February is well-known as the month of love—fragrant bouquets of roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sure-fire ways to win over your honey’s heart. But sometimes there’s nothing better than spending time together over a delicious meal or even a piece of luscious dessert. In honor of cupid’s favorite holiday, we’ve scoured the area for red-hued foods. From prime rib to red velvet cupcakes, here’s a list of some of our favorite Valentine’s foods. So whether you spring for a night on the town or order takeout and snuggle up on the couch, these dishes are the perfect complement to a night spent with the one you love.
STRAWBERRY CREAM TORTE
Truffles and Tortes
Nobody knows how to do dessert better than Truffles & Tortes owner Rhonda Siebert and her team of sweets-making geniuses. If you really want to impress this Valentine’s Day, go all out with the strawberry cream torte ($24.95–$39.95). Made of the most deliciously moist white cake and layers of strawberry mousse and strawberry cream, this decadent dish is surrounded with pink strawberry-flavored chocolate curls. The 8-inch torte serves 10–14 people, and the 10-inch torte serves 16–18, but if it’s just the two of you, the 6-inch will more than do (serves up to eight). 72 Nathan Lane; 763.512.0944.
TOMATO BISQUE
Mort’s Delicatessen
If you can’t make it out for dinner on Valentine’s Day, why not spring for a little lunch date with your honey? Specializing in Jewish cuisine since it opened in 2008, family-owned Mort’s Delicatessen is the perfect place to hunker down and gaze into each other’s eyes over a steamy bowl of homemade soup. In our books, the tomato bisque is the clear winner ($3.99–$7.99). Made from scratch, this naturally auburn soup is rich, creamy and oh-so-delicious. Pair it with one of Mort’s delicious homemade sandwiches or enjoy it all on its own—it’s that good. 525 Winnetka Ave. N., Golden Valley; 763.544.2900.
PRIME RIB
The Sunshine Factory
Even after relocating from New Hope last November, The Sunshine is still serving up mouth-watering cuisine at its Vinewood Lane location, especially when it comes to one of its house specialties—prime rib. The restaurant’s famous prime rib is available in limited quantity after 4 p.m. Friday–Saturday, so make sure to plan accordingly. Offering a 10-oz. specialty cut or a 16-oz. “guest’s favorite cut,” you can’t go wrong with this perfectly pink, juicy entrée ($18.95–$24.95). Both options are served with soup or salad and your choice of potato. Bon appétit! 4100 Vinewood Lane; 763.535.7000.
SPAGHETTI WITH MARINARA
Creekside Café
Load up on sweet, red marinara at the Creekside Café’s pasta bar every Friday night from 5 to 10 p.m. The café’s chefs relocate to the dining room each Friday, preparing a plethora of pasta dishes to your request ($15.95). Go for heat with Cajun spices, or keep it classic with a heaping plate of spaghetti and marinara. You can choose from a multitude of pastas, sauces, meats, spices and herbs on your quest to find the perfect pasta combination. And that’s not all; the pasta bar also includes a salad bar, breadsticks and a dessert buffet with mouth-watering selections prepared by the café’s own pastry chefs. 3131 Campus Drive; 763.559.6600.
PLANKED SALMON
Milton’s
With a motto like “vittles, vino and beer,” you know this Crystal-based eatery has to be good. Specializing in scratch cooking with a soul food flair, Milton’s cuisine makes you feel at home—and so does the restaurant’s cozy vibe. For dinner, we recommend Milton’s planked salmon ($13.95). This popular dish is clearly cooked with love, coming out perfectly moist and pink—plus you’ll get a house salad, veggie and choice of side with your fish. After dinner, take a seat on the famous comfy couch, and enjoy walls adorned with artwork by local artists while you sip on a glass of wine or beer from the restaurant’s carefully curated lists. Sounds like a romantic evening to us. 3545 Douglas Drive N.; 763.535.9373.
ITALIAN FAVORITE PIZZA
Latuff’s Pizzeria
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So by our calculations, nothing says love better than a fresh pizza—topped with a variety of meats, no less. Since it opened in 1971, family-owned Latuff’s Pizzeria has been serving up mouth-watering pies sure to impress, and we recommend the Italian favorite. If the name didn’t give it up already, this popular pizza is topped with sausage, salami and pepperoncinis ($14.50–$20.95). 10820 Hwy. 55; 763.545.2914.
RED VELVET CUPCAKE
Wuollet Bakery
Wuollet Bakery has been creating decadent desserts and scrumptious treats for more than 65 years. A family-run operation, much of the hometown bakery’s staff has been making its long list of family recipes since childhood. For a quintessential Valentine’s Day dessert, we love the red velvet cupcake ($2.25 each). This smooth chocolate cake has a rich, velvety flavor that’s unrivaled when paired with a layer of cream cheese frosting. If a cupcake isn’t enough, you can always spring for a whole cake, which are available in a variety of shapes and sizes (ranging in price from $20 to $177) 771 Lake St. E, Wayzata; 952.473.8621.
