Here is a selection of Valentine’s related indulgences being offered at bakeries to chocolatiers, restaurants to a vineyard and beyond! I talked about many of these treats on my radio show on the “Best and the Foodiest” on CKNW 980 AM as well as on “Food Glorious Food” at CKNW.com.
Valentines Treats
Mon Paris – Heart
Mon Paris Patisserie
4396 Beresford Street, Burnaby
Instagram @monparis.ca
Pastry Chef/Owner: Elena Krasnova
Name: Heart
Composition: crunch with hazelnut praline, raspberry confit, almond biscuit, dark chocolate mousse
Name : Corazon
Composition: Lemon biscuit, lemon mousse, Cherry confit.
Ganache Patisserie
Saint Valentin Pamplemousse Yuzu Fraises
Saint Valentin Chocolat Caramel Passion
1262 Homer St, Vancouver
Tel: 604-899-1098
Web: http://ganacheyaletown.com/
Twitter: @ganacheyaletown
A symphony of fruit flavours abound as Saint Valentin Pamplemousse Yuzu Fraises 2017 ($39.95) layers a pink grapefruit-strawberry mousseline with layers of yuzu madeleine sponge, a layer of strawberry-rhubarb gelée and pineapple-lychee cremeux with fresh raspberries and lychees. The cake is sprayed in a thin coat of white chocolate velvet and a lychee glaze on top along with raspberry macarons, white chocolate and raspberry fans, fresh raspberries, white chocolate Valentine’s decor, dried rhubarb, raspberry pâte de fruits and chocolate pearls.
For the chocolate lovers, Saint Valentin Chocolat Caramel Passion 2017 ($39.95) begins with a chocolate brownie base covered in a layer of caramel crunch and caramel chocolate ganache while an Equador 76% dark chocolate mousse completes the layers with moist chocolate cake and a passionfruit caramel cremeux in the center. Along with a thin coat of dark chocolate velvet, the cake is finished with a shiny chocolate glaze and gold caramel macarons, dark chocolate fans, cocoa nibs, passionfruit caramel mous, milk chocolate Valentine’s decor, chocolate pearls and gold flakes.
Italia Bakery
Raspberry heart cheesecakes
Chocolate eruption heart with chocolate mousse and brownie chunks
2828 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-251-6800
Web: http://www.italiabakery.ca/
Twitter @italiabakery
Chez Christophe
4717 Hastings Street, Burnaby
Phone: 604-428-4200
Instagram: @chezchristophe
Chez Christophe is back with their beautiful chocolate sculptures for Valentine’s Day. ‘Whats Knot to Love’ is a praline frangipane and a vanilla 34% Cacao Barry Zephyr whipped ganache with a heart of cassis mousse, while ‘The Garden of Love’ consists of milk chocolate mousse, raspberry coulis, and 65% Cacao Barry Haiti dark chocolate anglais topped with a chocolate cocoa crunch. Both of these offerings are available from February 12 to 14, along with the chocolatier’s famous boxes of chocolate.
Lisa Lou’s
1007 Main Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-689-8219
Instagram: @lialouschocolatebar
has a serious lineup of chocolates for the season of love, including Chocolate Hazelnut Hearts and Hazelnut Praline and Salted Caramel Chocolate.
Lime and Moon Pie Co.
1066 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Tel: (604) 889-6426
Twitter @limeandmoon
Valentine’s day special: Organic raspberry cream pie
Lucky’s Doughnuts
2902 Main Street (Forty Ninth Parallel Café), Vancouver
Phone: 604-872-4901
and
Address: 2198 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-420-4901
Instagram: @luckysdoughnuts
will have some Valentine’s Day specials available for one day only on February 14. The offerings with include a Lemon-Glazed Ring with strawberry drizzle and dried raspberries, a Rose and Vanilla-Filled Bismarck, and a Raspberry-Glazed Doughnut and topped with white chocolate crunchy pearls. Lucky’s will also have all their regular doughnuts on the Valentine’s Day, and they will be heart-shaped.
Soirette Macaron
1433 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-558-3308
Instagram: @lovesoirette
Valentine’s Day collection features layered Vanilla Cake with strawberries, rose-white chocolate, and champagne mousse, a Peach and Pear White Chocolate Heart, and Passionfruit Heart Pops.
Fratelli Bakery
1795 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Web: http://fratellibakery.com/
Twitter: @fratellibakery
Has Heart Shaped Cookies, macarons, cupcakes and more.
Bon Macaron
2823 West Broadway and inside the Granville Island Public Market.
Web: http://www.bonmacaronpatisserie.com/
Twitter @BonMacaronVic
Features a fancy box of nine macarons with three mini heart macarons and six macarons.; bag of mini heart macarons.
Half Baked Cookie Co.
1211 Nanaimo St, Vancouver
Tel: (778) 848-0105
Web: http://halfbakedcookiecompany.com/
Twitter: @half_baked_sb
Instagram: @halfbakedcookieco
Featurs Spicy Chocolate Ganache Tarts.
