A TOAST TO LOVE
Celebrating love in all its forms this February
For Her, For Him, For Them.
Valentine’s Day is a loaded holiday. For a cross-section of the world it’s met with an anticipation akin to Christmas or New Year’s Eve…all joy and actual love and excitement for the presents and the fancy dinner. For others it’s a low-grade nightmare and depressing and can possibly highlight the loneliness or isolation they are feeling. Like I said…loaded.
I’m not sure why, but I’ve always approached Valentine’s Day with the lesson we all learned in grammar school: cards and treats for all. Not just my significant other, but for those who I share deep affection towards…So I think about who might fall into that category. Friends, children, parents, all of them. Why hold back an expression of love?
What a great excuse to acknowledge someone who has meaning in your life. Say it’s a friend who just experienced a bad break-up, or better yet, has just been single for a few years. Doesn’t that person need a Valentine the most? A simple gesture of love that might bring a smile and a sense of belonging or care — which is what we all need, really — so let’s just do it.
I’ll go further on this soapbox: Give YOURSELF a Valentine! Don’t wait for someone else to give you the wrong gift that you’ll either re-gift or throw away (hello, scented candle) and maybe feel guilty for doing so. Treat yourself to something special on this day, because your relationship with yourself is the greatest Valentine ever.
In keeping with this topic of all-encompassing love, we took a deep dive on our approach to Valentine’s Day at Valerie Confections this year, and made an overdue correction. In the past, we had overly gendered our Valentine’s gifts. For well over a decade we have promoted two lines of goods — our “Pour Elle” and “Pour Homme” boxes, specifically.
In looking around our facilities this past year, Stan and I were struck by the same thing. There are a lot of Theys at Valerie Confections. How might they feel about the products only directed towards She and He? Not great is our guess. So we enter a new era: For Her, For Him, For Them. Everyone deserves all the love, and I hope everyone feels the love.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Gang.
XOXO,
V
CASUALLY FANCY:
Every year we celebrate Valentine’s Day with delicious pizza and Champagne, because it’s simple and deeply satisfying. But this year I’m going absolutely WILD and including my new favorite recipe — Caviar Dip, the ultimate high-low appetizer.
People truly lose their minds for this (I’ve brought it to several parties). And aside from making a couple of soft-boiled eggs, you’re really just assembling a gorgeous platter. What’s not to love?
1/2 pint sour cream or creme fraîche
2 jammy, soft-boiled eggs
50 gram tin Roe Caviar
1 ounce trout or salmon roe
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Salt-and-pepper potato chips
Spread the creme fraîche on a plate, creating a textured circle.
Cut the soft-boiled eggs in half and space evenly on the platter.
Top with dollops of both types of caviar.
Sprinkle chives everywhere and place the chips around the edge of the dip. Bon appetit!
Let’s be honest, there’s no way I can be objective here. Is chocolate a necessity for Valentine’s Day? Is it possibly the best way to express love? YES! Obvi, pop by Valerie Confections if you’re in LA, or use one of my chocolate dessert recipes at home to create a special moment. Just yesterday, I met the friendliest woman who had plans for a Galentine’s Tea and was making this flourless chocolate cake for her friends — adorable!
Chocolate Chess Pie with Coffee Whipped Cream
There’s nothing more festive that sipping a glass of sparkling with your significant other (or crush, or partner, or best friend, or whoever you want to toast this Valentine’s Day). Here are some of my favorite bottles of traditional sparklers, as well as a selection of zero-ABV bottles for those who are continuing their Dry January into February or refraining from drinking altogether.
Traditional Sparkling Wines:
BONDLE - My girl Duyen Ha of LA-based BONDLE offers a gorgeous NV blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It’s crispy and acidic. (If you’re throwing a party on Valentine’s Day, maybe consider a magnum.)
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé NV - This classic Champagne house’s rosé has delicate bubbles and the most stunning, romantic bottle.
Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé - My perennial favorite! The most delicate citrus and raspberry notes in the brand’s uniquely elegant bottle.
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wines:
Prima Pave Blanc de Blancs - This fruity, juicy beauty is handcrafted in Italy.
Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay - Nonalcoholic, vegan, and organic? Yes, yes, yes.
Looking to pair sparkling wine and chocolate? Read this article by Lettie Teague of the Wall Street Journal. We had the best chat on the topic.
You see it everywhere at the market right now…all those beautiful, juicy oranges, grapefruits, and more. We are in peak citrus season, and I cannot get enough. Use the zest on salads, roast citrus with chicken, or plate a deliciously simple dessert like the one below.
I’m never going to tell someone not to get flowers because who doesn’t love flowers, but considering they die after a week, this Valentine’s Day let’s all collectively say: Plant Party! Plus, 40 to 60 percent of the flowers from delivery services go to waste. That’s…kind of a lot.
So say I love you with a plant instead. Not only are they a more environmentally friendly option (all that C02, baby!), every time your loved one walks by that gorgeous greenery, they’ll think of you.
Here are some of the many Los Angeles plant shops I’m obsessed with:
Folia Collective - The most gorgeous greens and pretty pots. Please support this small business that is sadly closing its brick and mortar soon.
Plant Material - A great source for plants native to California.
Mickey Hargitay - A classic, long-standing, all-purpose plant shop where the staff is truly expert in plant care and landscaping!
Rolling Greens - The newest location of this high-end garden and plant shop in the Sportsmen’s Lodge is where it’s at. And there’s the cutest wine bar upstairs for when you’re done shopping.
If you’d like to ship a plant to a loved one, check out The Sill and Bloomscape.
Let’s visit either virtually on IRL. Here area a couple of upcoming events where we can say hi (gang).
MILK STREET
I’m hosting a live cooking class with Milk Street on Monday, February 12th. Want to learn more about making chocolate? I’ll show you how to temper and make a custom chocolate bar for all of your crushes. Join me virtually tomorrow with Milk Street.
BBQ BOOTCAMP
The upcoming May BBQ Bootcamp at the Alisal Ranch has an amazing roster. Join us for a nuts, absolutely decadent three-day event. What’s better than springtime in Santa Barbara wine country?
SUPPORT HI GANG:
Just a closing note to say how much I love writing Hi Gang and sharing recipes with you all. It truly is a labor of love that continues to evolve month after month. And we’re in YEAR TWO!!
That said, there is some actual labor involved in this labor of love. If you feel so inclined, please pledge to support Hi Gang for $8 a month, or an $80 yearly subscription. Starting next month, paid subscribers will get some extra-special content that isn’t included in the free version.
I’m SO grateful to all of you for reading. Here’s to an incredible second year of Hi Gang!