Valentine’s Day is next Wednesday, February 14th. However one feels about next week’s holiday, it is a day, and it’s coming up on the calendar, so here’s a round-up for V-Day of sweet treats, romantic dinners, and bar parties happening in Champaign-Urbana (and Gibson City).
Sweets and Treats
For those hungry for cake, San Miguel Panaderia Mexican bakery has tres leches cakes decorated with messages for lovers and friends in both English and Spanish. The plaza shop also is offering a bouquets of sugar cookies with love-inspired notes piped in red icing.
On Valentine’s Eve, Hunny Bunny Bakes will host a raunchy 18+ cookie class where event guests learn to decorate cookies. Designs to be announced that evening. Bring a beverage and learn from baker and owner Mary Enright all the cookie decorating tips. Check out the XXX cookie event page, and buy tickets here.
On February 14th, Japan House invites couples to share a freshly whisked bowl of matcha with two types of wagashi (Japanese confection): ichigo daifuku and kohakuto. Couples can be married, not married, friends, or family, but reservations are for pairs only. Sitting across from one another, the pairs will serve and enjoy tea and sweets after a lesson on how to whisk a bowl of matcha. Registration is required, and space is extremely limited. Reserve a spot here.
Downtown Champaign’s Suzu’s Bakery has a dessert tasting event with three seatings on the holiday. Already, tickets are going fast. Grab one of the last seats for the 6 p.m. time slot or pre-order treats for V-Day at home. I’m eyeing the heart cake topped with whipped cream and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Tasty Tart has a big box of sweets on the menu exclusive for Valentine’s Day. The tart shop’s special includes a caramel chocolate tart, a cookies-and-cream tart, a raspberry chocolate heart-shaped tart, and two madeleines (one strawberry, one lemon). The Neil Street tart shop only makes heart-shaped tarts once a year, so if you heart heart-tarts, pre-order a box.
Champaign sandwich shop and deli Cheese & Crackers has Valentine’s Day chocolate confections — made from-scratch by the owner. There are large solid chocolate hearts, dark chocolate boxes, and filled truffles with caramel, sea salt, and almonds in addition to the shop’s regular tasty treats.
Valentine’s Dinner Date Spots
Southern restaurant Neil St. Blues is offering a romantic dinner complete with rose petals on a candlelit table. The dinner for two includes three courses. Each dining partner has a choice of starter (soup or salad) and a main. Couples will split a dessert and a bottle of wine. Seafood lovers should go for the scallop alfredo. For a sampler of Southern cuisine, order the two-meat combo, which has a choice of fried chicken, fried catfish, or shrimp plus two sides. Call 217-531-1150 to make a rez.
Charcuterie cuties need to attend the Valentine’s Sweetheart Charcuterie Workshop at Martinelli’s Market. This casual date night event is one hour from 5 to 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day and includes a lesson on arranging a charcuterie board. Tickets include the sharable meats, cheese, fruits, cookies, cannoli, and mocktails for two. Secure a board here.
Mexican seafood restaurant La Bahía has a $39 dinner for two which includes eight tacos, two margaritas, and chimi cheesecake to split. Go for the carnitas tacos here because they’re salty and super delish — so are the margs. Ask for a table by the window for a prime view of Downtown Champaign people-watching.
Ahead of V-Day, the UP Center is hosting a Valentine’s event for LGBTQ+ couples and families this Saturday, February 10th. LoveFest24 will feature dinner and a show of drag performance, music, comedy, and more. Event tickets are by the seat, by the table (eight people), or VIP with a meet-and-greet. Food will be catered by Dish Passionate Cuisine, and performers include Darby Lynn Cartwright, Alexis P. Bevels, Spank Knightly, and more. Check out the event deets here.
Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan has a festive dinner for $14.95 which includes a heart-shaped pizza pie and two fresh-baked cookies. The heart-shaped pizza is only available on February 14th, but the offer is good for dine in, delivery, or drive-through.
In Gibson City, Horsch Radish has a special Valentine’s Day menu. The appetizers include onion-Brie puff pastry, bruschetta, and shrimp cocktail. Entree choices are shrimp gnocchi in a garlic cream sauce, honey-glazed salmon, shrimp scampi, tuscan chicken, and filet tips dietrich, and there will be three kinds of dessert. Reserve a table on the German restaurant’s website.
For the heart holiday on Wednesday, Urbana’s Silvercreek restaurant will offer a fancy dinner menu and a chocolate buffet for dessert. Make reservations for Valentine’s Day dinner at Silvercreek here.
Drink Destinations for Valentine’s Night
For those who hate this February greeting card holiday, show angst at Bentley’s Pub in Downtown Champaign at the bar’s Anti-Valentine’s party. On Wednesday night, Bentley’s will have dark-wave and synthy music from Baub and Mossflower. The dim and casual bar serves stiff drinks, and no dates are required for a good time. Check out the event page for Wedneday’s Anti-Valentine’s Day for more info.
In Downtown Urbana, Gallery Art Bar is hosting a romantic evening of wine, jazz, and BakeLab desserts with fresh berries. Hubba hubba. At 7 p.m., there’s going to be a coloring contest ($5 to compete) with a prize basket of wine, chocolates, and flowers. In addition to the bespoke beverages regularly on the menu, Gallery will offer zero-proof sparking wine along with other drink specials.
Last but not least, snag a seat at the sexy cocktail lounge Punch! Bar in Downtown Champaign. The bar is hosting a cocktails and confections party on Valentine’s Day. No specific menu items have been announced yet, but the bar will have Valentine’s themed drinks and desserts in addition to the usual menu of craft cocktails (and signature mocktails).
