hoboken's VALENTINE'S DAY hot spots: EZ Dating Coach x foodie ventures

Hoboken Gourment

Valentine’s Day is practically here. Somehow the most romantic holiday of the year always creeps up on us and we end up woefully unprepared. Some think that dining out or picking up store-bought gifts are played out, especially in this era of DIY and homegrown foodies, but there is something alluring about eating at great restaurant with the one you love.

I teamed up with Mike Goldstein, founder of EZ Dating Coach, to take some of the guessing out of picking a restaurant and tasty treats for your Valentine around Hoboken. EZ Dating Coach is a service offering advice and support in dating and communication.  

Check out our top picks for restaurants and edible gifts for this Valentine’s Day.

Mike: Cucharamama screams romance with its wood burning oven, quaint decor, and is perfect for Valentine’s Day because it only has about 10 tables so you will not be sharing the night with a huge crowd. I would suggest skipping full course meals and just order tapas. I like small plates for dates because they are a great way to share and taste a variety of dishes, while creating endless conversation points about the experience.

Hoboken Gourmet

foodie ventures: Hoboken Gourmet is a super sweet spot, wonderful for a Valentine’s Day dinner date. The space is small, resulting in an intimate meal with your valentine the focus. It still feels like a secret, as their dinner service is relatively new. The ambiance exudes just as much charm as the well-done comfort food. The entrees can be heavy, so perhaps for a sexy date, sharing a few of the starts, an entrée and a dessert will suffice. But don’t forget dessert!

Anthony David's Dining Room

Mike: Anthony David’s is high-end Italian food, offering great appetizers, but is also BYOB, which helps to keep the romantic evening on budget. The food is some of the best in Hoboken, while the restaurant also only has a few tables, which will allow for a more dreamy ambiance while still dining out.  

Margherita's

foodie ventures: There’s nothing trendy about Margherita’s, but in my opinion, it’s quintessential Hoboken—it’s Italian, family-owned, reasonably priced and straight to the point. It’s BYOB, so pick out a special or favorite libation. Go for the chicken parm and split it with your valentine (or not, if you’re like me and my valentine). Any of the cheesecakes are also totally worth it.

Teak

Mike: Teak specializes in sushi and also has great hot Japanese-inspired dishes. I would suggest sharing sushi when possible as it allows for conversation around the food.  What’s great about Teak is the ambiance. It’s sexy and elegant which hopefully translates to the patrons feeling the same way. Finally, sushi is always a good move on date night because it typically leaves people satisfied but not feeling bloated and unattractive. 

 

Dino and Harry's

foodie ventures: If you really want to treat your date to a more luxurious classy experience, Dino & Harry’s or Amanda’s are great options. Dino & Harry’s is like a refined, more contemporary steakhouse. It is definitely an indulgence (think steak prices), but the food is pretty and tasty. Amanda’s is another old-guard restaurant in Hoboken. It is super romantic, comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. The food is exquisitely done and consistent.

Sweet

foodie ventures: There’s nothing sweeter on Valentine’s Day than a gift of a gaggle of mini cupcakes. Sweet is a great place to pick up some in really delectable flavors. They are really attractive and enticing, just a taste and not too much.

Mike: Lepore’s Chocolates has phenomenal chocolate, probably because its owners and staff are truly passionate about romance and of course their favorite sweet, chocolate.  They have an amazing assortment of chocolates that come pre-wrapped with a nice bag to present to your date.  Of course the presentation of chocolate is almost as important as how good the chocolate tastes, and I can assure you Lepore’s hits a home run on both fronts.

A&I Nutreats

foodie ventures: For the health nut in your life, A&I Nutreats sweet things are a must. These good-for-you goodies give the body a healthy boost and contain only natural ingredients. They can be purchased online, but in a pinch, found at a variety of locations in Hoboken.

 Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day y’all!

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2.12.15

Amanda's

MangiaMore: VALENTINE'S DAY linzer cookies

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I live for the sappy holiday, Valentine’s Day. When I was younger it was about giving out sour sweet candy to my classmates as valentines or receiving candy grams during homeroom in high school. Now I love Valentine’s Day because it’s another excuse to bake something pink and red themed, eat candies till I fall over, and oh yeah, celebrate with the boo.

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I usually make him a treat as a tasty Valentine’s Day gift. Most times it’s poorly decorated red velvet cupcakes, but this year I wanted to try something different. So, I picked Linzer cookies because they are easily transformed into cutesy heart-shaped goodies with a pretty dusting of white powdered sugar and a pop of red jam.

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I used this recipe, and the cookies turned out adorable indeed. After rolling the textured dough, I quickly grew tired of keeping track of cookies (there’s that whole business of ones with windows and ones without to complete the sandwich). So I decided to finish with small hearts to create little sandwich cookies.  This was the best idea ever (well, yesterday when I made the cookies). The mini sandwiches are just as cute.

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These Linzer cookies are extremely flavorful, laced with tart lemon peel and spicy cinnamon and reinforced with aromatic roasted almonds. The apricot raspberry preserves I chose is sweet and tart, which works well with the not-too-sweet cookies. The cinnamon, however, was a little off-putting to me. Its sweet spiciness is delightful, but the amount the recipe called for might have been overkill. If I make these little guys again, I would definitely use less cinnamon.

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My valentine did get to taste the cookies early, and I am pretty sure he liked them. Maybe I will whip up something else before the big day. Any suggestions (preferably something heart-shaped, pink, red, or sweet)? What are you doing for Valentine’s Day?

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2.11.15

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bonding over BRUNCH: Maysville

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Some things can definitely catch you by surprise, like how fast time flies. The years blend and bend until you have no concept of how long it  has really been. And then you all sit down, eventually—staggered arrivals—and the faces are so familiar and nothing has really changed, but at the same time, so many things have. It’s a feeling when you come together like time has forgotten to move but events have transpired and developments felt.

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But it’s at that table at Maysville in the Flatiron District, eating super sweet and cakey citrus glazed doughnuts as an amuse-bouche to the amuse-bouche, drinking orange saturated mimosas, you realize it all feels the same. Immutable time.

Your brunch bites are secondary to the conversation flurrying around the table as future plans are divulged and pasts stay where they belong. Something about the crisp winter sun streaming in, reflecting in the mirrors, echoing the clean lines, has taken things out of context but each note is recognizable.

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Pretty French toast, sticky with honey, tangy like orange and smooth as ricotta tastes sweeter out of habit. Warm tones and thick slices bring comfort and a little piece of home, made special with golden honey and bronze orange marmalade.

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Bitter Brussels sprouts, gravy heavy sauce Mornay and salty smoked deli ham, comes to life with shared laughter and secrets. Taboo and leftover memories are eliminated with a thick brick of fried grits and its warm creamy center, echoing the textures of the crisp green leaves of the Brussels sprouts and the decadent sauce.

Chef’s Breakfasts are made less ordinary with birthday plans and getaways and stroller talk. Eggs over-easy, eggs scrambled— same difference, when there are more important details to discuss and crunchy potatoes to forget.

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You linger after the eats and mimosas are long gone and questions of ‘what’s next’ and ‘when’ cross your minds and reach your lips. No set plans in place, but you all know there will be a next time before too long, another chance to evade time and pick up where you left off.

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