February is here! As we celebrate the Month of Love, we can’t help but think about indulging in the finer things! We went around to some of our favorite restaurants, jewelers, and florists to find out just what they’re recommending this Valentine’s Day.

FINE DINING

What is your favorite dish to prepare for Valentine’s Day?

The Arthur J - Chef Uyen Kirshenbaum, Executive Pastry Chef

“My favorite dish to prepare for Valentine's Day has to be our Coconut Passion Fruit Cake of the Month because as we're making it, the kitchen fills with aromatics like the toasted coconut and the flowery fragrance of the passion fruit, making it feel like we're really baking at the beach.”

Costa Manhattan Beach – Chef Josiah Citrin

"I love making something craveable and seemingly simple like pasta on Valentine's day, but elevating it.  Fresh, chewy pasta is quickly tossed into an unctuous ragout of duck, onion, carrots, garlic, porcini mushrooms, parsley, and tomato.  It’s topped with chopped pistachios and pecorino for texture, nuttiness, and that extra saltiness.  This pasta is rich, unique with its faint gamey flavor, and incredibly craveable." 

Costa Manhattan Beach Valentines Day Menu 2020

Red Endive, Piave Cheese, Beets, Walnuts $14
Maine Lobster, Chard, Grapefruit, Champagne $32
Duck Ragout, Tagliatelle Pasta, Pistachio $26
Taleggio Cheese, Fingerling Potato, Cippolini Onion $12
Tiramisu $12

Fishing With Dynamite - Chef de Cuisine,
Alice Mai

“My favorite dish we'll be making for Valentine's Day is our Chilled Dungeness Crab Salad, Fresh and Candied Ruby Grapefruit, Cilantro cream and Serrano oil.

It's Dungeness crab and winter citrus season right now, and we complemented the sweet fresh crab meat with bitter-tart ruby grapefruit. The dish highlights the best of winter ingredients while bringing together bright colors for a little hint of summertime.”

Little Sister - Chef de Cuisine Frankie Reyes

“One of everyone’s all-time favorite Little Sister dishes - Shaky Shaky Beef with watercress, baby tomatoes, burnt butter soy.”

Love & Salt - Chef Chris Feldmeier

“I love our ‘Sharing is Caring’ Valentine’s Day menu because we are doing Venetian Cicchetti which are Italian Shareable Bites. I am really excited about the oxtail Cicchetti.”

M.B. Post - Chef de Cuisine, Jeremy Loya

“My favorite dish for Valentine's Day this year is our Seared diver scallops with champagne beurre blanc and caviar. We take fresh scallops and sear them until golden brown. We then reduce champagne and fold in butter to make a luscious sauce. Each scallop then gets a topping of caviar for a dish that's decadent and great for celebrating.”

Petros- Manager, Ashley Hastey

“My favorite dishes for Valentine’s Day would be starting the night with our calamari, then the feta-crusted rack of lamb, cooked medium rare, with roasted broccolini and a glass of Petros’ Nektar Cabernet from our winery in Los Olivos, and finishing with the Bougatsa.”

Rock’n Fish - Executive Chef Alex Iniguez

“My favorite item to prepare for this special holiday is a whole steamed Maine Lobster Tail. I designed my whole menu this year around lobster. Our lobster wine pairing tasting menu will be available all weekend. You won’t want to miss it!”

Slay - Chef David Slay

“My favorite dish for Valentine’s Day is the Surf and Turf for two, featuring filet mignon and shrimp scampi, served with garlic mashed potatoes and wilted spinach.”

Slay Italian Kitchen

Celebrating their first Valentine’s Day, Chef David Slay will be serving, "pizzas with hand formed dough that is fermented for 48 hours, alongside specialty homemade pastas using fresh ingredients straight from our vineyard in Santa Barbara.”

The Strand House, Chef Austin Cobb

“My favorite dish for the valentines menu is the Maine Lobster Raviolo with Carrot Ginger Puree, sea beans, and lobster nage. To me, a large Lobster Raviolo is Sexy, and it also consists of a balanced flavor explosion!

zinc@Shade, Chef Graham

“My favorite dish to make (and eat!) on Valentine’s day is my petite filet mignon. I serve it with a twice-baked potato, asparagus, carrot, red wine sauce and king trumpet mushroom. It is the perfect dish for a romantic evening paired with a nice red wine.”

FINE Jewelry

What are your favorite gifts to recommend?

Designs by Musti

"for me, Valentine’s Day is about sentimentality and intimacy.  From my own collection, I would recommend a piece that could be worn every day; something that your partner could look at from time to time and remember the personal connection you share. This Valentine’s Day we are featuring our Folded Heart Necklace, and For all walk in & website clients, we are offering 20% off with our promo code LOVEUS."

Pasha Fine Jewelry

Owner Tony says, “our favorite gift that I recommend from Pasha is diamond fashion rings. We like to help people think out of the box a little and be more edgy with their gifts.  We feel that women appreciate unique ideas, instead of your “play it safe” gifts--typical chocolate and card just doesn’t cut it!”

Blue Diamond Jewelers

Altaf Amlani suggests, “surprise your sweetheart with a piece of jewelry made entirely of solid gold and brilliant stones for an eloquent way to shop for your love. Bonus points for designing a unique piece as authentic as your bond. Whatever you need, the Blue Diamond team is here to help.”

Mention this post to receive a $100 gift card.

MB WATCH REPAIR + VINTAGE WATCHES

Owner Victor Kartounian says, “I’ve been waiting for this all year. My favorite things to recommend for Valentines are vintage Rolexes for men and ladies. I love the models from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Why not get something special? Something different you can’t buy brand new. Give a beautiful vintage Rolex which has stood the test of time and is a style from a different era.”

FLORISTS

What is the most unique offering you have for Valentine’s Day?

Growing Wild

Growing Wild has two unique offerings for Valentine’s Day 2020. The first is a 16” tall orchid adorned with Quartz crystal, which represents unconditional love. The second is a hand-crafted wooden heart container filled with pink succulents. Either would make a wonderful gift for your special Valentine!

Rolling Hills Flower Mart

“Valentine’s Day is our specialty! We are offering some really incredible arrangements and flowers by the stem this year. Our top 3 favorites are our classic, sustainably-sourced Ecuadorian roses, Japanese sweet peas, and giant Italian ranunculus. “The Get Out of Jail Free Card,” features 125 Ecuadorian roses in whatever color you might like - though red is the go-to. "Blush & Bordeaux" is a personal favorite in a burgundy and blush color scheme... because, hey - not all roses are red!”

We hope you enjoyed our selection of the finer things!
Come celebrate the month of love with us in Downtown Manhattan Beach!

Happy Valentine’s Day!