Planning an at-home Valentine’s Day? Centre County restaurants have special takeout options

Skipping the typical Valentine’s Day dinner out this year? Centre County businesses have you covered with ways to still celebrate the holiday while social distancing, ranging from fun activities for those cooking at home, to full-scale Valentine’s Day feasts for couples who want to kick back and let someone else do the work.

For those in the latter camp, a handful of caterers will offer special takeout meals for Valentine’s Day weekend. Nittany Catering and The Cakeshop by Tati, a new bakery in Pleasant Gap, offer “heat and serve” meals for two, with entrees such as red wine braised beef with au gratin potatoes and sautéed french green beans, or eggplant rollatini with pasta and asparagus, followed by lemon cheesecake or a dark chocolate tart for dessert. The meals are available for pick-up Feb. 12-14 in Bellefonte, for orders placed by Feb. 10.

Benjamin’s Catering offers dinners for two as well, with entree options such as surf ’n turf with beef medallions and garlic shrimp, a mushroom risotto with grilled vegetables or an herb pork tenderloin with a cranberry apple chutney. Dessert options include cordial cherry chocolate cake or chocolate covered strawberries. The full menu beyond the Valentine’s Day specials, as well as ordering options, is up on the Benjamin’s Catering Facebook page.

RE Farm Café offers a special Valentine’s Day weekend menu with a range of different sharing plates and other menu items, all with a chocolate focus and that can be paired with wine, available for takeout. Highlighted items include a smoked carrot bisque with chocolate crème fraîche; a salad with pistachio-crusted brie, dried cherries and a chocolate brioche crouton, with Champagne vinaigrette; and local cheeses with chocolate biscotti.

Similarly, for those downtown, the newly revamped Allen Street Grill offers a Valentine’s Day weekend meal kit. The three-course, prix fixe menu includes a warm fig and sea salt focaccia roll; smoked tomato risotto or a braised veal shank osso bucco; and dark chocolate budino, among other options, all of which can be enjoyed at home.

For those who want to get in the kitchen with their sweetheart, The Hidden Hostess and local chef Rebecca Dale will host two virtual cooking classes over the weekend, including a Valentine’s dinner for two class, Feb. 13, and a Julia Child’s chocolate mousse class, Feb. 14. The former teaches participants how to sear and cook a perfect filet mignon, then make a rich pan sauce and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Dale sends out an ingredient and equipment list to all participants a week prior to the classes, and then participants cook the class’s focus items together in real time, with the end result being a delicious meal or dish to share. Sign up for either or both classes at www.thehiddenhostess.com.

While some couples may not want to brave indoor dining this Valentine’s Day, if you want to get out of the house and into the great outdoors, Centre Region Parks & Recreation has you covered with a range of couple- and family-friendly activities.

On Valentine’s Day, Millbrook Marsh Valentine’s Walk will be held in the morning and a Hearts In Parks Mystery Challenge in the afternoon (with a $50 Visa gift card for the challenge’s winning couple), which requires participants to solve puzzles throughout the area’s parks. Registration for the event ends Feb. 12 and can be completed at crpr.recdesk.com. Additionally, Feb. 8-21, the CRPR hosts an art installation at Millbrook Marsh, with 24 artists displaying work along the boardwalk over a two-week period.

Of course, you need a snack or a picnic for your outdoor Valentine’s Day adventures. Look no further than The Gourmet Girl’s special Valentine’s Day grazing boxes, stuffed with delicious snacks, such as goat cheese truffles, heart macarons, chocolate-covered strawberries and charcuterie and cheeses. Grazing boxes include items from local providers such as Bonfatto’s Italian Market and The Cakery, both in Bellefonte, and Tait Farm Foods in Centre Hall. All of the Valentine’s Day options can be viewed and ordered at www.gourmetgirlpersonalchef.com.

This story was originally published February 4, 2021 at 7:00 AM.