Valentine’s Day Ideas – It’s Not Too Late To Ace It
Valentine’s Day can often be like New Year’s Eve, a total rip off, with prices being jacked up and a lot of cliches; heaven forbid someone asks you to marry them on February 14, I think that just might be the worst. Sorry. Husband Michael has informed me that he hates Valentine’s Day, so I won’t be getting flowers apparently, but we are going to a play and I’ve informed him he’s taking me for a dinner. For the rest of you, there’s still lots of reservations open and a few fun things around town that aren’t just for couples. Here’s a few suggestions.
Foodora Food Bouquets
Beginning February 12, Vancouver foodies will have the opportunity to preorder foodora’s exclusive food bouquets through the foodora app and website. Customers can choose between a sweet bouquet, ‘Shape of my Heart,’ from Bon Macaron Patisserie’, or a savoury bouquet, ‘Fowl Play,’ from JUKE Fried Chicken.
Chocolate and Pizza at Rocky Mountain Flatbread
The folks at Rocky Mountain Flatbread have paired up with their neighbours at Koko Monk Chocolates to deliver a delicious Valentine’s Day menu where each course paired with a handmade local raw chocolate. The three-course menu is offered for $30 per person and we were lucky enough to get a sneak peak prior to the big day and can confirm it’s well worth of your dining dollars. More on that here.
Galentine’s With Nadia Albano
A night of Beauty, Besties & Bubbles ❤❤// “Gal-entine’s” Beauty Night.
Location: Nadia Albano Style Inc. (1874 W. 1st Ave)
Date: Wednesday, Feb 14 5pm – 9pm $20 per person
RSVP: info@nadiaalbano.com or 604-682-3016
Bring your best gal-pal on a date to our studio in Kits and experience a night of beauty and pampering with the @nadiaalbanostyleinc beauty team.✨💄
Event Includes:
• Your choice of 1 of 3 makeup demo (sultry eyes, red lip, or glowy skin)
• Your choice of 1 of 3 hairstyles (love knot, french fishtail, curled and tousled)
• A chance to enter our “I ❤ my Bestie” Grand Prize Giveaway !! #NadittudeTM#NAStyleInc (📷 via Pinterest)
Romantic Dinner at CIBO
Available throughout the evening, the four-course menu — which features a choice of appetizer, main and dessert as well as a perfect-for-sharing pasta course of roasted mushroom-filled, heart-shaped ravioli — is available for $68 per person plus tax and gratuity.
The restaurant will also offer a feature cocktail, ‘In Between Cupid’, created by Bar Manager Sabrine Dhaliwal, winner of the Bartender of the Year title at the 2017 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. The deliciously dreamy pink-hued libation is a bright, citrusy love potion that mingles gin, Campari, lemon juice, homemade spiced pineapple syrup and Bittered Sling ‘Denman’ bitters for a swoon-worthy
VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER MENU
APPETIZER
– choice of –
Albacore Tuna spaghetti squash, purple potato, brussels sprouts, saffron aioli, dried tomato vinaigrette, pickled quail egg
Smoked & Slow Roasted Pork Belly butternut squash, pickled shallot & caper relish
Roasted Carrot & Beet Salad roasted pumpkin seed & calabrian chili brittle, arugula, pickled golden raisin
PASTA Heart-Shaped Ravioli for Two roasted mushroom-filled, sunchoke purée, toasted pistachio, tomato conserva, parmesan
MAIN COURSE – choice of –
Butter-Poached Black Cod lobster croquette, celery root purée, braised leek
Pan-Roasted Beef Tenderloin caramelized onion pave potato, crispy onions, gorgonzola, marsala jus
Lentil & Chick Pea Fritter salsa verde, beet risotto, roasted sweet potato, chive whipped goat cheese
DESSERT – choice of –
Chocolate Mousse crushed meringues, dried strawberry, strawberry jam
Tiramisu mascarpone custard, chocolate brownie nubs
Blackberry White Chocolate Semifreddo almond cookie
TheatreSports Romance Week
In honour of Valentine’s, Vancouver TheatreSports is celebrating the fun and funny of romance with three special shows they are calling Romance Week, February 6-14 at The Improv Centre on Granville Island. VTSL’s improvisers will tickle your funny bone and put the ha-ha in Happy Valentine’s with: Love Matches – classic TheatreSports™ matches given a romantic twist; Love Unscripted – An Improvised Rom Com celebrates all the inane clichés and funny, awkward moments you’d expect to see in any romantic comedy as suggested by the audience; Red Hot Improv – takes its cue from today’s hook-up culture (NC17).
Romance Week ‘climaxes’ with My Funny Valentine VTSL’s special Valentine’s Day event on Wednesday, February 14 — hosted by none other than Cupid himself along with the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite (aka Venus). The evening features three ‘improv couples’ in an audience-inspired competition to prove that love conquers all. This full evening event will also include special roving characters, a ‘Love Astrologer’ who’ll check your Love Chart (are your sun signs compatible?), and personalized improvised love sonnets you can take with you.
Show times and ticket information can be found at vtsl.com.
Love is in the air this February at The Westin Bayshore, H2 Rotisserie & Bar and H Tasting Lounge
Join H2 Rotisserie & Bar for lively, aphrodisiac-inspired ingredients like fig, pomegranate, passion fruit, prawns, scallops, beef, asparagus and chocolate fondue sweep you off your feet. This three-course (plus inter-mezzo) Valentine’s Day Fresh Sheet menu is $90 per couple, and is served to you and yours family-style. Over at the elegrant H Tasting Lounge there’s three indulgent courses that include local oysters with Canadian sturgeon caviar, aburi sashimi, beef wellington for two, and Belgium dark chocolate fondue. Treat yourself and your loved one to this share-style meal for $180.
Extend your stay with a Fly Me to the Moon Couples’ Staycation package that includes a one night’s stay for two, a $100 food & beverage credit applicable for H2 Rotisserie & Bar or H Tasting Lounge (with option to upgrade to a Valentine’s Day Couples’ Cooking Class on Feb 14), a 60-minute Classic Couples’ Massage in VIDA Spa, and a $60 in-room dining credit to enjoy breakfast in bed.
Ladies are invited to a ‘Galentine’s’ themed staycation weekend in the city available for the entire month of February. This package includes a one night’s stay for two and a $75 credit to use at H Tasting Lounge. The following morning, enjoy two 60-minute Ayurvedic facials at VIDA Spa followed by brunch for two at H2 Rotisserie & Bar.
Valet parking is provided for all dinner guests, compliments of the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver.
For more information and to book your reservations, call 604.682.3377 or visit westinbayshore.com/february-offers.
