Saturday Sweets: Special Desserts for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us – how is it already mid-February?! Whether you’re single or attached, there’s lots of sweet deals out there making this coming Tuesday something to look forward to. While I’m a firm believer in having chocolate every day, there’s something a little extra special about Valentine’s Day.

Here’s where I think you should get your fix on this sweet day full of love:

Fooq’s-   1035 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33136 (786) 536-2749   

Many restaurants have pre-fix menus for Valentine’s Day, and some of them feature special dessert creations. If you’re planning on dining downtown, you should make a note to check out Fooq’s. This Valentine’s Day they will be serving a Saffron Pot de Crème with orange blossom and rosewater caramel, fresh berries and roasted white chocolate.

Scarpetta by Scott Conant- The Fontainebleau – 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach 33140 (305) 674-4660  

While this one isn’t actually happening on Valentine’s Day, being able to spend the evening sipping champagne at the Fontainebleau for $30 is quite the deal. Scarpetta will offer a sommelier-led chocolate and champagne tasting in collaboration with on site chocolate shop, Chez Bon Bon every Thursday from 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. priced at $30 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Indulge in a trilogy of champagnes paired with three decadent chocolate pralines that are handcrafted in-house by Fontainebleau’s elite chocolatiers.  Space is limited.

The Dutch at the W South Beach-  2201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139  (305) 938-3111  

I’ve always been a big fan of anything coming out of the kitchen at The Dutch, especially with it’s from the hands of pastry chef, Josh Gripper. This year for Valentine’s Day he’s pulling out all the stops with his shareable dessert, Gripper’s Grail for Two.  It’s the perfect dessert featuring all of my favorite flavors. There’s housemade chocolate and caramel ice cream, passion-fruit sorbet, brownie, housemade marshmallow fluff, hazelnut cream, caramelized banana, chocolate mousse, crunchy meringue, crunchy feuilletine, passion-fruit syrup, and shards of tempered dark chocolate, and chocolate sauce drizzled tableside. 

Eating House-  804 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134(305) 448-6524  

Everyone’s favorite dessert (aka my favorite dessert) at Eating House, The Dirt Cup, is getting a Valentine’s Day face lift. They are taking the childhood classic and making it a hazelnut heaven. Instead of the usual vanilla ice cream, for this week only, it’s being swapped out for hazelnut ice cream and they are adding tons of Ferrero Rocher crunchy hazelnut chocolates. Just think about how irresistible this dish will be once added to the usual Nutella mousse. That’s almost enough to make me cancel my plans and head there this Valentine’s Day!

Cao Chocolates-  9800 SW 77th Ave, Miami, FL 33156  (305) 879-0281 

If you want to go the more local DIY route, take a trip to Cao Chocolates in South Miami. This bean to bar concept is making some amazing local treats. Grab a few different kinds of chocolates and make your special someone a gift basket! We all know it’s the thought that counts, but making sure the chocolate is delicious and made with love definitely helps!

Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market-  5241 NW 87th Ave, Doral, FL 33178 (305) 222-7447  

Gotta love when your dessert doubles as a piece of art! That’s what’s happening at Dragonfly with their Jonetsu dessert. It features black sesame cake, feuilletine, praline, chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, strawberry ume jelly, champagne togarashi jelly. Head there for dinner or just stop in for the most important part of the meal – dessert and cocktails!

Here’s to wishing you all a very SWEET Valentine’s Day!