Valentine’s Day Food Other Than Chocolate
I love Whitman’s samples, but I buy them myself on February 15th at Walgreens when they sell out at half price. While I’m not one to pass up a box of chocolate on Valentine’s Day, giving them away can feel a little impersonal and we can do better.
Here are some of my favorite edible gifts to give and receive on February 14th that go a little beyond the shape of a heart:
- Best jerky: Roses are beautiful and I think you can eat them, but I’d rather have a bunch of salami. Olympia Provisions has a variety of meat bouquets with Italian, French, Spanish and (if needed) chocolate salami. You can also boldly prepare cold cuts at your local deli or Costco, which has a great selection of reasonably priced jerky. (Plus, if I have fans willing to ingratiate myself, a whole leg of prosciutto won’t hurt your chances.)
- The finest cheese: Most quirky cheese counters have a trash can of small pieces of cheese perfect for creating a romantic cheese platter. As I wrote earlier , I like to go with one hard, aged cheese with lots of tasty tyrosine crystals; one soft processed cheese (bonus points if smelly); and something “fun” like Norwegian brown cheese , Trader Joe’s chocolate cheese or Purple Haze sprinkled with lavender and fennel . Add some crusty bread and some honey and you have a party.
- Weakest salt: I hope you didn’t think you’d get out of here until I recommend Maldon’s box, because that would be absurd of you. A box of large, gorgeous, soft sodium chloride crystals is a great gift because they seem almost frivolous. Few people will buy such a thing for themselves, but when it is presented to them, they will find that they simply cannot eat without this very perfect salt. (Sprinkle it on the melon and thank me on Twitter.)
- Freshest Seasonal Fruit: Keep in mind that I am not recommending that you buy anyone a bushel of delicious red apples because they are tasteless and bleak, but my favorite is the large amount of clementines – muscles, not halos – or blood oranges. , or Kara Karas. This is an especially good gift if your candy is a little more health-conscious than a regular valentine.
- Most Expensive Coffee: I don’t have the finest taste of coffee, but your Valentine might, and I’m sure they will welcome a large bag of beans from their favorite moneylender. This gift also gives you a gift line – as soon as you are about to unwrap your gift, ask them if you can make them a cup in the morning. (Then wink.)
- The most fashionable ice cream: can and ice cream. Just grab a pint or three of your lover’s favorite (sorry) frozen dairy dessert (or Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy dessert if they’re vegans) and hang a large onion on top. If you live in a city that has trendy ice cream boutiques (like Jeni’s – which ships out – or Salt & Straw ), look out for their seasonal offerings. Salt & Straw currently has a chocolatey FERNET flavor that I can’t wait to feel in my mouth.
- Bitter amaro: love should be sweet, but I like my bitter drink. Nonino, Camparin, Kinar and Fernet (both reg and Menta) are great for after-dinner drinks, soothing your stomach so you can continue your evening activities.
If you just need to give chocolate, choose See’s. See’s is better and cheaper than Godiva, and their Nut & Caramel range is the Platonic Chocolate Sample Ideal.