Valentine’s Day is this Thursday: our shortlist for a memorable one
There are countless ways to spoil your sweetie on Valentine’s Day with artisan chocolates, gourmet food and drink or farm-fresh flowers produced right here in the Monterey Bay Area. So banish those thoughts of drug store candy or expensive roses shipped in from South America and try one of our suggestions for a romantic celebration that supports local business and sustainable agriculture.
Chocolate is sometimes a girl’s best friend, so you can’t go wrong with exquisitely decorated, hand-dipped Valentine candies in a velvet heart-shaped box from Chocolate Visions made by Lloyd and Lindy Martin in Scotts Valley. Another sweet option is Ashby Confections in Aptos where Jennifer Ashby makes truffles and chocolates filled with locally-grown fruits. In Monterey, head for Parker-Lusseau Pastries for truffles and little heart-shaped chocolate boxes—the perfect container for something sparkly, perhaps? Stone Creek Kitchen also has a big selection of Valentine chocolates; as well as handmade petits fours decorated with tiny hearts and flowers. For pretty pink Raspberry French Macarons, stop by the Bakery Station in Salinas, where they will also put together Valentine goodie bags for your children to take to class. And for something completely different, but still chocolate-y, the True Olive Connection in Santa Cruz offers Dark Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar, which is great served over ice cream or combined in a vinaigrette together with some of their Blood Orange Olive Oil.
If you prefer to say it with flowers, our choice is Ace’s Flowers in Aptos, where 98% of all the blooms come from within a 20 miles radius of the shop. Owner Amy Scott creates gorgeous arrangements using a combination of flowers and objects found in nature, and delivers throughout Santa Cruz County.
While a bottle of red wine is the right color for Valentine’s Day, it might seem like the easy way out. But not if you make it a “wine experience” by taking your valentine to the Holman Ranch Tasting Room in Carmel Valley for their “te amo” two-for-one tastings, taking place from 11am to 6pm on Valentine’s Day. Or you could walk hand-in-hand right into the McIntyre Tasting Studio in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Monterey and enjoy their “Liquid Love Match”—a glass of sparkling Rosé de Pinot Noir, a sip of Merlot and a chocolate covered strawberry—all for just $5. For beer-lovers, how about a growler of Love Potion or a trip to Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, where they craft their amazing, pink-hued, organic Valentine’s beer with raspberries, hibiscus and rose hips. Or you could opt for the whole wine dinner experience at Cima Collina tasting room in Carmel Valley, where they are hosting their first supper club with winemaker Annette Hoff Danzer. It’s called “For the Love of Pinot” and the five-course meal, prepared by Earthbound Executive Chef Sarah LaCasse, is designed to complement the winery’s excellent Pinot Noirs.
Will you be mine?
Busy couples in love often prefer to celebrate in a restaurant—taking advantage of the many talented chefs here in our area. But beware that Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest nights of the year at local restaurants and don’t leave your reservations until the last minute. Some of our favorite restaurants are planning special menus sure to stimulate that loving feeling.
The most obvious choice is the Aphrodisiac Four-Course Dinner ($110) or Tasting Menu ($125) at Aubergine in Carmel with dishes and decadent desserts all themed around history’s most exciting ingredients. At Pacific’s Edge at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, chef Matt Bolton is offering a four-course tasting menu ($125) that includes oysters, of course, hearts of palm, truffles and Waygu beef, along with their incredible sunset views.
Point Pinos Grill in Pacific Grove has a three-course, prix-fixe Valentine’s menu ($59.99) that includes two glasses of bubbly and choices like New York steak with Dungeness Crab Béarnaise. Nearby, La Crème on Lighthouse Ave. is planning a luscious, candle-lit five-course Valentine’s Wine Pairing Dinner cooked by chef Jon Moser, which includes five wines and a long-stemmed red rose for $180 per couple.
Monterey also has plenty of popular restaurants doing the Valentine’s thing. TusCA at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, for example, is serving a special four-course Valentine’s menu ($63) from Thursday through Saturday that includes delicacies like an appetizer of Wild Boar Belly with Candied Shallots and, for dessert, Liquid Chocolate Cake with Grande Marnier strawberries. Restaurant 1833 is also going the prix-fixe route, at $85 per person for a five-course menu with choices such as mushroom ravioli with a lobster sauce, diver scallops and steak tartare. Tarpy’s Roadhouse has some romantic specials that include a heart-shaped warm chocolate cake for two and the Sardine Factory is also preparing a few special Valentine menu items, like Castroville Artichoke Bisque with a Buttermilk Fried Oyster; and decadent entrees like lobster and prawns.
The Ventana Inn in Big Sur is cooking up a night of passion with a three-course menu ($85) that includes dishes like Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto and Chocolate and Grande Marnier Torte.
In Santa Cruz, chef Santos Majano of Soif is planning a three-course menu ($50) with a few surprises and lots of choices, like rabbit consommé and Dungeness Crab Tagliatelle. Chef Katherine Stern at sister restaurant La Posta envisions Valentine’s Day with an Italian flair. Her colorful three-course menu ($65) features choices like Roasted Beet Sformata and Duck Confit with Brandied Red Currants. Sanderlings at Seascape Resort in Aptos also has a three-course Valentine’s dinner, priced according to the selected entrée, with delicious choices like Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad and a sophisticated banana split.
Lastly, a useful suggestion for those who might have forgotten about Valentine’s Day and need to make amends, or for those who might have been out of town on Thursday. Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley is holding its 4th Annual Valentine’s Sweetheart Lunch ($95) on Saturday, February 16th. It includes chocolate making under the expert guidance of Pastry Chef Ben Spungin, followed by champagne tasting with Wine Director Mark Buzan and then a grand wine country buffet prepared by Executive Chef Cal Stamenov. Whether you splurge on a special restaurant meal or share a simple dinner with your sweetheart at home, we hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with love.
About the author
Deborah Luhrman is publisher and editor of Edible Monterey Bay. A lifelong journalist, she has reported from around the globe, but now prefers covering our flourishing local food scene and growing her own vegetables in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
