Food this time of year for the average person consists of carbohydrates and canned soup, and as much beer as an already holiday-bloated belly can take. Pasta, too. February could almost get away with being subtitled Pasta Month. The sub-zero weather can serve to enhance a food experience, however. I ate a late-night wild mushroom ravioli in The View’s lounge and couldn’t have had a warmer meal on the hottest July day.

Housed in the Tacoma Club and open to the public, The View restaurant released its new lounge menu Thursday during the Third Thursday Art Walk.  Nine items fill the menu including vegetable and goat cheese strudel, seared pepper tuna, grilled chicken tortellini, coconut prawns and a plate of large, thickly stuffed crimini, shiitake and porcini raviolis, served with mushroom jus ($10). As with most of the lounge dishes at The View, the portion is ample.  Items are priced $9 to $12.

The view from The View twinkles with Port of Tacoma activity and a look down the Puyallup Valley.  Call ahead for a romance check, though.  Rotary 8 was in the house with poker and booze a plenty. â€" Jake de Paul

[The View, 16th floor, Wells Fargo Plaza, 1201 Pacific Ave., downtown Tacoma, 253.272.3218]