If you’re reading this there IS still time!
This Valentine’s Day we recommend keeping it local with candlelit dinners at Poco, Trullo or Sodo – oooooooooo – coincidence? We think not.
However, if you want something a bit different, feast your eyes on this little lot……
Francesco Mazzei has created a four course menu to be served at the newly re-launched restaurant Sartoria on London’s Savile Row.
Priced at £60 per head, the menu includes Charcoal diver scallops with ‘nduja and salsa verde; Lobster ravioli with truffle and Beef tagliata followed by Cupolone (chocolate dome) for dessert. For an additional £50 per person, the restaurant’s renowned sommelier, Michael Simms, will pair each dish on the menu with a matching glass of wine.
Why is it different? Diners will be able to book a chauffeur-driven Maserati Quattroporte for an additional charge of £50 per hour for all distances within the M25 and there is a 2 hour minimum charge for all bookings.
Don’t want to get out of bed? The Cider Box is hand delivering bundles of real cider and fantastic cheese direct to people’s front doors this Valentine’s.
The pairing features Worley’s Special Reserve Medium; a naturally sparkling, bottle conditioned cider made using the ancient method of keeving. The cider itself is sweet and fruity, with subtle tones of caramel. It weighs in at 5.4%, in a 75cl bottle. Complementing the fine cider, is the world’s best cheddar, Cheesemakers to Harrods & Fortnums, this deliciously creamy & naturally salted mature cheddar is the mighty fine accompaniment to the cider, its mellowness countering the natural acidity of the cider. The cheese comes in a waxed 200g truckle.
R&B Distillers have found their whiskies to by quite divisive; couples are often torn, with one half preferring the lightness of Borders and the other preferring the peaty While We Wait whisky. Therefore, to quell arguments this Valentine’s Day, R&B Distillers have created a whisky gift package “for one who loves peat and one who loves sweet” which comprises of one 20cl bottle of each whisky.
While We Wait is a single malt with a smoky peat aroma that is softened in the finishing process which occurs in French oak Tuscan red wine casks and results in a unique, spiced and red fruit flavour and a delicate pink hue. A delicious sipping whisky, While We Wait pairs well beautifully with scallops, smoked salmon and game dishes thus would provide an apt accompaniment to a lavish, home-cooked Valentine’s meal.
Borders is a single grain whisky which is lighter and softer in flavour than the smoky peat dram of While We Wait. Matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks, the golden Borders has prominent sherry notes on the nose, hints of sugar-coated nut pairs and, fortunately for Valentine’s Day, it pairs well with dark praline chocolates. The gift package is priced at £39.99.
At the newly opened House of Ho on Percy Street, one lucky diner will win a diamond worth £2,200, which will be discovered at the bottom of a beautiful cocktail named Diamonds Are Forever. Guests can purchase the exclusive cocktail from Saturday 13th February until Sunday 14th February for £9.50 for the chance to win. Good Luck!
Named “The Picasso of Pastry”, Pierre Herme Paris luxury chocolatier and pastry chef, has teamed up with world-renowned artist Nicolas Buffe and created a new collection of chocolates for Valentine’s Day! You’ll want to keep the box even after you’ve finished them. Grab them from Selfridges.
We are totally smitten with Fortnum & Mason’s personalised hampers. For the first time you can replace the famous F&M for your own initials *SWOONS*.
Oh and inside you’ll find Fortnum’s exclusive Amber Rose Votive Candle, luxurious bath truffles, a personalised heart-shaped box of chocolates, Fortnum’s Jammy Dodgers, delicious Marshmallow Hearts, an intensely fruity Ruinart Rosé (complete with two crystal clear LSA handmade Champagne flutes) and a collection of Contemporary British Love Poetry.
Leading French caviar producer Caviar Sturia have an incredible selection to choose from. We tried them all and can recommend a tin of Styria Primeur, proposed a few days after fishing, the fresh and delicate taste of green hazelnut and cream will surprise even the hardy connoisseur. Refined for less than 4 weeks, its shiny and detached roe reveal a creamy texture in mouth and a delicate taste of fresh hazelnut.
Alternatively, play it safe with Cocoa Runners – because who doesn’t like chocolate? Providing lovers an edit of the very finest bars from all over the world, the box will be carefully filled with a selection of the best single-estate chocolate, with bars including Marou – Ba Ria, made using cocoa beans from Vietnam, it has a deep fruity flavour and hints of spice; Domori – Apurimac Peru which embodies notes of tobacco and burnt caramel; Original Beans – Femme de Virunga, a deliciously creamy and smooth dark milk chocolate bar; and to complete the collection Cacaosuyo – Lakuna – made from rare beans grown deep within the Peruvian jungle. The artisan chocolate bars are all encased in beautifully designed packaging and will arrive in a gift box with a personal message of your choice. Priced at £24.95.
Taking place on Saturday 13th February, Barrio’s Anti-Valentine’s Fiesta celebrates the legendary party which happened in 1929, where a mob of singletons associated with the Hips Don’t Lie gang of southside Mexico City caused absolute mayhem, leaving nothing but a wake of empty tequila and mezcal bottles… Sounds like fun!
Guests can get warmed up with a delicious tequila and mezcal tasting menu, and then soak up the alcohol with Barrio’s Mexican menu, ranging from fresh crispy squid to melt in the mouth pork tacos.
Once all palettes have been adequately whet, the Barrio Allstar DJs will be taking over the wheel, providing the perfect Anti-Valentine’s soundtrack until the early hours.
Both of the parties at Barrio Central and Barrio North are completely free, and the party at Barrio East is just £5.
Or – if all else fails, stay in and eat ice-cream in your pants! Häagen-Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake flavour is the perfect flavour for V-Day.
Whatever you get up to – Enjoy! x
