Trying to decide where to spend Valentine's Day this year? Why not take your special someone to the heart of the city, the Dallas Design District. We've put together a guide for planning the perfect date in the DDD to give your sweetie a night to remember. So, where should you start?
Win His/Her Heart with Art
Whether it’s your fourth or your 40th, Valentine’s Day is the time to treat your loved one and show them just how much you care. A walk through Art Dallas Incorporated’s 8,000-square-foot showroom is the ideal way to spend some time holding hands and viewing a fine collection of original art and sculpture. Plus, getting out of your normal routine invites a new spark into a burgeoning or established relationship.
You likely have photos together, but if you’re looking for more than just selfies, check out Crawshay Gallery. It’s filled with stunning, high-resolution, panoramic photos that’ll start your evening off right.
Reserve a Romantic Dinner
Even if you lack the gastro knowledge to define the items on the menu at Oak, you can be assured you're getting a combination of distinctive and unique dishes coupled with traditional favorites. Oak's $85 V-Day three-course meal begins with Fisher Island oysters on the half shell, then transitions to angel hair pasta in spicy tomato fondue with uni butter. For the entree, savor either a filet mignon with potato puree and Rossini sauce or a Spanish turbot with cauliflower, caviar and Meyer lemon sabayon. Leave with the sweet flavor of frozen passion fruit mousse paired with vanilla cake and toasted meringue lingering on your palate. The menu runs from the 12th to the 14th, for those who may prefer to have a Friday or Saturday night dining experience.
Or maybe you're more in the mood for Asian cuisine. PakPao Thai is offering a three-course dinner available for $45 per person, plus an additional $30 wine pairing. The menu is not yet on the website, but judging from Pak Pao's New Year's Eve lineup, you're likely looking at a choice between two appetizers such as tamarind duck egg or crispy mushrooms, then perhaps an option of either pomelo salad or ginger mussel soup and entree options such as stir-fried garlic prawns, slow-roasted beef loin or perhaps a twist on a more traditional noodle dish. For dessert, you might enjoy coconut rice pudding or Thai banana fritters.
Perhaps farm to table is more your style. Carefully selected seasonal ingredients inspire FT33’s menu every day, but the Valentine’s Day dinner is sure to be made with extra love. Dinner might begin with charred octopus, beets, collard greens, mustard and lardo or a house-made charcuterie board with pickles, mustard and jam. The middle might feature a spicy pork and ricotta tortellini with rapini and a smoked ham hock brodo or a vegetable composition courtesy of one of FT33’s talented chefs. End your tasty tour with caramel popcorn, white cheddar, apple and cranberry or maybe a cheese board with jam.
Ditch the Dying Flowers
Instead, make a long-lasting statement of love by picking up a more permanent bouquet at Baker, Knapp & Tubbs. The Petalo Mirror weaves together organic and geometric shapes to create cast resin, high-relief petals that will last a lot longer than those roses you were considering.
If you want to go even bigger, step into Cory Pope and Associates for a new Tulip Table from Sylvan SF. It features a resin top, customizable in clear, blue, rose and gold, with a brass base. Your sweetheart will appreciate the extra thought that went into picking out something that will last.
When Cupid’s day arrives on Sunday the 14th, take in some artwork, splurge on a special dinner and give a gift they can display for years to come, all with one trip to the Dallas Design District.
