For anyone who thinks Valentine’s Day is an overly commercial, manufactured holiday—I see you, I hear you, and I agree with you. HOWEVER, for many parents, date nights can be few and far between. Valentine’s Day motivates us to make time for our partners, and I welcome that kind of motivation these days. Let’s get creative and use this holiday as an opportunity to strengthen our romantic relationships and make some fun memories.
Since we’re still in a whole pandemic, virtual or at-home options abound and will be marked with an asterisk (*).
SPECIAL MENUS & EVENTS
FYI: This V-Day is expected to be more takeout-oriented than ever. Some restaurants have order deadlines of February 10-11 for Valentine’s Day. No matter where you order from, be sure to check ahead and see if they have any sort of deadline!
*February 9 :: RA Sushi offers a virtual Be My Valentine Sushi & Sake 101 Class tonight. It includes a kit with everything you’ll need, even some edamame to snack on while you roll. Pick up your kit at their Shops at Legacy location on the day of the event. 6pm. $55 per person/$100 per couple.
*February 11-14 :: On Valentine’s Day, Perry’s Frisco will offer a 3-course prix fixe menu in-house for $75 per person ($60 per if you do an early bird reservation between 4-5:30pm). A to-go option is available from 11am-close for $60 per person. OR, from February 11-14, you can choose a special “Perry’s Valentine Candlelight Dinner for 2” for $99/couple (to-go only). Menus here.
*February 12-13 :: Goldbelly isn’t just for shipping iconic dishes around the country. They also offer live virtual cooking classes from big names. Check the link for details on the different classes, like a Valentine’s Cake DIY with Buddy Valastro or a Valentine’s Dinner Cook-Along. Your order includes a kit with everything you’ll need, shipped to your door. From $109.
Related: If you aren’t interested in the cook-alongs, take a look at some of their other unique Valentine’s Day offerings. Goldbelly is good for special occasions since it’s a novelty and a bit of a splurge.
*February 14 :: Fogo de Chao is open for table service, but they’ll also provide you a to-go option with ready-to-grill meats plus ready-made sides and desserts (and pão de queijo) for your Valentine’s feast at home. Order deadline is February 10, and your order must be picked up or delivered by 10am on February 14. Order online.
*February 12-14 :: Haywire will have ready-to-heat Valentine’s Day Couples Kits this year. You’ll get a meat and cheese board, 2 filets, sides, red velvet cake, and a custom candle. For an extra $50 you can include a bourbon or wine pairing. Call to order. Kit pickups are between 1-4 pm from February 12-14. $100.
*February 13-14 :: Cru has a few different Valentine’s offerings this year: a 4-course prix fixe menu for $60, the complete Valentine’s For Two (to-go) package for $110, or the Sweetheart Sunday Brunch, a 3-course prix fixe menu. Both prix fixe menus are available for dine-in or to-go. You can also add on a take-home mimosa kit for brunch. Call to order.
February 14:: Another extremely date-y spot is Eight 11 Place, the house-turned-wine bar in downtown Frisco. Sit fireside on their outside patio and enjoy live music from local artists. Feast on one of their shareable boards and toast to being such a good-looking couple!
February 13 :: Legacy Hall will host It’s Mardi Gras, Y’all today. Pre-order a crawfish boil spread from Dock Local and enjoy live jazz bands, king cake, hurricanes, and Cajun bites. The event is free admission until after 7pm, at which time you’ll need to have a General Admission ticket or VIP reservation in the Box Garden. Lots more details at the link. Masks required unless actively eating or drinking. 2-10pm.
*February 13 :: Attend a Virtual Valentine’s Day Happy Hour where you’ll learn to make a fancy cocktail and decadent truffles to go with it. They’ll send you the DIY Kit with everything you need to create your treats (aside from the tequila). See the link for more details and to register. 8:30-9:30pm. $85.
*February 14 :: Support comedy venues from the comfort of home! Tonight you can see Steve Hofstetter Heckles Himself: Valentine’s Day Hecklers Edition. Steve and some comedian friends will revisit footage of his favorite Valentine’s Day hecklers, and they’ll break it down, give updates, and take questions. Good concept! The show is 75-90 minutes. 9pm. Tickets from $5.
*February 12-14 :: Trivia, AD hosts fun virtual trivia sessions on all sorts of topics. This weekend you have 3 different options: The Office Valentine’s Day Trivia on 2/12 @ 6:30pm (on Instagram Live), Disney Couples Trivia on 2/13 @ 8:30pm (on FB Live), and Parks & Rec Trivia on 2/14 @ 6:30pm (on FB Live). More details at the links. Free!
AT-HOME IDEAS
*Put it on a Board :: Valentine’s Day would be a great time to whip up a dessert board. Pop some bubbly and watch Search Party or the Saved By The Bell reboot. Both so good. Here are some local bakeries and sweet spots if you need ’em!
*Game Night :: When was the last time you played a game with just your partner? We introduced the kids to Scattergories last weekend, and my husband and I were cracking up at each other’s answers—that game is hard when you’re old and in a pandemic! We immediately made plans to play again, just the two of us.
Related: Here’s how to set up a virtual Scattergories game if you want to get some friends involved.
*Breakfast in Bed :: Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, making a strong case for brunch or breakfast in bed. To avoid unfair labor distributions, cook breakfast together and then get back in bed to lounge and enjoy it. Or keep things hassle-free with pastries, kolaches, and handwritten love notes.
More resources: If you’re in Plano, the “muffies” from Oppa Treats get rave reviews. Frisco friends, how about quiche and croissants from Tulla Patisserie? Don’t forget a breakfast tray—with legs or without!
*Dinner for Two :: I usually do my most elaborate cooking for a group. Why not put that same energy toward an intimate dinner? Million Dollar Chicken is the perfect “fancy” dish to make for Valentine’s Day because it works best for two and is so delicious. This link goes to a video recipe from Chef John/Food Wishes. I recommend this version because he’s got good tips!
*Make Pasta Together :: In terms of cooperative cooking ideas, nothing beats pasta making. And fresh pasta has the best cost-benefit of any homemade food. You don’t even need a pasta maker; rolling pins will work! Here’s instructions for rolling pin ravioli, including fillings. And if you want to splash out for a pasta maker, here’s a good KitchenAid mixer attachment or a countertop version.
*Home Movies :: All those videos you record…How often do you go back and watch them? I have videos on my current phone going back to 2014. This would be a great time to mirror your phone to the TV and roll tape. You could even get super serious and retrieve photos and videos from your external hard drives for once. Look back on all the memories you’ve made together, see the kids at their cutest, and escape to times when COVID wasn’t a thing. Make popcorn or pick up a few interesting flavors from a local spots like Legends, Mom and Popcorn, Crave, or Deanan’s.
*Test Your Taste Buds :: Tastings are always fun. And extremely versatile. You could do a popcorn tasting from one of the gourmet shops above and try to guess flavors. Or bring home a bunch of different chocolate bars from World Market or Central Market to see which you like best. Try a blind wine or champagne tasting and watch the handwriting on your scorecard get worse and worse as tipsiness sets in. Or cheese! Hard cheeses, French cheeses, cheddars by age. Pickles, potato chips, salsas, root beers…truly endless possibilities! You can also search YouTube to find guided tastings for any and all spirits. It’s nice to have an expert talk you through what you’re sipping.
My main piece of advice is to include some sort of scorecard so you can jot opinions and rank your choices. It’s so funny how people choose to describe what they’re tasting.
For even MORE socially-distanced ideas, take a look at our Valentine’s Date Night Guide over on Dallas Moms.
