Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for the Foodie in Your Life

1. Build a cheese board! This can add up quickly because fine cheese is expensive! If you aren’t sure where to start visit your local grocery store (that has a dedicated cheese station, such as Central Market, HEB, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, etc.) and ask them for help! Foodie tip: Choose a cheese from a country you visited together, and don’t forget the pairings! Wine, crackers, nuts, jam, you know what I mean, go all out!

2. Cook for your partner! This doesn’t have to be a complicated meal, but showing that you genuinely tried making a special home cooked meal goes a looooong way! We are saving for our wedding, so instead of eating out and spending $300 at a fancy restaurant, we decided to make a gourmet surf and turf meal for two in the comfort of our own home! Never made lobster before? I gotchu, find my recipe here.

3. Or better yet, take a cooking class together! This has been on my bucket list forever, it’s sexy learning something new with your partner! Stimulate your mind and senses by taking a class by local business owner Sukaina of Macaron by Patisse.

4. Surprise your lover with tickets to the 10th Annual Margarita Taste Off! This is going to be their biggest year yet, and I will be there to support this amazing cause! Drink up and support the Candlelighters whose mission is to provide emotional, educational and practical assistance to families of children with cancer treated at the Texas Medical Center. Buy your tickets here!

5. If you don’t own a cast iron grill, do yourself a favor and go get one! I have a super cheap one that cost $10 and it’s still going strong! Every household should own one!

6. If your special someone loves chocolate covered strawberries then I have a treat for you! Make them my Boozy Berries and get lit together in the name of love!

7. No surprise here, for some people a nice bottle of wine / champagne / liquor screams, “I LOVE YOU!” A wine decanter is a big plus! For me an expensive bottle of tequila says, “Te Amo.” *hint hint*

8. Looking to splurge? Buy your spouse some new kitchen gadgets or glassware! A good grill can be used all year long, as well as a nice set of kitchen knives! A beautiful set of china comes in handy when hosting parties and holidays!

Personal NOs for me (Don’t get mad if this is your jam, it’s just not mine!):

1. A restaurant gift card…this is not romantic at all and it’ll end up in the kitchen junk drawer anyway.
2. Food arrangements say, “I tried.” Unless you’re in a long distance relationship, please don’t send these my way.
3. Don’t go to a restaurant without reservations, this is not the day to make your significant other wait.
4. Anything that shows zero effort was made, like a random teddy bear and cheap chocolates from a drug store. You have 1 day out of the year to get it right, make them feel loved!

Love Valentine’s Day or hate it? Either way, treat yourself to the discounted candy aisle on the 15th! xoxo