Please forgive my delayed Valentine’s Day wishes, this year I was busily working on the menu designs for Chez Panisse Restaurant! Such a dream project! I created the above menus for the Downstairs Restaurant and the menu header, below, for the Café. My designs are inspired by gorgeous old title pages, in particular, design elements from Paris – circa the late 1700’s. I hand-drew all the lettering in a mixture of styles from the same era.
Every Valentine’s Day a small bouquet of violets is traditionally given to each couple who dines in the Downstairs Restaurant at Chez Panisse, a lovely romantic offering. In keeping, I printed my artwork in a deep violet colored ink and applied a soft watercolor wash to add extra depth and warmth.
Whether you had an elaborate evening out or a cozy evening at home, I hope everyone was able to pause for a moment and appreciate the people they love. Vive Amour!