February snuck up on us over the weekend, which means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you and your Valentine are looking for something to do, here are a few neighborhood locations that are already one step ahead of you. Most of these are reservation only, so call in asap to save a spot!
- The Dallas Arboretum is hosting “Romance at the Arboretum,” an elegant candlelight dinner, on Feb. 14 at the historic DeGolyer Estate Mansion at the garden. Space for this intimate and elegant music and dining experience is limited. Valet parking is included and cocktail attire is requested. Tickets are $250 per person for Participant seating, $350 for Patron level seating, and a Valentine Angel Table is available for $10,000. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Tiffany Geib at 214.515.6518 or tgeib@dallasarboretum.org.
- Garden Café is hosting a Valentine’s Dinner on Friday, Feb. 14. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30. The dinner is BYOB and is $45 per person. First course will be phyllo wrapped brie with macerated cherries, and cranberry-chipotle glazed pork belly bites with rosemary. Second will be winter greens with roasted beets, candied walnut, ricotta salata and vinaigrette. Third, blackened rosemary lamb chops with risotto and pepin’s boules de tomates. Then top it off with acorn squash cake with bourbon whipped cream. Call 214.887.8330 to make a reservation.
- East Dallas’ neighborhood grocer, Green Grocer, is cooking up Valentine’s Day “Meals for Two” to enjoy at home. Available for in-store pick-up or home delivery via Artizone, choose from two easy to reheat dinner packages. Call ahead to place an order with Green Grover for pick up Thursday, Feb. 13–Saturday, Feb. 15. Wild Coho Salmon served with an orange glaze, Strawberry and Feta Salad, Garlicky Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon and Red Velvet Whoopie Pies or the Paleo friendly meal for two with Filet with mushroom demi-glace, Roasted Beet Salad, Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Coconut Macaroons. Cost is $69.99 each and includes choice of a Santome sparkling rose or Graham Beck Shiraz as well as reheating instructions. Add an artisanal cheese plate with local to the meal for $10. For more information go to Green Grocer’s website or call 214-643-6209.
- Executive chef Anastacia Quinones is partnering with East Dallas’ Peak & Elm on Feb. 14 to offer a deliciously romantic Valentine’s Day dinner featuring all locally sourced ingredients from the Dallas Farmers Market. Quinones, also known as AQ, served as Executive Chef at Dallas restaurants Alma and Komali, but now works as a culinary instructor at Molina High School. This event marks her debut back into kitchen. There will be three seating times, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Reservations made between now and Feb. 5 receive special pricing at $50 per couple, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are needed due to limited seating. Contact Peak & Elm: 214.826.7617 or 214.824.7617.
- On Valentine’s Day, Aw Shucks and Big Shucks in East Dallas will be giving a complementary rose to all female patrons, and from 3:30-6:30 p.m. they’ll have half-price oysters and $2 draft beer and margarita specials. Aw Shucks is located at 3601 Greenville, and Big Shucks is located at 6232 Mockingbird.
