Valentine’s Day is the time to celebrate romance and love as we spoil our other halves come Tuesday, February 14.
But did you know the origins of this candy and cupid festival are actually dark, bloody and a bit muddled?
From February 13-15, ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia – men sacrificed a goat and dog, then whipped women with the hides of the animals they had just slain. While Emperor Claudius II also had a hand in the legend, executing two men both named Valentine, on February 14 of different years in the Third Century.
Their martyrdom was honoured by the Catholic Church with the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
As the years went on, the holiday grew sweeter with Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticising it in their work and handmade paper cards became tokens of affection in the Middle Ages.
Today the holiday is big business…February has never been the same since we started the Love Month! Here are six suggestions for a romantic rendezvous or gift on Tuesday:
Feel like a kid in a candy store when you check out Kandy Couture on Chapman Drive in Clinton to satisfy every imaginable sweet tooth. This Capricorn Coast lolly shop projects a vibrant pink vibe inside and out, with shelves and cabinets overflowing with all manner of decadent treats from pick-and-mix candy to chocolate, toffee, coffee, drinks and hampers.
Ideal for spoiling your Valentine, choose some hand-crafted Belgium chocolates or pick your own mix and dish up a decadent sweet box full of yummy indulgences sure to make anyone’s day extra special.
Share the joy of sipping a Cognac or fine wine with friends old and new at Hendriks Cognac & Wine on Holtermann Street in Crows Nest. This cosy and intimate bar is named after owner Jakob’s father and inspired by the joy he felt in sharing a drink and good times; expect the complete sensory experience as you chill in stylish surrounds of Art Deco wall art, moody lighting, leather Chesterfield couches and stools.
Find a cosy and quiet corner on Valentine’s Day and savour a glass of Remy Martin Cognac with shared plates such as confit duck, steamed potatoes, greens and sage burnt butter sauce.
Delivering the happiness chocolate brings, Love Byron Bay on Lawson Street is a one-stop shop for quality and artisan chocolate. Drop into the physical shop in Byron for boutique crêpes like ham, cheese, mushrooms and chilli jam to go with a brew of choice and check out the decadent chocolate treats on offer, such as signature Rocky Road, now with raspberry and white chocolate.
Alternatively, order online and give the gift of love this Valentine’s Day with quality chocolate arriving fresh to your door – mouth-watering gift boxes make the ideal present, including pralines, truffles and alcohol-infused treats, along with crème caramel, macadamia and mocha.
For the ultimate indulgence, take your someone special to Bottarga on Martin Street in Brighton on Tuesday for a nine-course degustation dinner with a glass of premium Prosecco on arrival. Inspired by the blue waters of the Mediterranean and European culinary traditions, this Melbourne Italian dining destination fuses taste and tradition in industrial-style surrounds of a wine barrel, open kitchen and moody lighting.
From scallop crudo to oysters, arancini and pork and veal agnolotti, this will be a meal to remember and sure to set the tone for a romantic evening of good food, wine and times.
A romantic French feast is on the menu at Lorraine’s Bistro on Bronte Road in Waverley this Valentine’s Day with the option of paired wines. Revel in European-inspired flavours in an open, relaxed setting at this dining destination, situated on level one of the iconic Robin Hood Hotel and featuring a stunning glass atrium roof offering the perfect space to chill out with good food and drinks.
Expect dishes like oysters to start, followed by tuna tartare, Wagyu striploin, truffle Paris mash and a petite salad; before a divine dessert to finish your Valentine’s meal of salted caramel chocolate lava cake and vanilla ice cream.
Celebrate with your own God or Goddess next Tuesday with a seafood degustation at Gods of the Sea on Seaworld Drive in Main Beach. With views across the Gold Coast Broadwater from every table, this restaurant offers a contemporary dining experience with a focus on sustainably caught seafood and native ingredients.
Tuesday’s menu includes freshly shucked oysters to start, along with pickled ocean trout, Moreton Bay bug linguine, paperbark smoked toothfish, chocolate and coffee mousse, wattle seed and whisky cream for the perfect romantic meal.
Still looking for somewhere to take your Valentine? Click here to find the ideal venue!
