In most years, Valentine’s Day is a little island of joy surrounded on all sides by a bleak white frozen wasteland; this year, it’s a little island of joy surrounded on all sides by a dry brown mostly thawed out wasteland. Either way, it’s a time to reboot, connect, and relax, and the local food scene likes to lean into it for marketing purposes, too. This can work to your advantage, as you carve out time for a special meal, give a delicious and intentional gift, or find an excuse to order that third cocktail.
In ascending order of expensiveness, here’s a little Valentine’s Day sampler of gifts and meals for you to ponder.
Go big on citrus and gift some seriously refreshing fruit at Eastside Coop, which stocks a wide variety ranging from pomelos to Algerian clementines. (Price varies, budget $10-20) Is there a better way to say “Valentine’s Day” than a box of deliciousness from Honey & Rye (pictured at top)? We don’t think so; place your order 48 hours in advance and gift (and maybe share, if you’re lucky) anything from classic (and custom) conversation heart cookies to chocolate sourdough, to a strawberry-passion fruit and cinnamon chocolate churro. (Price varies, budget $10-20) If you’re looking to make a special pasta dinner without hauling out the pasta machine, Aliment Pasta Company sells some terrific noodles with a remarkable pedigree. (Price varies, budget $10-20) We’ve never been shy about touting St. Croix Chocolate Company (see… well, this newsletter), as they’re artisans in the truly artistic meaning of the word and their stuff is delicious. Order now, and make a hell of an impression on the chocolate lover in your life. (Price varies, budget $12-43) Local maker Burnt Sugar crafts some of the best caramels and other candies we’ve tried – their Sampler Bundle covers a lot of bases for anyone you know who loves caramel. ($28) If you’re shopping for us, please pick us up a Valentine’s Day Cheese and Chocolate Gift Box from Redhead Creamery, one of the state’s best makers. Seriously, this is some killer co-packaging. ($36) We’re constantly talking up Folly Coffee as one of the state’s best roasters, and you can gift the coffee drinker in your life a Folly gift set including a 12 oz. package of coffee plus a rad Deneen Pottery stoneware mug. ($38) Tattersall Distilling River Falls is offering a special menu from February 9-11 and February 14 with special offerings including pan seared scallops, petite lobster tails, dark chocolate torte and exclusive craft cocktails including a clarified Cosmo and a signature Old Fashioned using Tattersall’s award winning 5 Year Rye whiskey. Reservations recommended. (Price varies, budget $50-100 per person) A best-seller assortment gift box of nuts from Isadore Nut Company includes cayenne spice, lemon rosemary, cocoa orange, and chai varieties. ($52) Here’s a rapid-fire rundown of a handful of restaurant specials: Momento (Feb. 9-14, 4-course prix fixe with complimentary glass of champagne, $95 per person, reservations recommended), Tullibee (Feb. 14, 4-course menu, $90 per person, reservations recommended), Parlour St. Paul and Minneapolis (Two Parlour burgers, one shareable order of fries, two Old Fashioneds or two glasses of Prosecco, $82 total), Breva Bar + Grill (Feb. 14, 3-course menu by Chef Bjorn Thompson, $75 per person, reservations recommended), and Masa & Agave (Feb. 14 5-10pm, Chocolate y Mezcal pairing featuring three expressions of 400 Conejos paired with chocolate, $30 per person, reservations recommended).
Terzo (pictured above) is offering a pre-fixe menu on Valentine’s day with an optional wine pairing; highlights include crudo de capesante, artichoke and parmesan risotto, branzino with pistachio cream, and raspberry mousse de lampone. ($85 per person with $45 optional wine pairing)
Hai Hai is offering a “Basket of Joy” for two – six dishes (above) inspired by the six characters in the Vietnamese Tet dice game called Bau Cua Tom Ca. ($110; https://www.haihaimpls.com/vday-tetmake a reservation for February 13 or 14 and request “Basket of Joy”) The Sunday Supper series (at 1121 NE Jackson St. Suite #145, Minneapolis) is offering a Feb. 14 dinner from 5:30-10pm, including reception with bubbly and cocktails, foie gras mousse, crab bisque, wagyu steak, cheesecake, and more. ($137.50 per person) And if you want to go big in Saint Paul, the Saint Paul Hotel is doing a six-course Art of Taste Dinner from 6-8:30pm on February 15 featuring Duckhorn wines and commentary from a sommelier and the hotel’s chef. ($225 per person)