Your ultimate guide to a COVID-19-friendly Valentine’s Day in Charlotte
Couples: COVID-19 is not an excuse to forego Valentine’s Day celebrations. In fact, it’s all the more reason to make sure you follow through with them.
Sure, it’s going to look a little different. You may not reserve an in-person dinner for two. You may feel like you’ve seen a lot of each other working from home. Or, maybe, you’re just burned out from the pandemic.
This year, think outside of the box to rekindle romance. Get dressed up and enjoy takeout by candlelight from a local restaurant. Long distance? Prep dinner or a charcuterie board via Zoom together. Need a gift? Look to local shops.
While it’s not the norm, you may find it’s even better than the run-of-the-mill holidates you’re used to. It’s time to plan — here are a few ideas to get you started:
Sweet surprises
Candles from Pretty Honest Shop
Online
Gift idea: Charlotte-themed candles ($24)
Details: This Black-owned, woman-owned business offers scents such as fresh coffee, lemon lavender, eucalyptus spearmint and Charlotte-themed Panthers and Hornets candles. These iconic “candles that don’t suck” are biodegradable and eco-friendly and have been featured in Buzzfeed, Travel Noire and Apartment Therapy.
Order: Online
Chocolate-covered strawberry box from Popbar
3123 N. Davidson St., #102B
Gift idea: Chocolate-covered strawberry box, flowers and balloons
Details: Popbar is offering three different box sizes for your Valentine, as well as individual hot chocolate bombs for $6 each, a Valentine’s Day 6-pack and cooler bag for $30.99, flowers and balloons. The small box includes 6 chocolate-covered strawberries for $16, medium includes 10-12 chocolate-covered strawberries for $30, and the large adds a box of hot chocolate bombs to the chocolate strawberries for $50.
Order: Online through Feb. 13 and pickup at NoDa location Feb. 12-14
Dessert from Sweet Girl Cookies
Online
Gift idea: Valentine’s Day Cookies “Best of” box ($31.99)
Details: The “Best of” box comes with Sweet Girls’ “BIG” chocolate chewy caramel cookies and six classic cookies, including dark chocolate sea salt, chocolate chip, lemon blueberry white chocolate, white chocolate cherry and oatmeal raisin. A complimentary “You’re the Sweetest” card is included if you order by Feb. 9.
Order: Online by Feb. 9 to ensure delivery by Feb. 13
Take a walk on the Lovers’ Art Trail
Gift idea: Love-themed outdoor art tour
Details: Celebrate local art and artists via Art Walks CLT by visiting Charlotte’s love-themed art in South End, Third Ward, NoDa and Plaza Midwood. At each of the 10 stops, learn about the artist, artwork and a “love connection” fun fact.
New potted plant friend from Shades of Moss
2422 N. Tryon St.
Gift idea: DIY potted plant kit and virtual workshop
Details: Add new life to your home — and your relationship — with a potted plant kit from Shades of Moss that you can put together from the comfort of your home. Kits include a snake plant, black pot, black pebbles and soil. There’s even a Valentine’s Day weekend Love Language Virtual Workshop to enjoy together. Plant kits are $40, and the workshop is $75.
Sing me a Valentine with Opera Carolina
Virtual
Gift idea: Hire an opera singer to serenade your sweetheart
Details: Give the gift of music this Valentine’s Day. For $100, you can hire one of the Opera Carolina Resident Artists to serenade your special someone, live and socially distanced or virtually with a recorded video and customized song. Add on a Babe & Butcher Valentine’s Day box for $25 or a board for $75.
Register: Online
Special delivery from Homer the Dragon
Gift idea: Valentine’s Day gift delivery from Charlotte Knights mascot Homer the Dragon
Details: This year, Homer the Dragon will safely deliver a special gift package to your Valentine in person, including a flower bouquet from Flowers of Charlotte, a Homer the Dragon plush doll, a Charlotte Knights New Era hat (choice of black, pink or white), a Charlotte Knights face mask (choice of light blue, green, baby blue or red/orange) and three full-size candy bars all for $75.
Order: Online by 5 p.m. Feb. 9 for delivery Feb. 11-12. All deliveries must be within a 25-mile radius of Truist Field in uptown Charlotte.
Leather goods from olpr
1414 S. Tryon St.
Gift idea: Horween A5 Leather Journal ($54) or Custom Cross-Back Apron ($39), personalization available for both
Details: All products, including leather aprons, watch bands, journals and bags are handcrafted at olpr’s facility in Mooresville. Special attention is paid to the stitching to create the highest-quality leather products.
Order: Visit the olpr kiosk in the RailYard in South End or online.
