By Sohali Sutaria and Angel Feliciano, News Correspondent and News Staff
Valentine’s Day: whether you are restless from a night of scrambling to set up a reservation at a fancy restaurant, hunting down a dozen red roses, or sobbing over a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Rocky Road while watching “10 Things I Hate About You,” don’t limit your options to the usual.
Of course, Valentine’s Day does not always have to be about another person. It is a celebration of your love for your friends, siblings, family members and even yourself. For some it might involve treating yourself to that special item you have always wanted, for others it might be about making sure their closest friends know how much they are loved. For all of you flying solo, one is not the loneliest number. And for all of you love birds, enjoy each other’s company.
Here is a short guide to help make this Valentine’s the most memorable one so far.
1) Chocolates
Beacon Hill Chocolates:
Just a few blocks away from Boston Common and Louisburg Square, this store has some delectable chocolates. From individual and boxed truffles to assortments of artisan and handmade chocolates, almost any flavor is available. The Bailey’s Irish Cream truffle ($2) is a bestseller, featuring the rich liqueur blended with milk chocolate ganache, and encased in milk chocolate. Assorted chocolates come in a heart-shaped tin with four chocolates ($14) or a 25-piece assortment suede gift box ($56). 91 Charles St. Boston; beaconhillchocolates.com.
CVS:
And if you happen to forget to give your special someone a gift or are a little late, you can never go wrong with CVS. Grab Kisses, Lindt truffles, Rolos or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, toss them in a box or a mug and wrap it all together in a chiffon or tissue paper with a ribbon. It’s simple – but still thoughtful.
2) Cupcakes
Sweet:
Whether you live in the Back Bay, on Newbury Street, in Harvard Square or Downtown, Sweet is a favorite among Bostonians. With the shop’s iconic double dolloped icing, why not try a dozen of these treats? Some of the flavors made especially for Valentine’s Day include Whipped White Chocolate Ganache and Strawberries and Cream, in addition to Red Velvet, Hot Cocoa and Angel Food, all three of which are currently available every day at their locations. 49 Massachusetts Ave. Single $3.25, half dozen $18.50, dozen $36; sweetcupcakes.com.
Georgetown Cupcakes:
Flaunting flavors like chocolate Bubblegum Pink Chocolate and Vanilla Birthday, this Newbury Street boutique has an incredible selection, and lines to match. With cocoa specially imported from France and vanilla coming from Madagascar, it is difficult to resist one of these decadent indulgences. Special seasonal flavors are available for the month of February, so take some time, stand in line and treat yourself to a fantastic mouthful of some of the best icing and cake around. 83 Newbury St.; Single $2.75, half dozen $15, dozen $29; georgetowncupcake.com.
3) Drink (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic)
Alcoholic Drink: If you want a fun and flirty alcoholic drink, try the flirtini, inspired by cocktails.about.com. It doesn’t have a lot of ingredients and only takes two minutes to prepare. The combination of pineapple and champagne will help you let loose and unwind from all the stress of homework and upcoming midterms.
Ingredients:
2 pieces fresh pineapple
1/2 oz orange juice
1 oz vodka
2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz Champagne
Directions:
-
Mix the pineapple and orange juice in a glass.
-
Add the vodka and pineapple juice and stir well.
-
Finish the drink off with champagne.
Dessert cocktails are a must for this holiday. Whether you’re about to end dinner or want to satisfy that sweet tooth, the Blue Ice Raspberry Truffle is good to finish the night off, another cocktail inspired by cocktails.about.com.
Ingredients:
1 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua liqueur
1 oz raspberry liqueur
fresh whipped cream
Directions:
-
Mix the vodka, Kahlua and raspberry liqueur in a shaker with ice and shake well.
-
Pour into a chilled glass.
-
Top with whipped cream, the amount at your discretion.
Non-Alcoholic Drink: You won’t need to be an experienced bartender or have a stock of fancy ingredients for these. For a homemade drink, try a Shirley Temple or a Roy Rogers. Both are simple, three-ingredient drinks, all you need is grenadine, maraschino cherries and cola or ginger ale depending on your preference.
Shirley Temple
Ingredients:
1 cup Ginger Ale, 7UP or Sprite
1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
1 cherry
Roy Rogers
Ingredients:
1 cup cola
1 1/2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
1 cherry
4) Dining Out
Max Brenner:
While Max Brenner in the heart of Back Bay boasts a menu containing everything from omelets to paninis, their main attraction is their dessert. We’re not talking any old after dinner treat, not some ice cream sundae with a cherry on top, but the guilt-inducing, tooth-achingly sweet Chocolate Pizza. Get this delicious sweet topped with milk, white chocolate and ice cream. 745 Boylston St.; $7.50; maxbrenner.com.
Pour House:
Known for its big-sized servings, Pour House is a favorite, especially with students. Want a sweet and filling meal? The French toast ($4.95) is sprinkled with powdered sugar and is served with whipped butter and syrup. This can also come with meat or eggs ($5.95). Pancakes from Pour House are fresh from the grill and are served with whipped butter and syrup ($4.95). Like the French toast, they can also come with meat and eggs for the same price. If you want to add more flavor to those buttermilk pancakes, try the banana caramel, pumpkin pie, blueberry or chocolate chip (+$1.50). 907 Boylston St.; pourhouseboston.com.
5) A Heartfelt Card
Whether you buy a card from Hallmark or fold up a piece of printer paper and take some gel pens to it, it will always be about the words on the page. Being able to express yourself through writing will give you the freedom to let your reader know what you are really thinking. They will forget about the roses and candy, and will focus on the words you have dedicated to them; this means more to some than you might think. Communicate a message of honesty and love, one that resonates with your card reader and make them realize that they have someone special to share this Valentine’s Day with.
6) Something homemade
Valentine’s Day does not have to be about fancy gifts, expensive items or grand gestures (not that anything is wrong with that), but there is always a homemade alternative to almost anything out there. All you need for this homemade fruit treat is some time and a few ingredients, for a recipe adapted from foodnetwork.com. Not only will this show some dedication on your part, but you get to show off your kitchen skills and impress yourself or the one you care about.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients:
6 oz semisweet chocolate
3 oz white chocolate
1 pound chopped strawberries
Directions:
- Separate the semisweet and white chocolate into two bowls. Add a few inches of water to two saucepans, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. To melt the chocolate, turn off the heat and set the bowls of chocolate over water. Stir until smooth.
- After the chocolate is melted, line a pan with parchment paper. Dip the fruit into the chocolate, and let the excess fall into the bowl before setting the strawberries on paper. Repeat. After the semisweet chocolate dries, dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the strawberries.
- Set the strawberries aside for about 30 minutes to let the chocolate set
7) Just for Yourself
Treat yourself to sleeping in for that extra five minutes, taking a cab instead of the T, trying that one recipe you have always wanted, getting a massage at that odd-looking salon down the road where you are not really sure if they even offer that. Try not to worry about the small things that might affect your day, have a silent dance party with yourself, light a candle, read a book, call up that one person you have been meaning to talk to, take a walk through the city or even just enjoy the silence of solidarity. Valentine’s Day offers you the chance to embrace yourself, and just enjoy you.
Love is all around you, not just on this day, but everyday. Whether it be in the form of your pet labrador giving you sloppy kisses, or your mother’s special, homemade, secret, crockpot recipe chili or even just your friends ridiculous Friday night antics; love comes in many forms.
