Picking up flowers on the way home isn
’t good enough. Taking her out to eat at a burger joint will
only upset her. This is a fact that we, as men, must face every
year on Feb. 14. Sure, it may seem like an overblown holiday or a
big waste of time and money to some of us guys, but there are only
a few times a year when the women in our
lives ask – and expect to be – blown away by their loved
ones.
Picking up flowers on the way home isn’t good enough. Taking her out to eat at a burger joint will only upset her.
This is a fact that we, as men, must face every year on Feb. 14.
Sure, it may seem like an overblown holiday or a big waste of time and money to some of us guys, but there are only a few times a year when the women in our lives ask – and expect to be – blown away by their loved ones. They want to be swept right off their feet on Valentine’s Day, and we have to deliver. Succeed, and she will reward you. Fail, and you won’t hear the end of it.
A dozen roses every year is expected and a tired gift, and going out to anything but her favorite restaurant or someplace classy simply won’t cut it. Worst of all, the clock’s ticking and reservations are beginning to fill up – not to mention babysitter’s schedules for those with children.
Here’s a few suggestions – with average prices ($ is equal to $25) – to help keep yourself on the up and up with the lady in your life and keep you out of the doghouse. And, guys, for crying out loud, you should know by now that doing just one of these things isn’t going to cut it. Mix it up and be creative.
Flowers
In no way will a beautiful arrangement of flowers make her Valentine’s Day (How many times do you think she’s been given a dozen roses in her lifetime?). That being said, you better not skimp on them. A beautiful bouquet of flowers, roses or otherwise, are an expected tradition and will let her know you care.
“We usually go through 175 to 350 dozen roses (on Valentine’s Day), and what we do is make sure to try and have 65 to 70 percent red,” said Ted Uchida, owner of Zen Flower Garden in Gilroy. “We ask customers to call ahead to book them, especially red.”
Roses at Uchida’s store start at $29.99 and go up to $45. Mixed bouquets of other flowers go from $10 to $20. And while roses are generally associated with Valentine’s Day, going with another flower can be more creative.
Brad Jones, who is trying to get “The Love Bug” open and stocked for Valentine’s Day, said the January freeze hurt the local rose supply, driving up the cost and the availability down. He should be able to offer a dozen long-stemmed roses, delivery included, for between $80 and $90. Call ahead. The Love Bug, between BookSmart and Just Breakfast, at Monterey Road and West Second Street. 778-5652. The store will also stock greeting cards, candies and gifts.
“People who can’t find roses are ordering red carnations instead,” Jones said.
The Flower Cottage at 16815 Monterey Rd. in Morgan Hill, offers their dozen roses at $69.95 and $89.95 plus $7.95 for local delivery. 779-6175.
Brotin’s Design, 17337 Monterey, 776-8534, has found a way around the high price of fresh roses by offering a collection of absolutely stunning silk roses in a choice of colors, and in their own pots, for about $35. “They are very low maintenance,” said Brotin’s Sylvia Cook.
Zen Flower Garden
5350 Monterey Road,
Gilroy, 847-1667
Wines
We live in wine country, so what’s stopping you from picking up a few fancy wine glasses and a bottle to help set a romantic mood?
While finding a good wine may seem like a daunting task to the average beer-drinking man, there are plenty of people to help find a wine that suits your taste by heading over to a local winery. They’ll even tell you interesting facts about the wine you’re buying, so you can sound smart when you tell her about the significance of the wine you chose!
If you’re looking to go all out, Clos LaChance Winery is offering a red bouquet with a sparkling center. While a bouquet of roses is the traditional way to show your Valentine how you feel, Clos La Chance Hospitality Manager Rick Toyota encourages guys to take the tradition one step further with a wine bouquet.
Each bouquet is made up with one bottle each of 2001 Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir, 2002 Central Coast Merlot, 2001 El Dorado County Zinfandel, 2001 Central Coast Syrah, 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and NV “Amber’s Cuvee” Sparkling Wine. The bottles are displayed in a six-bottle “Bouquet Style” wine rack and is available for a special Valentine’s price of $150.
The winery also is holding a Valentines Day dinner for $95 per person. The dinner will be catered by the restaurant “O” and features appetizers, grilled pineapple topped with pan seared foie gras, braised short rib with chocolate, grilled colorado lambs chop with crispy sweetbreads and caramel raisin rice pudding – with each course paired with a wine.