Valentines Dinners
Au Comptoir
Guests are invited to tell their sweetheart je t’aime in a truly memorable way with a special Valentine’s Day dinner service at Au Comptoir on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Typically closed for service on Tuesdays, Au Comptoir co-owners Maxime Bettili and Julien Aubin will open doors to welcome guests for a four-course, Paris-by-way-of-West-Coast feast with seating options between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m, or 8:00 and 8:45 p.m., available for $80 per person plus tax and gratuity. Highlights of the menu include ‘bavarois de pommes de terre et caviar’ (potato and crème fraîche bavarois, local caviar, fennel), ‘terrine de poireau, homard et truffle’ (terrine of leek, lobster and black perigord truffle, bisque aioli, grapefruit, watercress) and ‘côte de boeuf, pommes pont neuf’ (bone-in ribeye steak for two, thick cut fries, aioli).
Reservations: Reservations may be made by calling the restaurant at 604-569-2278.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
On Tuesday, February 14, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar will bring the love by playing host to an exclusive Valentine’s Day dinner service. Highlights of the restaurant’s four-course feast, available $99 per person plus tax and gratuity, include ’slow poached Sawmill Bay oyster’ with Northern Divine caviar, surf clam essence, ‘butter poached Atlantic lobster tail’ with roasted Jerusalem artichoke, sauce américaine and black truffle, and ‘raspberry vacherin’ with raspberry crémeux, meringue and cheese ice cream. All guests will also receive a complimentary box of Valentine petits fours. Optional wine pairings selected by General Manager and Sommelier Steve Edwards are available for $59 per person, while premium wine pairings are on offer for an additional $99 per person.
Reservations: Reservations may be made online at www.boulevardvancouver.ca/reservations or by calling 604-642-2900
Farmer’s Apprentice
Locavore restaurant Farmer’s Apprentice will offer lovebirds a special “In Full Bloom” Valentine’s feast on both Monday, Feb. 13 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Guests may choose between two seatings (5:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.) that feature six-course, flower-themed ‘Herbivore’ and ‘Omnivore’ menu options for $80 per person plus tax and gratuity, with optional wine pairings available for an additional $50. Featuring a different edible flower with each course, the menu includes highlights such as ‘Elderflower’ with Sablefish, Heirloom Beans, Cream; ‘Lavender’ with three-week Aged Duck, Honey, Glazed Carrots, and ‘Hibiscus’ with Lemon Curd, Caramelized White Chocolate Sorbet.
Reservations: Reservations may be made online or by calling the restaurant at 604-620-2070.
Valentines Experiences
Secret Garden Tea @secretgardentea
Our special #Valentine’s Day tea is only available from Feb. 11-14 and includes these #delicious Bittersweet #Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bites!
Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar
Address: 900 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-632-9560
Instagram: @uvavancouver
award-winning bar team will be featuring three wine selections by the bottle while pairing them indulgent complimentary chocolate tasting. You may not consider this a dinner, but for those with a big sweet tooth – it’s the perfect activity for the 14th.
Bodega on Main
offering 3 seatings on Valentines Day
email to reserve: info@bodegaonmain.ca
Ai & Om Knives
129 E. Pender Street, Vancouver
Web: http://www.aiandomknives.ca/
Twitter: @AiandOm
Couples Sharpen Skills at Ai & Om Knives in Time for Valentine’s Day, Douglas Chang to Host Sweetheart Knife Class on February 12
Valentine’s Day Cocktails
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
J-S Dupuis, Beverage Director
‘Jus d’Amour No. 2’
Boulevard Beverage Director J-S Dupuis will also offer guests a signature Valentine’s Day cocktail guaranteed to set the mood, featuring Brockman’s gin with Cocchi Rosa, raspberry liqueur, lemon, honey, rose water and egg white.
L’Abattoir
Katie Ingram, Head Bartender
‘La Vie En Rose’
Featuring El Gobernador Pisco, cherry liqueur, sweet vermouth and raspberry, L’Abattoir Head Bartender Katie Ingram’s ‘La Vie En Rose’ is a twist on a French classic from Paris, the city of love. The Pisco shines as it dances with the cherries and red berries beneath the Eiffel Tower. Love starts to blossom as the sun sets and the entire sky turns pink.
‘Adieu Mon Coeur’
Also on offer at L’Abattoir in time for Valentine’s Day is the ‘Adieu Mon Coeur’, featuring Forty Creek Copper Pot Whisky, Campari, Amaro Averna, amber vermouth and Bittered Sling Kensington Bitters. Created fort he bitter lovers out there, this cocktail features a spicy sweetness balanced with the bitterness of Campari and aromatic bitters.
I am sure there are many more bakeries, cafes, chocolatiers, and sweet shops around the city have created desserts to celebrate Valentines Day, as well as more restaurants offering special dinners and additional experiences and such.
By: Richard Wolak