For a Valentine’s Day dinner that doesn’t require any reservations, we have you covered! Whether you’re planning a night of single self-care, a romantic evening for two, or a meal with your gals, pals, or family, there’s something delicious waiting for you at your local Farm Boy.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate with a special someone (especially if that someone is just you). Dining at home can be more fun, intimate, and easier than trying to nab an exclusive restaurant reservation. Plus, you can customize your evening to suit your tastes! At Farm Boy, we’re all about bringing you good food from good neighbours through curated products we think you’ll love. Read on to discover four different Valentine’s Day meal ideas that can be tailored or one, two, or a group. (Flowers and heart-shaped box of chocolates optional.)
Blog Overview
- Four different Valentine’s Day menu selections for one person, two people, or a group of friends or family.
- Tapas menu featuring an assortment of recipes and Farm Boy Private Label products.
- Korean BBQ menu with suggested Farm Boy Private Label products and items from Ah-So Sushi.
- Charcuterie menu with Farm Boy artisanal cheeses, imported meats, high-quality produce, and more.
- Sushi menu with a curated selection of products we think you’ll love from Ah-So Sushi, as well as internationally inspired Farm Boy products.
- Finish your evening with a selection of limited time-only Valentine’s Day treats like chocolate-covered strawberries, seasonal macarons, and more.
Valentine’s Day Meal Idea #1: Tapas
Tapas is a favourite in Spanish cuisine. It features a variety of appetizers and/or snacks, and the amount you make can depend on how hungry you are or how many people are dining. It promotes sharing, which is great among friends, families, and couples. For singles, think of tapas as a step-up from girl dinner (or boy dinner). Some of our tapas menu recommendations are:
Recipe: Roasted Tomatoes with Cerignola Olives
Easy and elegant, this simple app or tapas dish is a great addition to your Valentine’s Day menu. For a fresh twist on the traditional Spanish dish pan con tomate, try serving these roasted tomatoes on slices of toasted bread. Finish with a sprinkling of Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel.
Recipe: Spicy Garlic Shrimp
A popular dish in Spanish tapas is spicy garlic shrimp. From prep to serving, this easy recipe comes together in under 20 minutes. Be sure to grab a loaf of crusty bread from our Bake Shop to soak up all that flavourful oil!
Recipe: Red Wine Braised Chorizo
These bite-sized chunks of chorizo are a must-have for tapas, especially if you’re feeding a crowd. Use a dry red wine, preferably of the Spanish variety, for added authentic flavour. We like a Tempranillo for this recipe, but you can choose your preferred dry red.
Recipe: Rainbow Pepper Mussels
We love mussels as a tapas dish. These bites of seafood have a fun, interactive element that makes them enjoyable for couples, friends, and families. Cooked with crispy bacon and white wine, they have a beautiful depth of flavour that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Farm Boy™ Sliced Serrano Ham
You can bulk up any tapas menu with the help of meats like our imported Serrano ham. Naturally dry-cured for a minimum of 16 months, it has a lush, full-bodied flavour.
Spanish cheeses and almonds
Alongside your imported Spanish meats, your tapas table can also offer cheeses and almonds. Traditional tapas would use Spanish cheeses like Manchego or Cabrales, but you can opt for whatever you like best. Our recommended almond choice would be Marcona almonds, which have a buttery, sweet flavour and softer texture than regular almonds.
Farm Boy™ Basque-Style Cheesecake
As an optional sweet ending, why not pick up our Basque-Style Cheesecake? Our twist on the beloved Spanish classic has a creamy, custard-like texture and golden caramelized top.
Valentine’s Day Meal Idea #2: Korean BBQ
Korean BBQ is a great Valentine’s Day meal idea that can extend to families, friends, couples, or simply yourself. At Farm Boy, we pride ourselves on offering an increasing selection of Private Label products that are inspired by international cuisines. For Korean BBQ, this dinner idea allows you and your loved ones to cook together, share dishes, and enjoy each other’s company. Cook on a stove-top grill and serve with chopsticks and shared plates and bowls. Some of our Korean BBQ menu recommendations are:
Farm Boy™ Korean Style Beef Bulgogi
Our uncooked, marinated, and thinly sliced beef with bulgogi sauce is a crowd-pleasing dish with a sweet and savoury flavour. Conveniently frozen, allow this meat to thaw before cooking and serving.