Clos LaChance Winery
One Hummingbird Lane
San Martin
686-1050
Guglielmo Family Winery
1480 E. Main Ave.
779-2145
Pedrizzetti Winery
1645 San Pedro Road
779-7389
Sycamore Creek Winery
12775 Uvas Road
779-4738
Dinner
If you think you’ll just be able to walk in and get a table at any of Morgan Hill’s finest restaurants on Valentine’s Day, you’ve got another thing coming to you. Get your reservations as soon as possible, and call around because local restaurants are holding special Valentine’s Day dinner menus as well as events.
•Rosy’s At the Beach’s finds Feb. 14 one of their three busiest days. Celebrate with a “Love Menu.” Appetizers of oysters, steamed prawns or crab cakes, lobster bisque, mixed green salad with pears and candied walnuts. Entrées are Sole Oscar with asparagus and crab meat or filet mignon. Desserts are cheesecake with raspberries or warm fudge cake with French vanilla ice cream. Dinner including champagne, $40/person, details 778-0551, 17320 Monterey Rd.
• Sicilia In Boca, opens at 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day with a dinner of Romaine salad, spinach, chicken or crab ravioli in tomato sauce, garlic fish, vegetables and more. 778-0399, 25 W. Main Ave.
• Mama Mia’s, Morgan Hill’s newest Italian restaurant will offer its regular menu plus some romantic specials. Open noon-10 p.m. 776-8111, 275 E. Dunne Ave.
• Golden Oak provides a romantic setting and a menu including dishes for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Diners can enjoy a live band after dinner; $10 ballroom cover. 779-8085, 16695 Condit Rd.
• Giancarlo’s Italian Restaurant, 776-2995, 16180 Monterey Rd.
• Le Bistro, will serve its regular continental-inspired menu. 782-2505, 207 W. Main Ave.
Two other favorite Morgan Hill restaurants, Sinaloa and Maurizio’s restaurants, may not make their goals of opening by Valentine’s Day. Check their websites to be sure: www.sinaloacafe.com and www.maurizioscuisine.com
In Gilroy one restaurant holding a special event is J.R. Brewski’s, which will offer a murder mystery show in its banquet room.
“It’s definitely something different,” J.R. Brewski’s owner Called “Killer Honeymoon,” the murder mystery will revolve around a a dead loved one and the who-done-it that follows. Actors will roam the banquet room acting out the show and talking to guests about their plight while they eat.
“It’s completely interactive,” Parsons said.
The mystery dinner is offered for $75 per person, $55 for those just interested in the dinner. On the menu for the evening is grilled salmon, sauteed tiger prawns, prime rib, seared breast of chicken, saffron linguine with grilled asparagus or grilled red wine marinated flat iron steak. For a complete menu, visit www.jrbrewskis.com.
J.R. Brewski’s
8080 Santa Teresa Blvd.
847-8024
speaking of theater …
Dinner and gifts are great, but why not a night at the theater? While there are several different options for shows to see in San Francisco and San Jose, the local area has a few fun choices.
The Pintello Comedy Theater is presenting “Nobody’s Perfect,” directed by Rod Pintello. The comedy is about a single dad wins a contest for his secretly written romance novels at a women-only publishing house. The plot thickens when he falls in love with the publisher.
Meanwhile, South Valley Civic Theater is performing the classic story “Peter Pan.”
The teen show features real flying effects that allow Peter Pan and the Darling children to fly back and forth across the stage.
South Valley Civic Theatre
“Peter Pan”
Monterey and W. 5th St., MH
842-SHOW
Pintello Comedy Theater
“Nobody’s Perfect”
8531 Church St., Gilroy
776-8004
Day at the spa
Treat your loved one to a day of relaxation with a massage or a manicure. And, if you’re really daring, Naturals Day Spa in Morgan Hill invites you to join her.
“We featuring ‘Friendship and Love Valentine’s Day Weekend,’ ” Manager Cindi Torres said.The promotion, which runs through Valentine’s Day weekend, offers couples manicures, pedicures and massages.
And for guys who don’t want anything to do with a spa, they can simply buy a gift certificate and let her choose.
Costs range from $210 to $470 for full days at the spa or make a custom package.
Naturals Day Spa
15790 Monterey Road
Morgan Hill
779-8466
