A Local Valentine’s Day
I grew up in a house where Valentine’s Day trumped all other holidays. My mother would be working on elaborate Valentine’s cards for weeks in advance and my dad would bring home chocolates and roses to his wife and each of his 5 daughters. The table would be decorated with heart shaped place mats, heart shaped confetti and a meal of heart shaped pancakes for breakfast. Every plate had a stack of cards on it, and the light from the window poured in atop a string of heart shaped garlands.
So as you can imagine, Valentine’s is a big deal in my house now. Sadly I’m running against the clock this year and have to create a gorgeous Valentine’s themed house by tomorrow complete with a hand made gift. *Crossing Fingers*So if you’re like me and want to create a memorable Valentine’s Day complete with local foods here is some inspiration.
The Perfect Valentine’s Dinner:
Start the night off with a selection of local cheeses. Kenny’s Cheese here in Nashville is one of my favorites, and they have so many different selections. You can pick them up from several local grocery stores. (Photo Source)
Start off with a beautiful cut of local meat. Here in Nashville you can hit up Porter Road Butcher in East Nashville for a great selection of hand picked local meats including steaks, sausages, roasts and more. If you can find a local butcher, you are supporting a local business and local farms in one swoop. (Photo Source)
Make a seasonal side dish with winter vegs – like this Turnip Gratin from the Pioneer Woman. Or perhaps a nice salad with local greens. (Photo Source)
Don’t forget to pair your delectable dinner with some local wine, or even a cocktail made with local liqueur. In Nashville you can hit up Arrington Vineyards for a great selection of local wines. (Photo Source)
For most women this is the key to a successful Valentine’s Day – chocolates. No matter where you live you can grab some local chocolates that will end the night perfectly. In Nashville you can hit up The Cocoa Tree in Germantown for truffles like Lydia’s Champagne Rose Truffle. (Photo Source)