Farm Boy™ Korean Style Beef Kalbi
A style of bone-in beef short ribs, these thinly sliced ribs are also marinated in a sauce similar to that of bulgogi. Conveniently frozen, allow this meat to thaw before cooking and serving.
Farm Boy™ Korean Style BBQ Chicken
For those who prefer chicken to beef (or if you’re serving a crowd), try our Korean-Style BBQ Chicken. For all marinated meats, cook them towards the end of your BBQ so you don’t have to clean off your grill each time.
Lettuce wraps and vegetables
One of the most popular methods of enjoying Korean BBQ is wrapping up all that goodness in a lettuce wrap. You can grill vegetables like mushrooms, squash, onions, and garlic and add them to your lettuce wrap as well.
Farm Boy™ Organic Kimchi
Spicy, fermented cabbage, kimchi is a staple among the side dishes for Korean BBQ. Our Kimchi is made with organic ingredients, naturally fermented, Canadian-made, vegan, and gluten-free.
Spicy cucumber salad
An easy side dish you can whip up at home, spicy cucumber salad is a great accompaniment to Korean BBQ. Season thinly sliced cucumbers with gochugaru, onions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Ah-So Sushi Japchae
At Farm Boy stores, you’ll find Ah-So Sushi counters and/or products in our Chef’s Market. Add an order of japchae when you’re shopping this Valentine’s Day menu. A traditional Korean dish, it contains stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables and has a slightly sweet flavour.
Valentine’s Day Meal Idea #3: Charcuterie
No cooking? No problem. Our third Valentine’s Day meal idea is charcuterie, which is endlessly customizable and can be modified depending on your personal tastes, dietary preferences, and the amount of people you’re feeding. At Farm Boy, you can even have all the work done for you. Our Charcuterie Platter for 2-3 contains two artisan cheeses, salami, Ontario honey, and sweet fruits. Our Signature Charcuterie Platter serves six to seven people and contains locally crafted cheeses, artisanal deli meats, fresh fruits, and savoury bites.
The key to a great charcuterie spread is a balance of flavours and textures. An odd number of cheeses, a few ounces of meats per person, and at least one sweet and one savoury accompaniment are helpful when crafting a charcuterie board. Some of our suggested charcuterie items are:
Assorted Cheeses
Farm Boy™ Scottish Cheddar
For a hard, crowd-pleasing cheese on your board, try this cheddar. Handcrafted using a traditional recipe passed down by Scottish cheesemakers for over 150 years, it’s slightly sweet with a hint of nuttiness and touch of tang.
Farm Boy™ Double Cream Brie
One of the perennial favourites on any charcuterie board is Brie. Ours is buttery smooth and made locally in small batches in Ontario. Enjoy as-is or serve baked with a drizzle of honey.
Farm Boy™ Original Goat’s Milk Cheese
A good rule of thumb for charcuterie is to offer cheeses made with different milks. Our Original Goat’s Milk Cheese is soft, creamy, and tangy with a slight crumble. We picked the original flavour, but you can choose from Cranberry Cinnamon, Fig, Mediterranean, and more.
Farm Boy™ Farmstead Gruyère
Another firmer cheese, this Swiss-inspired Gruyère comes from St. Marys, Ontario. Naturally aged for 12 to 18 months, it has a rich, creamy interior and distinctive salty flavour.
Assorted Meats
Farm Boy™ Rosette de Lyon
A French specialty, this hard salami is made using classic French traditions and a delicate array of spices. We like slicing it into rounds for easy grabbing.
Farm Boy™ Prosciutto
Watch out: this imported Italian prosciutto might just be the must-try item on your charcuterie board. Crafted using a traditional recipe, it has a delicate texture and salty flavour that make it irresistible.
Farm Boy™ Genoa Salami
Providing a little extra depth of flavour, you can opt for classic Genoa salami or go for the heat with our Hot variety. Imported from Italy, it has a hint of garlic and a bite of pepper for an unforgettable taste.
Farm Boy™ Coppa
A bit bolder and spicier than its often-compared cousin, prosciutto, our coppa comes to us seasoned using a traditional Italian recipe. Flavoured with white wine, garlic, salt, and pepper, it’s a fresh take on what you might usually see on a charcuterie board.
Accompaniments
Savoury accompaniments
You can pick and choose savoury accompaniments based on the tastes of yourself and/or your guests. For the most balanced eating experience, choose one from each of the following: nuts, pickles or olives, and fresh vegetables.
Sweet accompaniments
The same principle applies to sweet accompaniments as it does to savoury. Choose one from each of the following: fresh fruit, dried fruit, and chocolate.
