How to celebrate Valentine's Day with a home-cooked meal

Eating at a restaurant on Valentine’s Day is a tradition for many couples, but with the ongoing pandemic, some may feel more comfortable celebrating at home.

Several Preston Hollow businesses are providing alternatives for couples who opt to stay home this year.

Central Market, for example, has created chef-prepared meals.

The store is offering four dinner options that satisfy a variety of tastes. Shoppers can choose from a Mediterranean chicken dinner ($60), a tenderloin dinner ($80), a lobster dinner ($90) and a surf & turf dinner ($100). Each meal serves two people and comes with sides, two mini-Anthony’s chocolate mousse cakes and four raspberry macarons.

Central Market is also selling a brunch that feeds six to eight people. The $60 meal comes complete with quiche, French toast casserole, fruit, a spinach and strawberry, butter croissants and orange juice.

Photography courtesy of Central Market.

Customers can begin placing orders Feb. 1, and the last opportunity to order is Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. Pick-up times will be scheduled for Feb. 12-14 during store hours.

Central Market, 4349 W Northwest Hwy, (469) 697-7800

Eataly is another local outlet offering meals that can be prepared at home.

The store has put together a Valentine’s Day Dinner, which includes everything needed to make an Italian meal at home: tagliatelle, porcini mushroom sauce, extra virgin olive oil with black truffle, cherry tomato bruschetta, a dark chocolate and strawberry bar and more. The kit is available for $170.

In addition, Eataly is giving customers the opportunity to take a tour of Italian regions via meal bundles.

For example, one option ($100) allows customers to travel to Piemonte, a region at the foot of the Italian Alps that is known for its white truffles and Langhe wines. The meal includes tagliatelle, porcini mushroom sauce, crushed tomatoes with basil, truffle risotto, sea salt, dark roast coffee, cookies, almond torrone and a white chocolate gianduja and salted nuts bar.

Shoppers can experience Milan with saffron risotto and traditional sweets including dark chocolate-covered cherries and Collivasone Cocoa Offelle di Parona cookies. Or they may prefer tasting the foods of Portofino: pasta with pesto, olives and canestrelli cookies.

Eataly is also selling chocolates and caviar samplers to accompany the meal bundles.

Eataly, 8687 N. Central Expy, Suite 2172, (469) 759-2800