Where Did You Go Last Year for Valentine's Day?

[hiddenboston]

With Valentine's Day coming up, I figured it might be nice to hear about Valentine's Day experiences from last year, not just where I live (Boston), but throughout the country.

Last year, we went to a French/Cambodian restaurant in Cambridge, MA, called Elephant Walk. Cozy, exotic atmosphere, outstanding food, and surprisingly reasonable prices, especially for Valentine's Day (about $15-25 per meal, plus drinks). I'd definitely go back there this year if I weren't going to be in Connecticut.

[thinks too much]

Home! I avoid eating out on V-day like the plague. That said, we do try to eat especially well on that day. Last year we ate sea scallops with a ginger lemon sauce and arugula salad. The year before we had braised short ribs.

[scubadoo97]

+1

That's the last day I would choose to go out to dinner.
I cook dinner at home for my sweetie. Something a little different that I know she would like.

[alwayscooking]

+2

This year is cioppino, shrimp stuffed chicken, lemon rice, asparagus, and chocolate ravioli. This is one of the few days when the linen and plates come out - along with the champagne!

[thinks too much]

that sounds amazing! What dod you do to make chocolate ravioli; that's the only note that sounds a little dodgy.

[kchurchill5]

I make choco ravioli with hazelnuts and sometimes raspberry jam and an egg to thicken. It is great. I have a honey sauce too for other chocolate recipes. Lots of different combinations as well. Pistachios are also good. Ask if you want a particular recipe.

[alwayscooking]

Cocoa in the dough, filled with a chocolate ganache and almonds, and served with two sauces (chocolate and raspberry). The ravioli are poached in a sugar water bath. My SO loves chocolate.

[kchurchill5]

Different than mine but just as good. I poach or boil lightly and then pan saute in butter and top with granulated sugar for a topping. I love them.

[alwayscooking]

oooo - like the idea of the butter saute! Thanks

[kchurchill5]

Ditto, hate going out on V day. I made rack of lamp, it was a request, mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus and a fried blue cheese salad which is really good with arugula and fresh fennel.

[Avalondaughter]

I was tired of overpriced, underwhelming price fixe menus and the crows on V-day, so I cooked a special dinner at home. I regretted it when it came time for cleanup!

This year rather than go someplace deliberately romantic and fancy, and to save ourselves the pain of cleanup after cooking an over-the-top meal at home, we decided to just to go a casual pancake house kind of place. They're not going to push special menus on us, we know it will be good, and we still have the experience of being served.

[Soop]

I feel the same. I'd rather go out a day after/before.

One year, I booked the table 3 weeks in advance, then when I got there and they tried to push a set menu on us, I upped and walked out. Politely of course, this is England after all.

[kchurchill5]

a couple days after, good call.

[tracylee]

Nowhere - we cooked lobster at home.
This year we'll be at a local bar as my SO is playing a gig that night. I can't decide if I'll order nachos or chicken strips for my romantic v-day dinner, LOL.

[rockycat]

I'm with everyone else. V-day is possible the WORST day of year to go to a restaurant for all the above-mentioned reasons. This year paella is on the menu and I usually bake something way over-the-top but we probably won't go too overboard with other fixings since we're expecting a bunch of houseguests next week and I really don't want to deal with all the extra clean-up.

[bubbles4me]

Last year the hubby was away on business so I ate potato chips and drank Champagne. This year we are going to a friend's and we are all making a course, Mussels, risotto, braised short ribs, cheese platter and unholy amounts of Champagne.....cannot wait!