Spreads
The amounts of spreads you offer may depend on what cheeses and meats you’ve added to your board. For the best balance, we suggest at least one sweet spread—like honey or jam—and one savoury spread, like mustard, hummus, or a spicy jelly.
Crackers
Crackers are the perfect vehicle for all those goodies you have arranged. We like a variety of crackers with different sizes, shapes, and flavours. Some of our favourites are: Farm Boy™ Artisan Crackers, Farm Boy™ Pita Crackers, and Farm Boy™ Baguette Crisps.
Valentine’s Day Meal Idea #4: Sushi
A fun, unexpected Valentine’s Day meal idea is a sushi party! Like all our other menu suggestions, you can tailor this one to how many guests you have and what their dietary preferences or restrictions are.
Lay your table with items like chopsticks, dipping bowls, and plates, as well as serving platters for your delicious sushi feast. Rather than try and make sushi from scratch (although you can do that, too), we suggest visiting any of our store locations. At all Farm Boy stores, you’ll discover freshly made sushi, side dishes, and more from Ah-So Sushi. An example of how we bring you good food from good neighbours, Ah-So Sushi began from humble beginnings in London, Ontario, before growing into the legendary sushi purveyors they are today.
Some of our suggested sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes we recommend are:
Farm Boy™ IQF In-Pod Edamame
A great source of protein and a classic appetizer at many sushi restaurants is edamame. Our quick-frozen in-pod edamame are harvested at their peak for the best flavour. Boil them in salted water, drain, and sprinkle with salt while still hot.
Sushi rolls
Offer a selection of popular sushi rolls that are guaranteed hits with guests. Pay special attention to preferences or any dietary restrictions. Some of our recommended sushi roll varieties are: rainbow rolls, spicy tuna rolls, California rolls, dynamite rolls, and veggie rolls.
Farm Boy™ Dumplings
We love our line of locally made dumplings for a few reasons. First, they’re made in Ontario with fresh ingredients. Second, they’re steamed and frozen for maximum flavour and easy prep. Finally, they’re ready in only minutes—try them baked, fried, steamed, or cooked in broth.
Farm Boy™ Vegetable Spring Rolls
A crowd-pleasing app, we love adding our new vegetable spring rolls to our sushi feast. They’re large, crunchy, and hand-rolled with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Plus, each box comes with an included dipping sauce!
Condiments
For all your dunking, dipping, and drizzling needs, you’ll require condiments. You can find pickled ginger and wasabi in our stores, as well as Sriracha sauce for a bit of heat. We also recommend stocking both soy sauce and tamari sauce for any gluten-free guests. Round out your condiment selection with a Japanese-inspired mayo, like our Ginger Mayo, which has a rich texture and slightly sweet finish.
Sweet Endings (Desserts)
Whatever Valentine’s Day meal idea you end up choosing, they should always end with a sweet treat. In our stores, we have limited-edition desserts that are only available for the Valentine’s season.
Farm Boy™ Red Velvet Cake
Made with our exclusive recipe, this cake has a soft crumb, signature tang, and delicate cocoa finish. Perfect for sharing (or eating straight from the tin), it’s only around for a short time.
Farm Boy™ Red Velvet Cookie/Red Velvet Heart-Shaped Filled Cookies
A larger-sized, soft red velvet cookie, enjoy this seasonal sweet solo or share it. Two soft cocoa cookies crafted with Callebaut cocoa powder sandwich a tangy cream cheese filling. Or, pick up a box of heart-shaped red velvet sandwich cookies. Sold in packs of eight, they’re a sweet ending to serve a group.
Petits Macarons Valentine’s Day 6-Pack
A delicate French cookie, this convenient six-pack of macarons is worth swooning over. With both cherry and chocolate flavours, it’s a worthy dessert option available at all Farm Boy locations. Learn more about what makes Petits Macarons’ macarons so special over on our vendor spotlight.
Farm Boy™ Strawberries & Chocolate Sauce/Chocolate Covered Strawberries
For a sweet, juicy, and classic dessert, look no further than our Produce Department. Choose from hand-selected strawberries dipped in milk chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate or a vibrant platter of fresh strawberries that you can dip yourself in chocolate syrup. Perfect to share with friends, family, loved ones, or just yourself, they’re a decadent finisher to your Valentine’s Day meal.
Happy Valentine’s Day from your friends at Farm Boy!
