Wondering how to impress your one and only on February (or March) 14? Here are a few tasty ideas to inspire…
Dine on Superfoods (or Strawberries) While Taking in a View of Rainbow Bridge
In mid-January, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba announced the grand opening of two new restaurants: Seascape Terrace Dining and Grillogy Bar & Grill. We went along for the launch event and were impressed by Seascape’s glorious range of healthy superfoods, which make up part of their extensive buffet, not to mention the equally glorious view of Odaib’s Rainbow Bridge. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure not to skip their Strawberry Forest dessert buffet (pictured top) – perfect for V-Day, and on offer until the end of April 2017. Just next door, Grillogy offers a meatier menu with the recommended signature dishes including the succulent Tomahawk Steak and the Whiskey-smoked Salmon – the latter is an innovative dish featuring smoked salmon atop a plate-shaped whiskey bottle, which is opened at the table to reveal aromatic wafts of woody smoke.
More information at www.hiltonodaiba.jp
Seascape Terrace Dining
Grillogy Bar & Grill’s innovative whiskey-smoked salmon dish
Give the Gift of Chocolate Stationery
Aside from offering a luxurious Romantic Valentine Dinner, Andaz Tokyo has come up with a unique way to spoil your loved one: a full kit of stationery made out of chocolate. Adding to its signature Chocolate Library collection, the hotel’s Pastry Shop debuts its chocolate pencils, rulers, and beautifully crafted erasers in assorted flavors this season. Bring out your inner artist with tubes of ganache paint and a color palette macaron to create an edible painting piece.
Valentine’s Sweets from Pastry Shop are available from January 30 to February 14. Click here for prices and more information.
Present a One-of-a-Kind Piece of Edible Art
Park Hyatt Tokyo recently held its first Masters of Arts event for 2017, welcoming New York-based artist and calligrapher Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic to show off his talents during a live performance at the hotel. Mestrovic has teamed up with the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef Pascal Cialdella to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day and White Day chocolate that integrates contemporary art with high quality chocolate.
Inspired by the artist’s roots in South America, the chocolate is made from rare white cocoa beans found in the jungle of Northern Peru, and the artwork is a creative expression of calligraphy in a Japanese modern aesthetic. The chocolate is rich, bitter-sweet, and packs a punch of blackberry, blueberry and black grape flavors. What’s more, the beautiful packaging is specially designed by Mestrovic and the chocolate tablet is gold printed with the artist’s original artwork. What more could an arty girl (or boy) want?
The Park Hyatt Tokyo x Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic chocolate bars are available for ¥3,900 at Pastry Boutique from February 1 to March 15. Click here for more information.
Purchase a Palette of Chocolate
Late last year, Michelin-star holder and celebrity chef Thierry Marx opened his restaurant Bistro Marx inside the grand new shopping mall Ginza Place. Here, you can enjoy fine dining, a bistro menu, and a bar, along with views of Ginza’s busy streets below. For Valentine’s Day 2017, they’re offering this pretty Chocolate Palette, a box of multicolored delights that represent the international atmosphere of Ginza.
Available for ¥3,800 from February 11-14 from Bistro Marx. More information at www.bistromarx.jp
Toast to Memorable Moments
The Ritz-Carlton has curated a selection of seasonal offers for Valentine’s Day. As well as creating their exclusive Sweet Valentine Collection of artisan chocolates, you can enjoy a selection of fine dining experiences at the hotel’s restaurants and bars. Our pick of the bunch is a romantic dinner at Towers restaurant, offering incredible views across the city while you and your date enjoy a 5-course menu with a half bottle of Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne.
More information at www.tokyoweekender.com/events/memorable-valentine-2017-ritz-carlton/
Make Someone’s Day Better
Chocolatier Cozy Corner is here to remind us to slow down and spread the love to those important to us. Their Valentine’s Day limited edition launched in January, and includes the beautifully designed Gina Ma Gina Series, which is meant as an offering of good luck for friends and loved ones. Make someone’s day a little more special with these boxes of “jewels.”
More information at www.tokyoweekender.com/2017/01/chocolatier-cozy-corner-set-to-spread-love-in-the-new-year/
Buy a Bon Bon
In order to make his special Bon Bon Chocolates, the head patisserie chef of Michelin 2-star restaurant Esquisse, Kazutoshi Narita, visited Papa New Guinea himself to source the best cacao beans. Narita is well-known for his “lyrical” desserts, and for this limited-edition chocolate offering he has created five different flavor combinations.
Available from February 1-14 on the 8th floor of Matsuya department store in Ginza as part of the Ginza Saint-Valentin event.
Create Your Own “Obligation Chocolate”
Right, so even if you don’t have a better half, Japan’s Valentine’s traditions also extend to women giving chocolate to men with whom they’re in entirely platonic relationships, including co-workers, bosses and male friends. This “obligation” chocolate is called Giri Choco (chocolate given to your significant other is called Honmei Choco). But if you prefer not to break the bank, Weekender has an excellent budget-friendly idea: DIY Giri Choco.
For a full list of supplies, instructions and photos, click here.
