Six Vancouver restaurants and businesses that can elevate your at-home Valentine’s Day celebration

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      Like every other holiday that’s happened during the pandemic, Valentine’s Day is also going to require some serious modifications.

      Last year, couples were able to put on their finest date night attire and hit the town for a romantic candle-lit dinner. While singles were able to gallivant freely along Granville Street, finding solace in sloppy liquor-fuelled kisses with strangers outside of the Colony.

      But this year, unless Cupid hits us with an arrow that sparks some sort of motivation, most people will remain in their sweatpants and order pizza. Just like every other night of the week.

      Thankfully, these six Vancouver restaurants and catering companies understand the importance of indulgence and effort on Valentine’s Day—whether you’re single or in a relationship. With the help of these local businesses, you’ll be able to pull off an at-home celebration unlike any other.

      Fondue Box

      If your partner believes that chocolate is its own food group, gifting them a mouth-watering chocolate fondue box will make for a memorable Valentine’s Day. Vancouver-based creates boxes filled with melting chocolate (customers can choose between white, dark, or milk) and delicious dippers. These include marshmallows, mini donuts, cream puffs, strawberries, pineapple, mini chocolate éclairs, pretzels, pound cake, and more. Each box comes with six dippers that are preselected by the customer.

      No fondue pot? No problem. The Fondue Starter Box comes with a pot, tea light candle, skewers, and all of the ingredients needed to induce feelings of chocolate euphoria. For those who are already proud owners of a fondue set, the Replenishment Box has all of the decadent fondue essentials.

      Fondue boxes can be for delivery, which is free within the Lower Mainland. To receive your fondue box by Valentine’s Day, the cutoff date for placing orders is February 10.

      Blue Hat Bakery

      Blue Hat Bakery

      is a French-inspired café run by professional culinary and pastry chefs, and current students at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. This Valentine’s Day, the café is offering meal kits filled with all the fixings needed to surprise your partner with a fancy breakfast in bed. This includes croissants, orange juice, Champagne, and more.

      The Bubbles and Brunch in Bed kit can be preordered by contacting the café by phone at 604-734-4489, with pickup on February 13.

      the Belgard Kitchen

      Belgard Kitchen

      Tucked away in the Settlement Building in Gastown, the is best known for its selection of B.C. wines, craft beers, gourmet pizzas, and tasty small plates. This Valentine’s Day, the eatery is offering meal kits for couples, which can be easily prepared by home cooks with basic culinary knowledge and equipment.

      The kits are packed with all of the ingredients needed to prepare seared scallops, wild mushroom truffle risotto, and chocolate fondant cake. Wine enthusiasts can opt to add the wine pairings for each dish, which were thoughtfully selected by the Vancouver Urban Winery. These restaurant-quality meal kits can be ordered through the Belgard Kitchen’s .

      The cutoff date for orders is February 10.

      Salt + Sear Catering

      Salt + Sear Catering

      This Vancouver catering company creates unique culinary experiences from locally sourced ingredients.  is offering two Valentine’s Day dinner kits that only require reheating before serving—no chopping, measuring, or cooking required.

      The dinner packages are available in two different sizes for families and couples. Each kit includes a beef or mushroom Wellington, kale Caesar salad, garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables. Of course, no Valentine’s Day meal is complete without a dessert so each package comes with housemade chocolate cake covered in caramel sauce.

      The dinner kits can be  and picked up from Salt + Sear Catering’s commissary location on February 14. The cutoff date for orders is February 11.

      The Graze Company

      The Graze Company

      Building your own charcuterie board requires a lot of effort, creativity, and several trips to the grocery store. If you’re lacking the energy to gather a selection of meats and cheeses but still want to impress your charcuterie-loving partner, can help.

      The Burnaby-based charcuterie company creates boxes, boards, and tables filled with gourmet sweet and savoury finger food. The Graze Company also offers vegetarian and vegan boxes for those who want the charcuterie experience without the meat.

      The local business is offering four limited edition Valentine’s Day boxes: the Original Valentine's Day Graze Box, the Vegetarian Valentine's Day Graze Box, the Vegan Valentine's Day Graze Box, and the Ultimate Valentine's Day Graze Luxury Package. All of the boxes come with a bottle of wine or Moët Champagne.

      Orders can be placed through the company’s . The cutoff date for orders is February 12.

      The Pie Hole

      The Pie Hole

      Every proper Valentine’s Day should either begin or end with a slice of pie from Vancouver’s favourite boutique pie shop. , with locations in Kitsilano and Burnaby, is offering a selection of special Valentine’s Day pies that can be and picked up in-store. 

      The Apple Sweetie Pie is filled with crunchy gala apples tossed in brown sugar and cinnamon, and the short saying on the top can be customized. We suggest the following romantic phrases: “Nice Butt”, “Ur Hot”, “Marry Me?”, and the ever-so classy, “DTF?”

      If your Valentine’s Day plans include crushing an entire pie by yourself, the Eat Your Feelings version is just what you need. The pie has a pecan chocolate chip and oat cookie filling, finished with gooey caramel and rocky road topping.

      The Pie Hole is also offering Valentine’s Day boxes filled with nine mini pies. The cutoff date for orders is February 12.