. A foodie himself, Opalek shared with us his favorite spots for celebrating Valentine's Day. Bar Pastoral New Lakeview hot spot Bar Pastoral—the cozy new cheese and wine bar from Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine owners Ken Miller and Greg O'Neill—features cuisine from Top Chef 10 alum Chrissy Camba. "I really like the atmosphere," says Opalek. "The crowd is great—different ages, gay and straight—and the space feels intimate and casual. You can dress it up or dress it down." For a romantic night out, he says, "It's a great place to go and not be committed to a long evening, but it's also perfect for grabbing a quick nosh and, if the date's going great, saying 'Okay, we want to go get dinner somewhere.'" Opalek adds, "I love that they have a wine bar separate from the cheese bar, and the staff is very attentive and knowledgeable in explaining all the accoutrements of the various cheese platters. I love cheese, and their presentation is really beautiful. The Roquefort was my favorite, and they serve it MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 058-061_MA_FOM_FlavorOfTheMonth_Winter13.indd 60 1/3/13 5:24 PM