Now that you’ve gotten your dinner plans scheduled (take a look at our ideas for places with takeout for Valentine’s Day at home or dine in), you’re probably trying to come up with a great gift for your significant other. You’re in luck since we’ve gathered together some thoughtful and unique ideas. Some involve food, and others don’t. Spread the love and plan the ultimate surprise for your sweetie.
They say food is the way to a person’s heart, so how about some tamales? Chílte Tacos is putting together the tamale bouquet you didn’t know you needed in collaboration with Benny Blanco Tortillas. Details are still being worked out and pre orders will come soon, but a sample dessert idea goes like this — a Strawberry Tamale with coconut milk crumb, pistachio, dulce de leche, crème anglaise and dragon fruit powder. Yum! Follow the Instagram page to see when it will be available and where Chílte Tacos will be at next. www.instagram.com/chilte_tacos
Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop has a bunch of treats you can order for your Valentine, but some are already sold out, so get your choices in now. Cookie sets still available include the Lingerie one for something a little naughtier and the Love Letter Cookie that can be customized with a To: and From: with a folded up romantic sentiment inside. Other fun treats include the Break Open Heart Box which is also customizable on top and by color and filled with conversation hearts, sprinkles and Hershey kisses. The Valentine's Donut And Strawberry Tower is stunning and delicious, and the Star Wars Chocolate Box is perfect for a fan of the movies. Orders can be picked up February 12 through 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop is located at 7350 E. Stetson Drive, Suite C101,Scottsdale; 480.994.6733; www.sweetdees.com
Many national pizza chains with locations in Arizona and serving up heart-shaped pizzas. Papa John’s one-topping Heart-Shaped Pizza is available February 8 through 14 at $11 using the promo code VALENTINE. Lou Malnati’s has got a Heart-Shaped Pizza Package featuring a heart-shaped cheese pie and round sausage Chicago-style deep dish pie. It’s available to order on Amazon and will be fulfilled by your local store. Hungry Howie’s heart pizza is available February 13 and 14 at $6.99 for one topping. Pizza Hut’s version is $11.99 and available to order starting February 8, while Papa Murphy’s The HeartBaker Pizza is available February 7 to 14 and is priced at $9 or $11, depending on location. You can also get a Sweetheart of a Deal which includes the pizza and chocolate chip cookie dough for $13. Check online for the closest locations of these pizza restaurants to you.
If you’re looking for a more active and artistic gift, look no further than Pinspiration. The DIY craft studio allows you to work on any kind of project you want, and there’s also a Splatter Room where you can get messy and paint to your heart’s desire. There’s a $99 gift card available right now you can get to share with your partner that includes a private Splatter Room, one large or two small canvases, a glow-in-the-dark experience and beverages and snacks for two. This bundle is for use after Valentine's Day so definitely makes a great gift to look forward to. You can also come in on your own to design some art for your loved one like a “Meet Me in the Rain” Guided Canvas or Monogrammed or Painted Wine Glasses. Pinspiration has locations in Peoria and Phoenix; www.pinspiration.com
If you want a traditional present to wrap up, whether it’s food-themed, for the body or home, Arcadia Farms’ The Marketplace is for you. You can order online or grab in person, and there’s tons of sweet treats for that special someone. Snatch up Gummy Valentines Hearts, Dark Chocolate Cherry Popcorn or Strawberry Shortcake White Chocolate Bar for that food lover. There’s also Elizabeth W Bath Fizz Hearts in various scents and two kinds of Pre De Provence Heart Soap. The Marketplace by Arcadia Farms is located at 7020 E. First Avenue, Scottsdale; 480.947.2666; themarketplaceonfirst.square.site
Staycations are the best when you feel like you want to get out of town but don’t want to or can’t go too far. These three spots in Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Sedona and are offering deals for couples to enjoy in the romantic desert ambiance that is Arizona. JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa gives you the chance to escape to a private resort casita over Valentine’s Day weekend. You can enjoy the Perrier-Jouet Add-On that comes with a bottle of Perrier-Jouet Brut Champagne, a dessert Charcuterie Board garnished with bite-sized desserts, macaroons, truffles, cookies and chocolate covered strawberries plus red roses and a Lush Sleepy Shower Bomb. Indulge in a special menu at the resort’s Rita Cantina & Bar with fare like a Cedar River Prime Hanger Steak, Butter Poached King Crab, Dark Chocolate Tart and a Raspberry Chocolate Martini. If you feel like a relaxing treatment at the spa, book three Honeybee services and receive a 15 percent discount off the treatment price and spa retail plus a complimentary glass of champagne or mimosa. JW Marriott Scottsdale is located at 5402 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale;480.948.1700; www.marriott.com/PHXCB
The Hermosa Inn is also giving you a chance to experience desert romance. Receive a $100 dining credit to LON's Restaurant which is consistently named one of the most romantic places in town and a choice of red or white wine delivered to your room along with chocolate truffles upon arrival. Top it all off the next morning with the decadent Bubbles Bar. It's able to be enjoyed in the privacy of your own room or at LON's and is indulgent treats accompanied by a bottle of Prosecco and three mixers — freshly squeezed orange juice, white peach puree and prickly pear nectar. LON's also will have a special Valentine's Day menu that's $95 a person (tax and gratuity not included). Start with an amusé of Nantucket Bay Scallop followed by a choice of a starter like Alaskan King Crab Salad or Meyer Lemon Ricotta Tortelloni. For a main course, there are four options including Hudson Valley Crispy Duck Breast and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass. Dessert choices are Passion Fruit Cheesecake and Chocolate Strawberry Torte. The Hermosa Inn is located at 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley; 844.267.8738; www.hermosainn.com
Sedona is always a romantic spot, and at L’Auberge de Sedona, couples are surrounded by the Red Rocks and can enjoy an intimate Valentine’s Day dinner creekside at Cress on Oak Creek. The menu is priced at $165 a person or $220 per person with wine pairing. This is available for hotel guests only, and reservations are required and can be made by emailing Jessica.montgomery@lauberge.com. Items on the menu include Caramelized Onions-Celery Root Veloute with poached lobster mousseline and Swiss Chard Wrapped Halibut plus a sweet finale of a Berry Beautiful Beet-ing Heart. At L’Apothecary Spa, indulge in the Love Nourished massage for $170. Couples also get a daily $50 resort credit when two or more nights are booked. L’Auberge de Sedona is located at 301 L'Auberge Lane, Sedona; 855.905.5745; www.lauberge.com