Right. Valentine’s Day.
It’s just a couple weeks away. A couple weeks, get it? Like, for people … who are … couples? Or who may soon be couples?
Or, oh, you know. And, anyway, everybody likes an excuse to indulge in the tastiest things in town …
1) EBERLY X PROHIBITION CREAMERY The Eberly chef team of Jo Chan and Sarah Seghi are giving Austinites one more chance to enjoy the recently shuttered Prohibition Creamery by inviting chef Laura Aidan to partner with them to create a special boozy, ice cream dessert flight during Valentine’s Week. The flight’s enough for two and features three different desserts served side by side – with components a specific cocktail would have, but conjured in dessert form. How about a bourbon pecan praline for you, liquor-lover? Some Earl Grey Mandarin Napolean ice cream? Prickly pear mezcal sorbet? Ahhhhh, it’s so good we can’t even. $16. Tue.-Sat., Feb. 9-13. 615 S. Lamar, 512/916-9000. www.eberlyaustin.com
2) AUSTIN OYSTER COMPANY X AUSTIN WINERY The two luxury powerhouses have teamed up to offer pre-packaged oyster shucking kits and wine selections for an at-home Valentine’s Day celebration. Packages include one or two dozen oysters, garnishes, one of three paired wine bottles, shucking knife and gloves, and Austin Oyster Co. swag and discount codes. Note: This is a hot, as they say, item – so it’s a good idea to place your orders STAT. Pickup options: Sat.-Sun., Feb. 13-14, noon-5pm. One dozen + kit, $70; two dozen + kit, $90. www.theaustinwinery.com
3) ANTONELLI’S VALENTINE GIFT BOX Leave it to the locally acclaimed, internationally celebrated cheesemongers of Antonelli’s to wrangle up the perfect dairy-forward foodie gift for expressing your love with. This festive “Spread the Love” box includes cheese, charcuterie, and an array of pairings like chocolate, pickles, nuts, and more – from Cowgirl Creamery, Carr Valley, Smoking Goose, SRSLY Chocolate, and other estimable mongers. Order soon, supplies are very limited. $85. www.antonellischeese.com
4) APL’S COOKBOOK: VALENTINE’S POP-UP The Austin Public Library‘s in-house Cookbook eatery is remaining pandemically closed, yes, but they’re briefly popping up (like a sort of pastry-bedecked Whack-a-Mole!) to present a special dessert menu available for Valentine’s weekend. Listen: Raspberry sweetie rolls, personalized cookie cakes, a dozen confectionary roses, a mimosa kit, and wines by the bottle – all available via easy online ordering, with contactless curbside pickup. Just select your preferred pickup day and time and your pastries will be fresh and ready upon arrival. Bonus: You can see the new mural by Austin’s own Billie Buck. Pre-order through Feb. 13. 710 W. Cesar Chavez, 512/487-5166. www.cookbookatx.com
5) GATI: VALENTINE’S SPECIALS + COOKING CLASS Thai Fresh‘s Jam Sanitchat is serving up some “hearty” Valentine’s yum at her pastry-forward Gati outpost, with heart-shaped cookies, red velvet cupcakes, and a six-inch, heart-shaped ice cream cake (chocolate cake with beet or strawberry ice cream) with custom writing on it. Impressive enough, but – if you want to do a DIY-together thing for this popular lovers’ holiday – we recommend taking chef Sanitchat’s virtual cooking class ($60) on that day (Sun., Feb. 14, 6pm), where she’ll teach couples something new and romantic in the kitchen. You’ll pick up the ingredients from Thai Fresh – menu items include papaya salad, drunken noodles, green curry, pad prik king, and more – and then cook along at home, slicing and dicing and mixing and frying and (ahem) billing and cooing, right? Oh, tasty domestic bliss! 1512 Holly, 512/220-1077. www.gatiicecream.com
This article appears in January 29 • 2021.