Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

It’s that time of year to start thinking about how to treat your loved one (or yourself!) on that special day. I’ve gathered a few of my favorite things, sweets and wine, as perfect options to gift this year. From Chicago to LA, these treats will surely add something special to the romantic day!

Vosges Haut Chocolat

Whether you’re stuck in the frigid temperatures of the Windy City, or you’re 1,000 miles away in sunny SoCal, Chicago’s Vosges Haut Chocolat makes the perfect sweet gift for your Valentine this year. Their new Cosmic Chocolate collection offers gift boxes big and small with a selection of handcrafted truffles and treats inspired by unique flavor combinations from all over the world. Each heart shaped box comes with a deck of pairing cards with an explanation of the flavor origins and a guide to their crystal pairings so you can enjoy this experience (offered at their Lincoln Park store) at home with your loved one! Owner and chocolatier Katrina Markoff curated this year’s collection to help manifest refocused intention through the use of crystals and chocolate. Join them in their Lincoln Park store for a unique pairing experience!

Order your favorite Valentine’s Day gift box before February 7th at noon to ensure delivery by the special day! Each of these delicacies, from the Brown Sugar Pistachio Toffee to the heart-shaped Brut and Blossom with rose water and champagne, will surely make for a unique and romantic night for you and your loved one to enjoy!

Winc.com

Winc offers a perfect gift- one that keeps on giving! Four new bottles of wine at your doorstep each month? Yes please! Winc subscribers get a custom box of 4 wines special to your tastes and preferences each month! It’s easy to sign up online, take a little palate profile quiz, and a custom box of wine is curated just for you! You then can adjust the box contents based on your price range or what you’re craving. Based off of my preferences, this delivery included a 2017 Far + Wide Grüner Veltliner, 2016 Dime Red Blend, 2017 Folly of the Beast Pinot Noir, and a 2017 Passarola White Blend (my favorite!).

For your special someone, you can start their membership as a gift, or even just curate one box and have it arrive at their doorstep.

Click here  trywinc.com/LetMeEatCake to sign up and receive a $22 discount + free shipping, which comes out to 4 bottles of wine for $40! The easiest way to explore the country and globe via specifically curated vineyards and wineries. Show your love of wine to your loved one – you might even get a sip of it!

Firecakes Donuts

If you find yourself wandering around Chicago, chances are you’ll stumble into the door with the mouth-watering smells of Firecakes Donuts! This midwest-original donut and coffee shop is decked with antique bakery finds, hand-crafted espresso drinks, and their irresistible homemade donuts.

Their famous treats, the Old Fashioned Buttermilk or their Birthday Cake double-decker donut, always make for the perfect gift to bring to the doorstep of that special someone. But for Valentine’s Day this year, they’re offering a special line- including a Red Velvet Cake donut, Boston Creme Long John, and Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry! They even offer a Donutgram order sheet on their website, so you can order the gift ahead of time and pick it up day-of!

Sweet E’s Bake Shop

The LA bakery, Sweet E’s Bake Shop, has a special Valentine’s Day menu available for shipping nationwide! These customizable heart-shaped sugar cookies are the perfect way to tell that special someone how much they mean to you. You get to select the patterns you want, can add a custom message, and even have a photo of you lovebirds printed on top! Between their Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Lover’s Deluxe Cupcake Gift Box, or their Vegan Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake, you’ll for sure add the perfect sweet note to a romantic evening!

Esters Wine Shop & Bar

This charming Santa Monica shop has everything you need for a perfect night – wine, charcuterie, and specialty products to dine-in or take home. This Valentine’s Day, they offer several gift crates for you to order as-is or make yourself. These perfectly crafted packages, like their Champagne Gift Boxes, include wine and delicious sweets presented beautifully in a wood box with stuffing and ribbon- what more could you need!