It’s coming up soon.  Our February tradition that sends us all running to buy cards, flowers and candy and professing our love for our lovers.  It’s fun and sweet and best enjoyed with a great meal.  But what is the history behind Valentine’s day?  As with most long standing rituals there is a bizarre story that was the seed of this day.  It was once called Lupercalia and though there are certainly links to love and marriage the resemblance to our modern day version ends there.

“In ancient Roman times members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility. They would then take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, According to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.  History.com

At the Millstone we will do something a little more down to earth and a lot more civilized.  There will be great wine, beautiful ambiance and another out of this world set menu to enjoy.  We hope you’ll join us and raise a glass to Love!

To make a reservation please call (902)461-8053 or email joanne@millstonepublichouse.com

Valentine’s Day Set Menu

Appetizers

Arugula Salad
Baby arugula tossed with thinly sliced red onion, oranges, grilled shrimp, goat cheese
and a raspberry balsamic dressing

Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Roast Garlic Soup

Calamari
Flash fried Baby Squid tossed in spicy Tomato Sauce

Entrees

Pork Tenderloin
Bacon wrapped Pork Tenderloin accented with a blackberry port sauce, served with
garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables

Chicken Wellington
Chicken Breast covered with mushroom paste and wrapped in puff pastry, accented with a porcini
demi-glace served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables.

Seafood Risotto
Aborro Rice simmered with lobster, shrimp, scallops and mussels accented with tarragon cream

Dessert
A trio of desserts

$38 per person

It’s such an incredible time of year and the East Coast is the place to be!  While Calgary is getting snow, we are basking in the autumn sunshine and it feels great.  We at the Millstone hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend with your family and now wish to invite you to our place.

Today our pasta special is hand made Ravioli filled with roast Squash and Mascarpone tossed in sage butter.  Friday we have our customer favourite Bacon Mac N Cheese on offer, then Jamie will be making his delicious brunch treats on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 to 2:00pm.  People are raving about the Strawberry Cheesecake stuffed French Toast and classic from-scratch Eggs Benedict.

Hockey fan??  Join us on Saturday night for Hockey Night In Canada.  We’ve got the Centre Ice Package which means we can play up to 6 different games so if you want to watch it you can watch it with us.  Enjoy it with a bud and a jug of Coors Light for $14.75.

Also this weekend we are kicking off the much anticipated Trivia Night at the Millstone Public House.  Hosted by comic Andrew Evans from Halifax Trivia Lovers.  Teams of up to 6 people can compete for bragging rights, prizes and points.  Starts Sunday at 7:00pm!

“Look at the Big Brain on Brad!”

Cheers to the weekend!
Sincerely,
The Millstone

(902)461-8053
www.millstonepublichouse.com

A customer once sat down at the bar and asked what was good on the menu.  The bartender though about all the great menu items, considered her favourites and then contemplated what was the most ordered item.  Her reply to the gentleman, as well as her recommendation, was the hand battered fish and chips.  She described it as crispy, light, hot and flavourful.  She told him it came with hand cut, never frozen, lightly seasoned french fries and house made tartar sauce.  He raised an eyebrow and told her that he’d recently eaten fish and chips at every one of the “top 10 fish and chip spots in the Halifax area” so he’d be a tough one to please.  Trusting our chef and kitchen team she too raised an eyebrow and said we were up to the challenge.  The order was placed and the customer waited.

The plate came out of the kitchen and was placed in front of the would-be food critic.  It was a simple presentation with a slice of lemon, a silver cup of tartar sauce and a small side of coleslaw.  There were no lemon grass spears; no heirloom tomato chutney.  It was not a display of culinary artistry but it smelled incredible and he dug right in.  Moments later the quality check was made; the reply was a waiving of the cutlery and some pleasurable mumbling with a full mouth. When the plate was cleared it was empty.

Later, the bill was presented and the customer smiled.  The waiter returned it with a knowing grin.  “How was everything?” she asked sensing that his reply would be like so many others.  He sat up straight, cocked his head slightly and began.   “You know, I’ve had a lot of fish and chips in my life.  I’m a maritimer and I know my seafood and I’ve got to tell you that was some of the best I’ve ever had.  If you had been included in the top ten list you would have been first.  It was absolutely delicious…I’ll be back”.

Those are the magic words we wait to hear.  We want you to ‘Come as You Are’, enjoy a great meal and some good times and then come back again and again.

www.millstonepublichouse.com

Now, with two locations to serve you!

Bedford, 50 Gary Martin Drive in the Sante Centre.  Entrance at the back.  (902)-431-8053

Dartmouth, 250 Baker Drive near Access Nova Scotia.  (902)461-8053

Ice cold, freshly shucked, raw oysters.  What is it about them that drives us crazy?  Is it the visceral feel of the jagged edge and cold, hard shell?  The salty, sweet, briney smell as you raise it to your lips?  The cold, slippery slurp that invites the oyster into your mouth?  Or is it simply that the chilled, fresh from the ocean taste, with the subtle crunch and tanginess of the mignonette is entirely unique in the world and unbelievably delicious?

Whatever it is we want more.  For a limited time, we’ll be shucking oysters every Tuesday after 5:00pm.  Served fresh on the half shell, over a bed of ice with homemade mignonette and lemon.  At $2 a piece we know they’ll go fast so plan to arrive early.

For reservations please call 902-461-8053

or email joanne@millstonepublichouse.com

www.millstonepublichouse.com