Valentine’s Day is approaching fast. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner for two or an evening out with friends, here are some of the best restaurants and sweet treats around to celebrate the day of love.
Farmhouse Inn: The chefs at Farmhouse Restaurant have crafted a Valentine’s Day tasting menu featuring seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. Add-ons include curated wine pairings. $300 per person. 7871 River Road, Forestville. 707-887-3300.
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John Ash & Co.: A five-course prix fixe Valentine’s menu that begins with oysters au gratin. Then, choose between a variety of dishes for each course, including baby lettuce salad, seared sea scallop, truffle tagliatelle pasta, Angus beef and bittersweet chocolate flourless cake for dessert. $125 per person, $65 extra for wine pairing. 4350 Barnes Road, 707-527-7687
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The Lodge at Dawn Ranch: Guerneville’s The Lodge at Dawn Ranch is hosting a special dinner for Valentine’s Day. The eight-course tasting menu celebrates local ingredients and is influenced by a variety of cuisines. Expect dishes like Tomales Bay Oysters, Picanha (charcoal-grilled culotte steak, tatemada bearnaise, spigarello broccoli) and a Thousand Layer Crepe with dark chocolate, raspberry powder and hazelnut crème. $110 per person. 16467 Highway 116, Guerneville. 707-869-0656
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Dry Creek Kitchen: A five-course prix fixe menu for $175 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $95. The menu includes Tomales Bay Miyagi oyster, fluke “aguachile,” slow-poached egg, pork and pistachio agnolotti, duo of Painted Hills prime beef and a dark chocolate and red wine mousse cake for dessert. 317 Healdsburg Ave., 707-431-0330
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The Second Story at Little Saint: The upstairs restaurant at Little Saint is hosting a Saint Valentine Dinner, with a special tasting menu experience. Guests can enjoy “sweet surprises from the kitchen” to the sound of live vinyl tunes from the dynamic couple DJ Paz and Gabriel. $150 per person. 25 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-8207
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Spoonbar: This special dinner menu complements the restaurant’s regular offerings. Menu highlights include broiled Tomales Bay oysters ($24), rack of spring lamb for two ($69) and chocolate mousse cake ($15). This dinner experience is available through Feb. 18. 219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-7222
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Fleur Sauvage, run by husband-and-wife team Robert and Tara Nieto, specializes in artistic artisan chocolates. Robert previously worked as pastry chef at Madrona Manor, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro and Jackson Family Wines and crafts the chocolates. Tara runs the front of the store, where you can order espressos, lattes and hot chocolate to warm up on cold winter days. 370 Windsor River Rd., Windsor
NOTE: These excellent chocolates are available for purchase on our website when you make a reservation for a home at Russian River Vacation Homes and we'll have them waiting for you when you check in!
Fleur Sauvage Website
Eye Candy Chocolates are made by local ophthalmologist and master chocolatier Sonja Schluter, who is particularly passionate about truffles. Schluter launched her chocolate business in 2016, after years of making chocolate for friends and colleagues. She received her culinary training from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Ecole Chocolate in San Francisco and Callebaut Chocolate Academy. Sebastopol store at 6761 Sebastopol Ave.
Eye Candy Chocolates Website
David Gambill and Susan McCarn, founders of Sebastopol’s Sonoma Chocolatiers, focus strictly on dark chocolates. "Taste the Dark Side" is the company slogan and they offer more than 140 flavors of decadent truffles, soft caramels and chocolates in traditional and unexpected flavors, such as cinnamon rose, honey saffron caramel, bourbon black walnut and ginger turmeric currant coconut. 6988 McKinley St., Sebastopol.
Sonoma Chocolatiers Website