Valentine's Day in Miami: Fun, Food and Chocolate!
Whether you are a couple or not…or even if you look at Valentine's Day as a “Hallmark Holiday”, February 14th and the red hearts, cards, candy and chocolates are all pretty hard to ignore.
Not to put ANY pressure on, but here are a few ideas for gift giving for Valentines or some very special Valentine themed events planned at Fairchild Botanical Gardens, Schnebly Winery and other Miami locales.
Of course, dinner for two at any of our MIAbites Best Bites restaurants ( see list here) is also always a wonderful option. Since this year Valentines Day falls on a Saturday, many are hosting special dinner options, complete with oysters and special Valentines cocktails.
Here are just a few to choose from:
The Traymore- Metropolitan by COMO- Chef Jonathan Lane has created a special 4- course Valentines Dinner for $75 pp. Dine in bliss in the Art Deco classic’s dining room.
In addition, Metropolitan by COMO and COMO Shambhala is offering a number of spa, yoga, overnight hotel packages including a 2 hour Yoga for Couples workshop on Saturday from 2 pm.
Tongue and Cheek- Chef Jamie DeRosa is offering from Feb. 13th-15th a four course menu, bottle of Solo Contigo Wine $150 per couple. And if you prefer some “alone time” with your loved on, stay home and be romantic! Call ahead and order T&C’s Valentines Day menu for $100 for Two-To-Go! Rose petals not included.
Dolce Italian Restaurant- at The Gale South Beach and currently competing on Bravo’s “Best New Restaurant”, will serve a four-course prix-fixe menu this Valentine’s Day for $75 per person.
Meat Market- Chef Sean Brasel and Lincoln Road’s contemporary steakhouse and seafood restaurant turn up the heat with a special dinner for two for $225.
Seagrape - James Beard Foundation Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein crafts dishes with farm-fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Special pricing on caviar and other special Valentines treats.
Db Bistro Moderne- The Daniel Boulud restaurant will offer a four-course Valentine’s tasting menu, with limited a la carte options on Friday and Saturday, for $150 per person. Enjoy Chef Jason Pringle’s creative cuisine in the romantic surroundings.
Bocce Ristorante- Couples will enjoy a glass of Prosecco and a four course menu for $55. Guests can also delight in their festive Amore dolce e Amaro cocktail $13.
L’echon Brasserie- Chef Jose Mendin and Josh Elliott are letting couples celebrate Valentine’s Day from Friday to Sunday. A special a la carte menu is planned.
Ortanique on the Mile will offer extra menu specials, including their Valentine’s Day themed cocktail Lovers Lane Martini, featuring watermelon and St Germaine.
SUGARCANE raw bar grill Chef Timon Balloo and Jason Morale have created a special a la menu for the romantic evening. Mixologist Jamal Giles also got in the spirit and created the VD Crush cocktail.
Mandarin Oriental- Both Azul and La Mar are hosting romantic evenings either with special Chef’s tasting menu or a la carte. The view alone will set the tone for this evening.
Valentine Themed Events are planned with food, music and romance:
Paradise Farms- A gift of a romantic night in the Paradise Farms Zen Bungalow is sure to impress even the most jaded romantic. Rustic in feel yet intimate and romantic, the one room with shoji screen doors is really just a bed with a full bathroom just across a garden of edible flowers. Pair the overnight with a Dinner in Paradise ( see MIAbites article here with full schedule ), a bike ride to local Schnebly Winery and you will feel like you are a million miles away from Miami and not just in Homestead. www.paradisefarms.net
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens- On Valentines Day, Fairchild hosts a Jazz and Picnic event featuring award winning jazz of Arturo Sandoval. Bring a picnic basket and blanket and let the music and beauty of Fairchild make your Valentine's Day a night to remember! Also, don't miss the Chuhily Garden of Glass exhibit which continues thru May so that is an added attraction. Doors open at 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM ( Concert begins at 7 pm) Tickets online at https://nc.fairchildgarden.org/valentines-concert-2015
Deering Estate at Cutler- Celebrate Valentine's Day in Miami at the 16th annual "Moonlight & Music" Valentine's Day Concert on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. (The main gate opens at 7:00 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets. No coolers are permitted. Limited refreshments and food will be available for an additional fee. Tickets can be purchased online for an additional fee or by calling the Deering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668 ext. 233. Please note: Tickets are non-refundable, rain or shine.
Schnebly Redlands Winery- A special Valentines dinner is planned with Chef Dewey LoSasso. $120 pp includes entrance for two to the winery and a 4 course meal prepared specially for this evening by Chef LoSasso. Other options include $125 for a picnic basket on the lawn to a Private seating and dinner among the vines for $150 pp. General admission is also available for $20 and Live Music is planned all evening long. http://www.schneblywinery.com/
Whole Foods DT Miami- What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day early than with wine, cheese and chocolates? On Thursday, Feb 12 from 5:30-7:30, in collaboration with Brickell Living/Our Brickell a special evening priced at $15 for the first 50 to register and $20 after includes: 3 drink tickets for beer and wine, Whole Foods assortment of cheeses and Desserts Secure your spot now: http://love-the-choco.eventbrite.com/
Chocolates still are the number one gift on Valentines and handmade artisan chocolates are a special gift for anyone.
Cacao Art provides artisan, hand-made confections crafted with luxury chocolate from Venezuela and high-quality ingredients right here in Miami.
Their creative and artistically designed artisan chocolates can be ordered online and delivered in time for Valentines and they were one of the many purveyors at this past weekends Fairchild Garden Chocolate Festival.
Recently awarded the Good Food Award 2015, their Ethiopia Kochere coffee chocolates are masterfully combined with subtle single-origin Venezuelan milk chocolate to create a flavorful bonbon that celebrates both coffee and chocolate.
Cao Chocolates- Order their delicious handmade chocolates online or stop in to their retail store for gift boxes for your loved one. 9800 Southwest 77th Avenue, Miami, FL 33156 (305) 879-0281.
All of their chocolates are hand-made fresh to order using 100% finest Venezuelan cacao, premium quality ingredients and fine liquors to offer decadent chocolates with incredible flavor and aromas made just for you.
Singles or Couples Pub Crawl:
Stupid Cupid Crawl- And yes, the Route 1 Keep Crawling team has once again found a reason to host a pub crawl…this time for singles and couples alike on Saturday February 14th with projected stops in Mary Brickell Village at Batch Gastropub, Baru, La Gazette, Dolores but You Can Call Me Lolita, Fado's Irish Pub and Blue Martini Brickell. Tickets at Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/route-1-stupid-cupid-crawl-tickets-15001287254 or if you move fast discounted on LivingSocial https://www.livingsocial.com/events/1364448-entry-to-the-stupid-cupid-bar-crawl
So make it a fun day...with your special valentine or just some friends.