8 Foodie Valentine’s Day gifts that everyone will love
1. For Chocolate: Knoops
The experts of chocolate drinks, Knoops, have created a Valentine’s Day bundle – perfect for gifting, or to treat yourself!
Included is a tube of the 47% Ruby Chocolate Flakes to make a smooth hot chocolate at home, with a distinctive pinky hue complemented by a delightful fruity tang, plus a tube of Special Edition Heart-Shaped Valentine’s Marshmallows to enjoy with it.
Where: Available via their online shop knoops.co.uk for £19, nationwide shipping.
2. For a Slap-Up Feast: Aktar at Home
Aktar Islam, of Birmingham’s Michelin starred Opheem, has two very special Aktar at Home offerings for the most romantic day of the year.
Opheem’s Tasting Menu for Two is Indian flavours at its finest – a special course tasting menu with additional snacks and petit fours. Accompanied by two mini bottles of Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne and prestige wine flight curated by the team of sommeliers.
Pulperia’s Set Menu for Two is bold and flavoursome Argentinian food, featuring smoked octopus carpaccio, wild boar and beef shin ragu and 1kg Angus ribeye as well as sides, nibbles and other tasty surprises from Pulperia’s chefs. It comes with aperitifs and a bottle of Mendoza Malbec.
Where: Nationwide delivery available – order by Weds 10th February to be shipped on Friday 12th Feb, and collection from the restaurants on Friday 12th Feb between 16:00-19:00.
Opheem’s Tasting Menu, £190 for two and Pulperia’s Set Menu, £150 for two.
Website: www.aktarathome.co.uk
3. For a Seven-Course Menu: Sorrel
Steve Drake, Chef Patron at Michelin-starred Sorrel, has pulled out all the stops for their Valentine’s offering. Indulge in a 7-course menu including Sorrel favourites – brioche lightly flavoured with rosemary, soup enriched with egg yolk, and the showstopping main of short rib of beef accompanied by a parsley gremolata to give a herby acidity.
Also included is a beautiful hand-illustrated candle to help recreate the Sorrel experience at home.
Sorrel is the only Michelin starred restaurant in Surrey to be offering takeaway/at home dining. One not to miss!
Where: Collection from Sorrel on Saturday 13th February between 12:00-14:00, £90 per person. Website here: https://sorrelrestaurant.co.uk
4. For a Romantic Dinner: The Boat Inn
Liam Dillon, Chef Patron at The Boat Inn, Lichfield, (20 minutes outside Birmingham) has put together a selection of deliciously different at-home meal kits available for collection and local delivery – the ideal feast for a romantic love-in.
The three-course meal Valentine’s Day ‘Heat at Home’ package, consists of: smoked braised pig cheek with carrot and gochujang puree, and pickled carrot and puffed pork; main of pan fried venison loin accompanied with spiced venison sausage, red wine shallot, glazed salsify and venison sauce. Dessert comes in the form of chocolate tart with salted caramel ice cream and crystallised chocolate.
Where: Order from the website: www.theboatinnlichfield.com. Boxes priced at £50. The boxes will be ready for collection on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th between 12pm-4pm.
5. For Condiments: The Cherry Tree
Want to tell the foodie you love how much you care this Valentine’s Day? Gift your special someone, something spreadable, with this limited edition selection from The Cherry Tree featuring Valentine’s Tubes To Go; a Passion Fruit Bouquet Pack; and two tasty food gift boxes filled with a cherry-picked fine foods selection.
The gift of preserves, from me to you contains 1 x Passion Fruit curd, 1 x Strawberry jam, 1 x Seville Marmalade, and 1 x Cherry & Amaretto jam. And the Valentine’s Selection Box features a delightful range of chutneys, jams and more along with a hand written message of your choice
Where: Order online. Website: www.cherrytreepreserves.co.uk. Prices start from £6.99
7. For Cocktails: Bottle Bar and Shop
Bottle Bar & Shop hero Valentine’s product is their Strawberry Gin Liqueur – a vibrant pink-hue tipple perfect mixed into a variety of cocktails. Specially for the 14th February, Bottle Bar & Shop, who create all their own infusions and cocktails in Catford, South London, have a lovely gift pack featuring four mini bottles: Strawberry Gin Liqueur/Espresso Martini/Passion Fruit Daiquiri/Cacao Martini.
Where: Buy online: https://bottlebarandshop.com/collections/valentines-day-gifts. From £17
8. For Gin: Pink Marmalade
Make Valentine’s Day a colourful one with Pink Marmalade – a dry, zesty, unmistakably premium gin that balances organic botanicals with a singular moment of pure colour-changing magic. When mixed with tonic the gin majestically turns from a cool blue to a subtle rose pink thanks to the inclusion of Butterfly Pea flower that makes this possible via entirely natural methods.
The process of making the gin begins with a secret ingredient, their signature salted pink marmalade. This is then combined with another 12 choice botanicals to create this incredibly drinkable ultra-premium gin.
Where: Buy online: https://pinkmarmaladegin.co.uk/. From £30. Nationwide delivery.