Unpretentious Palate cocktail kits
Online
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Gift idea: Moscow Mule Sampler Kit ($89.99)
Details: Unpretentious Palate is offering a Moscow Mule kit to spice up your home bar, featuring recipes from eight of the city’s best bartenders, including Ryan Hart from The Crunkleton, Britt Clark from Dot Dot Dot, JoAn Cook from Dressler’s, Brittany Kellum from Fin & Fino, Bob Peters from the Grinning Mule, Henry Schmulling (formerly of Merchant and Trade) and Kel Minton from Soul Gastrolounge. Each kit includes syrup and garnishes, and instructions, as well as two cans of The Unknown Brewing Co.’s ginger ale, limes and a copper mug.
Order: Online for pickup Feb. 7 between noon and 2 p.m. at Camp North End’s outdoor food hall.
Valentine’s Gift Boxes from Roses + Azalea
Online
Gift idea: Honey, Bee Mine Gift Box
Details: This Valentine’s Day gift box highlights honey and beeswax as ingredients, as well as handcrafted products from Carolina-based small businesses for $65.
Order: Online
Wellness products from The AromaCarepy Co.
Online
Gift idea: Love on Top Gift Pack
Details: Founded by local Black business owner Taylor Willingham, The AromaCarepy Co. specializes in handcrafted bath, shower and self-care products designed to promote happiness and well being. Pamper your Valentine with a set of heart-shaped bath bombs, including Amber Romance, Love Spell and Pink Sugar.
Order: Online
Wine and local food experience from Sun Raised Foods
Online
Gift idea: Virtual Valentine’s Day Experience
Details: The Valentine’s Day Experience includes a charcuterie box from Carolina-based solar farm company Sun Raised Foods and access to a special event led by Stephanie Roberts, sommelier and wine educator of Corks & Boards. You’ll learn pairing secrets to help you elevate your food and wine experiences. The virtual date rings in at $120.
Order: Online
Dining for two
Dine in for Art
Details: Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen partnered with the McColl Center for Art Innovation to teach couples how to prepare a three-course meal for two. Chef Alyssa will lead the virtual, on-demand cooking class, where she will share instruction to chop, roast, sear and plate ingredients. Couples will also receive two unique art prints as a sweet memory of the culinary experience. Each box includes access to the virtual cooking class, ingredients to prepare two portions of the menu, a sparkling wine pairing and two specially commissioned works of art. The class and art pairing is $150 plus tax.
Menu: Salad (roasted beets with raspberry vinaigrette, winter greens, roasted hazelnuts, creme fraiche), choice of Shipley Farms beef tenderloin or local organic tempeh (Moroccan spices with honey-coriander glazed baby carrots) and a truffle torte with whipped cream.
Order: Pre-order tickets on the event website by Feb. 7. Pickup on Feb. 12 at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen (4001 Yancey Road).
Steak and seafood from Fin & Fino
135 Levine Avenue of the Arts #100
Details: Fin & Fino is offering three Valentine’s Day features for an at-home date.
Menu: Two dozen oysters on the half shell with a bottle of Aimery Cremant Brut ($75), two six-ounce Filet Mignon with local baby carrots, mushroom demiglace, shave Périgord truffles and a bottle of Italics Sixteen Appellations Cabernet Blend ($125), and BK’s dessert cocktail for two with vanilla-infused vodka, Dolin blanc, lemon cordial, shaved chocolate and cocoa bitters ($25)
Order: Online for takeout Feb. 12-14
Seafood from this iconic Charlotte couple
2400 Tuckaseegee Road
Details: This couple not only has the most romantic wedding story, but they also serve delicious plates to-go from Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken and Seafood. Sample Jay and Miketa’s crab cakes, shrimp and more over a casual Valentine’s Day meal.
Order: At the drive-thru
Italian takeout from Little Mama’s
4521 Sharon Road
Details: This year, Little Mama’s will also offer its Valentine’s Day meal to-go.
Menu: Lobster Ravioli (ravioli filled with fresh lobster, caramelized fennel and roasted cherry tomatoes, finished with Italian butter), Veal Cannelloni (braised veal and spinach stuffed cannelloni with Mama’s tomato basil sauce and creamy béchamel), and dark chocolate cake (white chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache and chocolate curls). Castillo d’Albolo Chianti Classico will be offered at the special price of $35 per bottle, in house and to go.
Order: Online
Pretty Pink Treats from Reigning Doughnuts
3120 N. Davidson St., Suite 100
Details: From Feb. 8-21, Reigning Doughnuts will offer a pink-hued Pistachio Rose doughnut.
