A lovely encounter for Valentine's Day

  

I never tire of the romantic feeling I get standing in the middle of an international terminal staring up at a departures board, listening to the distinctive clicking noise as exotic destinations flip before my starry-eyes. Even if I'll never get to most of the places on that board half the fun is just thinking about going.

For Valentine's Day, the Encounter Restaurant at LAX with its retro-futuristic interior is giving flightless romantics like me a reason to visit the airport even if I don't have a ticket in my hand. The Encounter is offering a Valentine's Day menu including two glasses of champagne and a rose for the lady for $160.00 per couple. The dinner includes jumbo shrimp appetizer and choice of soup or salad; an entree of grilled filet mignon topped with rosemay mint demi glaze served with Cajun jumbo shrimp and garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus spears; and for dessert - a "chocolate loving spoon cake" served with chocolate covered strawberries. The price includes tax and gratuity.

The Encounter Restaurant is located in the famed Theme Building which has been a landmark at the airport since 1961. The "flying saucer" design of the building was an instant head-turning fixture in L.A. and has been designated a cultural and historical monument by the City of Los Angeles. 

After dinner you can stroll over to the Tom Bradley International Terminal and watch harried travelers hustle by on their way to long security lines. And what about you and your sweetie? Well, stand right-smack-dab beneath the departures board, find a place you both want to visit then go home to your own bed and dream.