Dialed in Valentine’s Day Dining in Sonoma County

Romantic restaurants, cute classes and tasty treats are in store for Valentine’s Day in Sonoma County.


No holiday strikes fear into the hearts of men like Valentine’s Day (Friday, Feb. 14). In truth, all the Hallmark card expectations of romance, roses and chocolate can confound any couple. But fear not, because even at the eleventh hour, there are great food and dining options throughout Sonoma County for you and your sweet thing, your best gal pals, or even your little cherubs.

Just don’t wait too long to snap up these ideas, and may Cupid’s arrow find its mark.

Last minute

Say it with bacon: Order a bacon box from Sonoma County Meat Co. filled with four glorious pounds of piggy pleasure. Flavors include black pepper, applewood smoked, honey lavender salt and thyme, $89 (order online or in-store). 35 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa, sonomacountymeatco.com

Chocolate creations, including a life-size chocolate wine bottle, from Fleur Sauvage in Windsor. (Chris Hardy/Sonoma Magazine)
Chocolate creations, including a life-sized chocolate wine bottle, from Fleur Sauvage in Windsor. (Chris Hardy/Sonoma Magazine)

Chocolate: Sonoma County has plenty of amazing chocolate makers, including Fleur Sauvage, Volo Chocolates, Eye Candy and Sonoma Chocolatiers (you can find a complete list here). But if you want to go a little off-script, Santa Rosa’s quirky Steinhouse offers Belgian chocolate and a whole lot of other goodies. 631 Fourth St., Suite 18, Santa Rosa, steinhousechocolates.com

Bread baking classes: Central Milling’s Artisan Baking Center is the place to train your budding sourdough baker or pastry fanatic. Classes are taught by some of the best bakers in the biz, and you’ll reap the rewards with something hot from the oven after a single class. Register online. 1120 Holm Road, Petaluma, centralmilling.com/artisan-baking-center

OpenTable it: For you lazy Lotharios, OpenTable has a handy listing of local restaurants that still have Valentine reservations available. pdne.ws/3EpRHKL

Plan ahead (with some last-minute alternatives)

Patisserie Angelica
Macaron flavors by Patisserie Angelica include rose, pistachio, salted caramel, Meyer lemon, and blackberry in Sebastopol, on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)

Patisserie Angelica Valentine’s desserts: Satisfy your sweetie’s sweet tooth with an eye-popping selection of treats, including chocolate truffles, macarons, chocolate-covered strawberries, a heart-shaped almond cake with praline buttercream and Valentine sugar cookies. You’ll also find single-serve desserts, party cakes and brownies in the pastry case from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. 6821 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, patisserieangelica.com/valentinesmenu

Last-minute option: Patisserie Angelica also offers a cozy high tea with savory and sweet pastries, specialty teas and espresso drinks. It’s a charming, pinkies-up adventure, but not so fancy you can’t have a little fun. Reserve by phone at 707-827-7998.

Flamingo Resort & Spa: Three-course prix fixe dinner with lots of choices — steamed blue crab, grilled bavette steak, seared scallops, confit of trumpet mushrooms or a chocolate ganache tart. $132 per person; reservations required. Reserve on OpenTable. 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, flamingoresort.com

Last-minute option: Grab tickets for the Flamingo’s live “Don’t Tell Comedy” shows every Thursday. Comedians are a secret until they take the stage — and you never know who will show up. Tickets at flamingoresort.com

Sushi By Scratch: A few reservations remain for the 17-course sushi omakase menu at this intimate dining destination in Healdsburg. Valentine’s experiences, Feb. 14-16, are $265 per person. Reserve on Tock. Located in The Matheson, 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg

Last minute option: Prebook a future date at this 10-seat experience for $185 per person. You’re thoughtful and thrifty.

Advance planning required

Sea Ranch Lodge: Head north for dinner or a weekend retreat at this wind-swept North Coast destination. Dinner overlooking the ocean includes Dungeness crab Louie, beef Wellington for two and molten chocolate cake for two. Reservations required. 60 Sea Walk Drive, The Sea Ranch, thesearanchlodge.com

Owners Marc-Henri and Maud Jean-Baptiste of Windsor's new Maison Porcella. (Kim Carroll/for Sonoma Magazine)
Owners Marc-Henri and Maud Jean-Baptiste of Windsor’s Maison Porcella. (Kim Carroll/for Sonoma Magazine)

Maison Porcella: The French are experts in food, wine and love. Celebrate all three at Maison Porcella’s special Valentine’s prix fixe dinner featuring scalloped fish terrine with roasted cauliflower, duck with braised radicchio and white chocolate cake. $125 per person; reservations required. Tickets on Tock. 8499 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, maisonporcella.com

Pascaline Bistro: There’s no choice but to get cozy at this intimate bistro. Four-course dinner includes Dungeness crab cakes, Mount Lassen trout and caramel passion fruitcake. Tickets are $137.19 per person; reservations required. Call 707-303-7151 or book on OpenTable. 1021 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa, pascalinebistro.com

Farmhouse Inn: On Sunday, Feb. 16, bid adieu to Valentine’s weekend with a four-course dinner from executive chef Craig Wilmer and executive pastry chef Amanda Hoang. Each course will be paired with spirits from Foley Spirits. $185 per person, by reservation only. Reserve on Tock. 7871 River Road, Forestville, farmhouseinn.com

A dish at Farmhouse Inn restaurant in Forestville. (Joanne Chen/Courtesy Farmhouse Inn)
A dish at Farmhouse Inn restaurant in Forestville. (Joanne Chen/Courtesy Farmhouse Inn)

Jilly’s Roadhouse: Venture to the coast for a casual couple’s night at this new Route 1 roadhouse. Prix fixe menu includes crab soup, lemon-zest Brussels sprouts, creamy mashed potatoes, caper-crusted salmon or filet mignon and choice of tiramisu or strawberry cheesecake. $68 per person, wine pairing available. Call 707-756-0119 for reservations. 9960 Highway 1, Jenner

Valentine’s Momo Tasting: Learn to make Nepalese momo dumplings with chef Sonam Sherpa at Meadowcroft Wines tasting room in Sonoma. The class includes momo tasting with Meadowcroft wines. 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15., $75 per person. Reservations required; reserve online. 23574 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, meadowcroftwines.com

Love and Peanuts Holiday Workshop: Kids (grades 1-6) can make Valentine crafts and treats from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. $40 per child; advance registration required. Tickets are available online or by calling 707- 284-1272. 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, schulzmuseum.org

You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.