Order: In person, at the window in the morning
Off the Block charcuterie to share
Details: Local charcuterie delivery company, Off the Block Charcuterie Co., will offer a special Valentine’s Day board. Board items are sourced from local vendors.
Menu: Charcuterie board includes a selection of NC-sourced meats and cheeses, all encased in a dark chocolate shell and accompanied by pastries from Wentworth & Fenn. Side items will complement main offerings.
Order: Online. Select a delivery window from Feb. 12-14.
Specialty macarons from Amélie’s French Bakery & Café
2424 N. Davidson St.; 7715 Pineville Matthews Rd.; 4321 Park Rd.; 157 E. Main St., Rock Hill
Details: Amelie’s will offer three specialty macaron flavors to share with your Valentine.
Menu: Strawberry Dark Chocolate French Macaron (red cookie with mini dark chocolate chips filled with strawberry marmalade and dark chocolate ganache), Milk Chocolate Caramel French Macaron (brown cookie dusted with turbinado sugar filled with milk chocolate ganache and caramel center), Lavender White Chocolate French Macaron (pink and white swirled cookie filled with lavender-infused white chocolate ganache)
Order: Pre-order online
Sushi platter from The Cowfish
4310 Sharon Road
Details: Both The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar and eeZ Fusion & Sushi will offer a small sushi platter and bottle of Cowfish cabernet or chardonnay for $125. The platter feeds 2-4 people.
Order: Online beginning Feb. 5 for curbside pickup between Feb. 12-14
Your Mom’s Donuts heart-shaped treats
Details: Your Mom’s Donuts is offering regular and boozy heart-shaped doughnuts this year. It’s also offering a Valentine bouquet through Herr Flowers for $24, available for pickup on Feb. 14.
Menu: Match Maker Valentine 4-Pack (raspberry white chocolate, chocolate-covered strawberry, lemon passionfruit with lemon herb sugar, espresso cheesecake with cocoa cookie crumbles) or Heart Breaker Valentine 4-Pack (whiskey creme brulee, Midori Sour, beer and bacon, Bellini). $16 each.
Order: Order online for pickup only on Feb. 14
Long-distance lovers
Charlotte-themed movie night
Details: Set up a Zoom call and queue up a movie filmed here in Charlotte. Catch a thrilling competition in “The Hunger Games,” filmed in Charlotte, Shelby and Concord), watch a heist via “Logan Lucky,” filmed in Concord or laugh through the entire “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” movie, filmed in parts of Concord and Lake Norman. View more Charlotte-themed movie ideas.
Virtual pasta-making date with recipe from Crepe Cellar
3116 N. Davidson St.
Details: Crepe Cellar Kitchen & Pub is offering its homemade pasta recipe to lovers who wish to create a meal together:
Ingredients:
7.5 oz Doppio Zero Flour
1/5 oz semolina flour
1/2 Tbsp kosher salt
3/5 oz egg yolk
2.5 oz whole egg
1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Tbsp water
Directions:
Combine the flours and salt in mixer with hook attachment.
Combine eggs, oil and water separately.
Add wet ingredients slowly to mixer until dough forms a ball.
Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead by hand until smooth and slightly tacky. Add a touch of water if a little dry; add a touch of flour if a little wet and continue to knead.
Roll out dough and use pasta attachment to cut noodles at home.
Sweet Spot at Home Baking Class
Details: In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, Jossie Lucacik is offering Sweet Spot at Home classes, perfect for long-distance couples to bake together via video call. All classes include dry ingredients and specialty tools needed to complete the treat. There’s also a recipe card and shopping list of the tools required for the class. Boxes can be shipped and do not need to be refrigerated. Current offerings include: Black Cocoa Cake Donuts, Swiss Meringue French Macarons, and homemade Twix and Kit Kat Candy Bars. Classes start at $45, and classes can be viewed prior to purchase. Order online.
Valentine’s cheese board class
Details: Locally founded company SkillPop is offering an online Valentine’s Cheese Board Creation class on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Plan to meet with your significant other during the class, where local cheese enthusiast and caterer Tori Tippin will teach you how to place, cut and pair to create an Instagram-worthy cheese board to enjoy together on a virtual date. The class is $20, and you can register online.
Zoom dinner with recipes from Slice of Jess
Details: Can’t enjoy a meal in person? Try your hand at preparing meals together throughout the day. Local food blogger Jess Bentley, the voice behind the Slice of Jess food blog, recommends beginning the day with the Fully Loaded Bo-Berry Biscuit, preparing Classic Maryland crab cakes with pepperoni tartar for dinner and finishing off the day with DIY chocolate bark.
This story was originally published January 27, 2021 at 12:30 PM.
