Choices for your Valentine
Local restaurants are offering plenty of options to celebrate the up-and-coming romantic day.
Cosy up at friendly Scarpetta with their Valentines menu – three courses including swordfish carpaccio, pan-fried fois gras with pan brioche & blueberry sauce, hand-made lobster & crab meat tortelloni in clam sauce, heart-shaped puff pastry filled with fresh cream and raspberries and rich & warm toffee pudding with hokey pokey! Available from Friday 12th till Sunday 14th for £25.
Firm favourite Shambles has a special menu including beef carpaccio with rocket, parmesan and white truffle oil dressing, pasta parcels of fresh ricotta and radicchio with taleggio cheese gratin, dark chocolate tart with caramelised oranges – available from 6pm on Saturday and Sunday for £39.95.
New authentic Italian restaurant Al Borgo is hosting a Valentines evening starting with a glass of glass of Prosecco and a British native oyster, then choices including barley soufflé with red pepper sauce and shaved salted ricotta, linguine with lobster and cherry tomatoes in a light chili sauce, risotto with pear and gorgonzola cheese, raspberry tart with gratinated zabaglione and vanilla sauce. Four courses for £45.
The Wharf is hosting a valentines celebration ‘jazz lunch’ with a choice of two or three courses that include beetroot and vodka marinated salmon and crab, herb marinated rump of lamb, Venetian-style chocolate and cherry tiramisu. Their evening candlelit valentines four course dinner is £48 and features chicken liver and foie gras terrine, sautéed breast of Gressingham duck (Teriyaki Style), white chocolate pannacotta, marinated rumtofp berries.
Auberge at the Kings Head are offering a four/five course menu for £39.95 with Kir Royal, crispy camembert cheese on an exotic fruit salsa, roasted premium lamb rack, served with ratatouille and bitter chocolate sauce and an ‘aphrodisiac desserts platter’ – petit chocolate mouelleux, rose petals ice cream, berry cheesecake, white chocolate rochers.
Diner’s Delight are adding another Belly Dancing evening to their calender (usually every Wednesday) for a special Valentine’s experience.
Check out Sammy’s for a special Valentines evening on Friday 13th Feb with a choice of two or three courses (£15 and £18 respectively) accompanied by an in-house poet Laureate to write poems for your partner and specially created ‘Love Potion’ cocktail.
Three courses are available for £21.95 at Sorrentos featuring gnocci and butter sage, halibut meunier/grilled, breast of chicken sorrento. The Park has a Valentines Day three course set menu for £19.95.
Alternatively if you’re thinking of staying in to cook, Kitchen Sync have a range of Valentine/love themed cookware.
Finally if you fancy riding off into the sunset, Park Lane Stables are offering Valentine horse rides in the afternoon. Why not try an extra long hack through Bushy Park with a half-time romantic glass of champagne at the Kings Arms Hotel for £55.