Such a challenging time was endured through a pandemic when we could not always see our nearest and dearest. Now it’s time to celebrate those special relationships with the people who make all the difference in your life. Here are a few last minute restaurant suggestions and gift ideas, as well as a tempting cocktail recipe to share with someone special.
Feature by Jean Hill
Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool
Miller & Carter
Nothing says date night like a luxurious meal with stunning views of Royal Albert Dock. For £29.95 per person, diners are guaranteed to fall in love with Miller and Carter’s unforgettable three-course menu, including spiced rum barbecue wings, Belgian chocolate brownie with warm vanilla ice cream, and of course their speciality, steak.
Gusto
Available between 11-14 February, guests at Gusto can enjoy a Valentine’s three course sharing menu for £90, featuring a traditional Antipasti, scrumptious Chateaubriand and a delicious dessert platter. Crème Brulée is in the mix! Say no more.
Madre
Join the dock’s resident Mexican restaurant for their el dia del amour, the day of love, menu and celebrate February 14 with seven dishes plus a jug of margaritas or a bottle of wine for £70. Guests can choose from a selection of flavoursome quesadillas, tostadas, small plates and their signature tacos.
Lunyalita
Visit Lunyalita between 12-14 February for a special Valentine’s banquet, with couples also receiving a complimentary glass of cava and a special box of La Praline chocolate truffles. On Valentine’s Day itself, the restaurant will be gently lit with natural candle-light and have live music playing between 6-7:30pm.
Revolución de Cuba
For those wanting to paint the town red with the girls, head to Revolución de Cuba on 13 February to celebrate Galentine’s Day with bottomless brunch, welcome drinks, samba dancers and a DJ.
The Smugglers Cove
On 14th February, visitors to The Smugglers Cove can savour their mouth-watering set menu against a backdrop of live music. Enjoy three courses and a special limited-edition cocktail for £35 per person.
The Butterfly and the Grasshopper, Liverpool
The offering is impressive: 3 courses and a welcome drink priced at £45 per person. Coquilles St Jacques, gratin scallops in a creamy mushroom sauce with Swiss Gruyere sounds wonderful and that is just for starters.
Pan fried sea bass features in the mains and blackcurrant mousse sounds tempting for dessert (with other options).
https://butterflyandgrasshopper.co.uk/
Wild and Game
Wild game specialist Wild and Game has created a Valentine’s gift with a difference: everything you need for a game-themed Valentine’s day picnic for two. All you need to do is choose which romantic location to enjoy it in.
The gift pack contains a selection of Wild and Game’s best-loved products. Enjoy four luxury pâtés, two supersized, gloriously meaty sausage rolls, delicious venison salami plus six dinky game pies. And not forgetting some beautiful chutneys to enjoy with them.
The award-winning company was set up in 2017 with the aim of championing game consumption in the UK, bringing it to a wider audience and making it a viable alternative to typical supermarket meats. Wild game is in plentiful supply in the UK, has great sustainability credentials and is leaner, higher in protein and higher in key nutrients than farmed meats.
By substituting meats such as chicken, beef or pork for meats such as pheasant, venison and wild boar, consumers can reduce their carbon footprint.
Wild and Game showcases game as the key ingredient in its award-winning pies, and in its pasties, sausage rolls and ready meals. It also sells a wide range of ready to cook game meats, plus cheeses, fish and sustainably farmed beef, lamb and pork from small scale, specialist producers. Its products are available from its website and in selected supermarkets and independent retailers.
The Valentine’s box is available here: https://www.wildandgame.co.uk/products/valentines-afternoon-tea
- The Wild and Game website is at www.wildandgame.co.uk
Gaâla – The Silk & Pearl Collection
The Silk & Pearl collection is crafted with the highest quality silk and beautifully embellished with freshwater pearls, from Katy Faye Jewellery. This collection is inspired by the iconic fashion era of the 1920s and the use of silk and pearls by designers at that time. The lustre of pearls combined with the luxuriousness of silk makes for a refined ensemble. Always elegant.
Available from Gaâla.com, from £250.
Rock Rose Gin is all about heart
My Heart is a cocktail for Valentine’s Day from Rock Rose Gin
Rock Rose Gin is sharing the love. This fine Scottish gin recently invited top bartenders to express their creativity by concocting cocktails that perfectly represented this fine Scottish gin, brimming with botanicals and made with love.
A cocktail called ‘My Heart’ was a runaway winner. To give it its Scots Gaelic name of Mo Chridhe, this delicious tipple is from a recipe by talented Aberdeen bartender Ross Lawrie from one of the UK’s top venues, the Orchid Cocktail Bar in Aberdeen. In devising this simplified version of his original recipe, he celebrates not only Scottish Gin but Scottish seaweed too: it’s a taste of the pristine British coastline from the most northerly mainland distillery in the UK.
Love and enjoy…
Mo Chridhe – My Heart Cocktail
Ingredients for one cocktail
45ml Rock Rose Gin Original Edition
Half a ripe pear (cubed)
Handful of raspberries
25ml Lemon Juice (or to taste)
20ml Sugar Syrup (or to taste)
Small pinch of Scottish Seaweed – we used Mara
Garnish: fresh rosemary
Method
Muddle the pear and raspberry in a cocktail shaker. Add all the other ingredients and vigorously shake for 10-12 seconds. Strain into a highball glass and top with ice and soda. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.
To buy Rock Rose Gin visit www.dunnetbaydistillers.co.uk As well as Original Edition, the company releases seasonal editions and other fine, award-winning gins.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
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