Love conquers all, even COVID fears, or so hope these area eateries and hotels offering special deals for lovebirds looking for a break from self-quarantine.
Of course, to ensure that you will be able to celebrate for many Valentine’s Days to come, observe all safety protocols while celebrating your special day.
Whether you prefer to dine out or take your meal home, TooJay’s has your Valentine’s meal covered with a special “Sweetheart Dinner for Too,” for $25.99, available through Sunday, Feb. 14. It includes a choice of two soups or salads, two entrées, two non-alcoholic beverages that can be upgraded to wine or beer for an additional $3 each, and a choice of one dessert to share. Guests are required to present a coupon (available online) before ordering.
The theme at Bona Italian is “Be who you are, love who you love.” Among the menu specials are shrimp bisque, basil and tomato salad atop a goat cheese crostini and Osso Bucco. Reservations are required, call 954-565-7222.
Seminole Casino Coconut Creek will celebrate Valentine’s Day with dining specials at two of its restaurants, as well as live entertainment. The property’s NYY Steak will offer dinner features from 4 to 10 p.m. with Ellison & Co. performing in the Legends Lounge beginning at 6 p.m. 1st Street Deli, serving from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will offer special luxury dishes such as shrimp bisque, filet mignon, and lobster ravioli.
Lona Cocina & Tequileria is celebrating with several specialty dishes by Chef Jorge Gutierrez and a featured cocktail, available from Friday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 14. The featured entrée will be a Mexican-style surf and turf with filet mignon and garlic shrimp. Also on offer throughout Valentine’s Day weekend is the La Rosa Margarita, Hiatus Blanco tequila with grapefruit, rose-infused simple syrup, rose petal, and a sea salt rim.
Chinese New Year occurs the same weekend as Valentine’s Day this year, so you can make your celebration a two-for. Hakkasan, in Miami’s Fountainbleu, will mark 2021 Lunar New Year with a celebratory menu. The Year of the Ox prix-fixe menu is available through Monday, Feb. 15. The $108 per person menu includes a series of traditional dishes to bring prosperity and luck. Dishes include quail blossom puff paired with a seafood dumpling; crispy kumquat chicken; steamed scallop and braised abalone and roasted duck fried rice.
Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery and Shady Distillery are offering Valentine’s Day romance with many exciting offers including pairing dinners, art workshops, food tastings, and distillery tours with live music. How about a tour of Shady Distillery to learn the basics of distilling vodka and rum? The experience includes a tasting of two signature Shady cocktails accompanied by light bites. Available Feb. 12-14 from 6-7 p.m. for $20 person. Or take a tour of Sistrunk Marketplace with a cocktail with tasting stops at Empanada Bodega, Nellies Southern Kitchen, and OSOM Crepes on Friday, Feb. 12from 5-7 p.m. for $53.10 per person + tax. If you’d prefer a full meal, there are two options. An Italian wine pairing dinner starts with a 45-minute-long wine tasting followed by a four-course dinner, offered on Feb. 24 and March 10 for $64.90 per person. Or go east for a four-course sake tasting dinner on Thursday, Feb. 25 for $64.90 per person (prices for both dinners include gratuity, but not tax). Book online at sistrunkmarketplace.com/valentines.
How about a staycation? Special Valentine’s Day weekend rates at Le Méridien Dania Beach start at $379 per night and include a tequila flight for two upon arrival from the hotel’s popular La Biblioteca de Tequila; an upgraded room with breakfast for two; and a five-course dinner for two at Toro. Holiday celebrants not staying at the hotel can also enjoy the prix-fixe dinner for $125 per couple.
New Cookbook Offers A Taste of Miami
“Taste of Miami,” the much-anticipated COVID-relief cookbook, is now available featuring 50 recipes provided by some of Miami’s favorite restaurants. Celebrity Chef Yisus from Univision Network donated his time to prepare each dish on camera and assist in organizing the recipes. The hip and colorful book offers an array of Miami staples that people have come to know and love. The recipes in the book are the most popular dishes that people order in Miami area restaurants, such as the Cap’n Crunch pancakes from Eating House, green curried mussels by Phuc Yea, lomo saltado from 33 Kitchen, Rabo encendido from Finka Table & Tap, and Abuela’s ham & chorizo Cuban macaroni from Sergio’s Restaurant, among many others. Eateries that have been struggling through this pandemic will receive 100% of the profits. A digital version is available for $24.99 and hardcover for $34.99 at https://www.cookbook.miami/.
Rick Karlin is SFGN’s food editor. Visit SFGN.com/Food to read his previous reviews. Have a culinary tip to share? Email Rick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
