Valentine’s Day weekend is looking snowy, but you can still show restaurants some love, livestream a concert from the couch, cook with the pros, eat sweets decked in hearts, or drink your feelings. We’ve rounded up a few of the many food-related holiday offerings.
DINING, IN PERSON & AT HOME
ALBI: A Valentine takeout and delivery meal touched by the wood-fired grill, as well as dine-in options, are available from Chef Michael Rafidi. Mediterranean plates like mushroom humus with egg yolk and black truffle, handmade pita, coal-fired lobster, BBQ lamb loin, and chocolate chip cookies sprinkled in sea salt will be available through the weekend. (1346 Fourth Street SE, Friday-Sunday, $125)
HALFSMOKE: The gourmet sausage joint in Shaw is going with a three-course, prix fixe menu for V-Day, with choices like lobster fritters, local oysters in chimichurri sauce, roasted chicken, strip steak, and fudge brownies. Add on cocktail pairings or go extra big with a “surf and turf” meal ($200) that includes a bottle of Moet Rosé champagne. All packages are available for in-house dining, carryout, or delivery. (651 Florida Avenue NW, Friday-Sunday, February 14, 5 p.m.-10 p.m., $70-$200)
NINA MAY: Prep dinner with a little help from FEAST by Nina May’s delivery service option. The Shaw restaurant has a make-your-own Valentine’s menu for two ($90) that comes with ingredients to cook honey-glazed duck breast, potato gnocchi, and red velvet lava cake at home, along with guided video instructions. Delivery will be on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you’d rather not help with preparations, the restaurant has a $150 four-course dinner in person and to-go on Saturday and Sunday. (1337 11th St NW, times vary, $90-$150)
RED HEN: Learn how make Red Hen’s popular mezzi rigatoni dish at home. You can schedule to pick up kits for two at the restaurant, which come with pork fennel sausage ragu, instructions from chef Mike Friedman, and optional wine and dessert add-ons. Pre-sale is through Thursday. (1822 First Street NW, Friday-Sunday from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., $30+)
TABLA: The Georgian restaurant’s Park View location will have weekend specials, including bottles of sparkling wine paired with your choice of the restaurant’s 10 khachapuri flatbread flavors or a semi-do-it-yourself Valentine’s kit with starters and ingredients to make your own khachapuri. (3227 Georgia Ave NW, $33-$35)
WOULD YOU LIKE A PLANT WITH THAT?: La Famosa and Little Leaf combined efforts to give the holiday weekend a tropical touch. Order a $75 Puerto Rican meal for two with a seafood salad, garlic-marinated steak, cheesy yucca mash, and chocolate cake. Add on an assortment of Little Leaf’s plants and flowers, like a potted heart hoya plant. Preorder for takeout and delivery. (1300 4th St SE, Friday-Sunday, $75+)
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EVENTS
THE ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY: If you’re not into the holiday but still want plans, Sauf Haus is throwing an in-person “Anti-Valentine’s Day” party on their heated patio starting Sunday afternoon. Get bottomless mimosas (pink ones, of course) and bier cheese pretzels for two hours ($29.99) or an all-you-can-drink ticket for three hours ($39.99). You can also bring an ex’s clothes for donation to the Salvation Army in exchange for a free drink. Masks are mandatory. (1216 18th Street Northwest, Sunday, 2 p.m. to close.)
COAX SOME OYSTERS OUT OF THEIR SHELLS: The Salt Line is teaming up with Oyster Recovery Partnership to offer a virtual oyster shucking class over Zoom. Don the included “Oysters Are for Lovers” tee and use your new expert tools to deal with two dozen oysters. If that sounds like too much work, you can order a four-course lobster dinner for two at double the price on Saturday and Sunday. (Saturday, February 13, 2 p.m., $50-$90)
LIVE STORIES OF LOVE AND WOE: Sit back, relax, and have strangers share their most intimate tales of love gone both right and wrong with Story District’s annual show, “Sucker for Love: A Valentine’s Day Tradition.” This year, the storytelling group will livestream virtually from Union Stage. Tickets will get you access to the performance live from your house (or the recording for 24 hours afterward). It’s like The Moth, but local. (Saturday, 8 p.m. $20+)
SECO COCKTAILS & A CONCERT: Join drink expert Carlie Steiner of Seco Cocktails and musician Justin Trawick for an evening in. A ticket for Seco Collective IX: I LOVE LOVE, a cocktail concert comes with a digital download of Steiner’s favorite recipes and a Zoom evening of cocktail crafting and music. (Friday, 8 p.m. $50)
LET’S GET CLASSICAL: The National Philharmonic will stream a free Valentine’s Day concert, “Music That Feeds the Soul,” on Sunday, with what they’re calling “comfort music” previously filmed at the Strathmore. The orchestra also teamed up with Beuchert’s Saloon for an optional fancy dinner pairing to go along with the music, featuring lamb, gnocchi, and arancini ($100 for two). Meals are available for pre-order and pick-up on Sunday at two locations. (Sunday, 2 p.m. FREE-$100)
SALSA WITH SILVIA: Feel like dancing? Try a virtual salsa and cooking class. You provide your own ingredients for a salmon dish, then join for one of two time slots to learn instructor-led dances before cooking together. Register in advance. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., $80)
GIFT BOXES & BAKING KITS
COCKTAILS OVER CANDY HEARTS: ANXO Cidery has crafted options for Valentine’s gift boxes to help you express whatever you’re feeling about the day. Two prebatched cocktail boxes named after candy hearts come in the “True Love” edition or the “Hater Edition” with four bottles featuring local spirits. The cidery is also offering champagne and caviar as well as bundles of rosé and cider. Pre-order spirits for pick-up and delivery now through the weekend. (Multiple locations, $44-$160)
THIS FOOD IS ON FIRE: Get a date-night package with a little fire. Immigrant Food bundles five sweets from around the world that all need toasting, like passion fruit pie topped with meringue, a French peach and brie tart, a Spanish crème brûlée, and a chocolate chip cookie studded with marshmallows. Each order comes with a torch to put on the finishing touch. Pre-order packages for pick-up and delivery on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. (1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, $79)
THE LOCAL HODGEPODGE: A collective of D.C.’s women-owned businesses known as Women’s Food Fest curated a “Love Prevails” gift bag with food, wine, and sweets from well-known spots. Every bag has items like pepita and coconut granola from Colada Shop, za’atar and pita chips from Lebanese Taverna, chocolate truffles from DMV sweet treats, carrot habanero sauce from Chaia Tacos, and spiced pancake mix from Sticky Fingers. You can add on a meal for D.C.’s vaccination staff, and the group will match donations. Preorder pick-up is spread over two weekends at Cork Wine Bar. (1805 14th St NW, Friday-Saturday and Feb. 19-20, noon-7 p.m., $150)
GO NUTS FOR DONUTS: Pay homage to the holiest of all baked goods from three bakeries. District Doughnut has a dozen minis decorated in conversation hearts ($25), a chocolate-themed doughnut box ($20), and gluten-free options. Every order comes with a rose and personalized note. Astro Chicken and Doughnuts will make decked-out boxes of crème brulee, red raspberry, key lime pie doughnuts, as well as beribboned cookie boxes from its ghost kitchen, Satellite Sandwiches (both $24). And La Bodega, the bakery out of Compass Rose, will serve a dulce de leche donut covered in strawberry ganache and pinwheeled guava and lemon buns. See each shop’s website for pick-up and delivery options. (Various locations, times, and prices)
