5 Romantic (And Delicious) Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day in Nassau

There are red & pink hearts everywhere. You probably know by now that these ardent colours are the (not so subtle) code for one very unmistakable message: this season for love has arrived!

But amid all the romantic excitement, let’s face it-Valentine’s Day can get a just a little bit stressful for lovers when it comes to the gift-giving deliberations. You want to impress, sweep that special someone off his or her dazzlingly feet. Yet these days, with the bar apparently set so high, this can seem like a daunting task to say the least. Fear not, we’ve got some clever suggestions for helping you declare “I Love You” this Feb 14th that go beyond the standard chocolate and flowers default.

Consider one of these unique ways to spend Valentine’s Day in Nassau:
*Note– each suggestion contains an admittedly foodie flair.

Bake’ em a Basket of Homemade Treats

Nothing shows how much you care like a selection hand-crafted, “made-with-love” goodies. If you’re the type to DIY and roll up your sleeves, then indulge your Valentine’s sweet tooth by creating a special dessert (or several) from scratch. We recommend drawing on local inspiration for this batch of sweet treats in naturally delicious Bahamian fruit. Try our recipe ideas for: Sapodilla Crumble, classic Pineapple Tart, or Coconut Crèmes.

A Beachside Lunch Picnic

Of course Valentine’s Day does happen to fall on a work day this year. But, no worries- we can almost guarantee that your loved one will be knocked off his/her feet when you show up for a lunch-time rendezvous with gourmet lunch in hand. For venue, we say head to the nearest beach around (which is never too far away on our island) and bring a blanket to lounge on. When it comes to the “packed” food and drink component- we suggest letting Brown Bag Lunch take care of that- they’ll deliver you an exquisite 4 course meal for two and throw in a mini-bouquet for $100.  To accompany this lavish lunch time repas- present your dining companion with a bottle of sophisticated bubbly from Young’s Champagne. Between now and Feb 14th, they’ve got a 14% sale on all Champagne bottles, (10% off wines) and they’ll even customize your label for no charge. Can you say “winner”?

 A Decadent Night on the Town

If your time to shine is when darkness falls, Nassau’s night time activities won’t disappoint this Valentine’s Day week. Whether you’re with a group of friends or alone with your sweetheart, attending a fancy themed evening event is a highly recommended way to experience lots of culinary and cultural entertainment. Two particular chocolate-themed events caught our eye:

• The Art of Chocolate– Celebrate lovers’ day early this year in artistic fashion
  • Deets: A chocolate, art, and champagne event featuring Bootleg Chocolates (think gourmet chocolate with island twists), and a new “Love is in the Air” exhibition at Doongalik Studios Art Gallery. Nibbles and chocolate samples will be available while there will be chocolate gift baskets on sale and a champagne bar.
  • Date & Time: February 12. 6pm to 9pm
  • Location: Doongalik Studios, #20 Village Rd.
  • Cost: Free Admission
  • Contact Info: Call (242) 394-1886

• 50 Shades of Graycliff –Promises not to be skimpy when it comes to indulgences this Valentine’s Day.
  • Deets: This event is being promoted as “a night for awakening the senses”, featuring chocolate, chocolate models, desserts, rum specials by John Watlings, lingerie, cigars, and more!
  • Date & Time: February 14. 9pm to 1am
  • Location: West Hill Street (Graycliff Property)
  • Cost: Tickets are $50/person or $95/couple.
  • Contact Info: If this slightly risqué affair piques your interest, call: (242) 302-9181 or email boutique@graycliff.com to reserve your tickets.

Roll Up Your Sleeves or Socks

What better way to celebrate the Valentine’s Day occasion than spending time with your loved one while learning a new skill? Try signing up for one of our selections below:

• Create and then enjoy eating a memorable meal at one of Field to Fork Community Farm’sVegetarian Cooking Classes: You’ll learn how to utilize fresh local Bahamian produce, picked right from the farm on site, in delectable and healthy meal options. Call Farm Organizer, Selima Hauber (242) 434-0818  to sign up.

• Make the most of our 365 days a year of sunshine and take on a new adventure. Pappa Surfoffers a variety of adventure-oriented classes sure to get your adrenaline pumping: try theirpaddle board yoga- $65 for 90 minutes or a “sup and snorkel” kayak tour- $90 for 3 hours.

Getaway (Island Style) For the Weekend 

If you really want to do it big this Feb 14th, then take advantage of the fact that this year’s Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday and make a weekend out of the occasion. Treat yourself and your special someone to a few days of rest, relaxation and romance in one of our many beautiful family islands. You’ve got your pick with over 16 unique destinations to choose from but our vote for the weekend is Tiamo Resort in South Andros. Relish the privacy of the resort’s sheltered coves and incredibly crystal clear waters while savouring meals sourced from the property’s organic garden and prepared by their Michelin trained chef. The best part: if you head over this weekend (or anytime before June 20th, 2014), using Special Code “2FF “, you’ll both fly free from Nassau with a 4 night stay. And if you can’t go this weekend? Well, an island getaway planned for a weekend to come is certainly something to look forward to in our books.

*Bonus Suggestion: If you’re out of town this weekend or prefer to skip the excitement of the day itself, then consider pre-purchasing tickets for the first ever Annual Bahamas Rum Festival (Feb 21-23) for you and your sweetie. This 3 day event of rum, food and culture promises much more than yummy libations (although there are sure to be many of those). Tickets are $60 for the 3 day package or $25 per day and you can reserve by calling: 677-2834.

So rise and shine confidently on Feb 14th to enjoy the heart-filled festivities. You’ll be as prepared to make a lasting impression as you’ve ever been with these goodies in your pocket.

 Wishing you and yours a wonderful Valentine’s Day from all of us at Tru Bahamian Food Tours!