London area businesses have put on their creativity caps to design a playground of choices for you this Valentine season. Create the perfect surprise for that special someone with a six-course meal, Thames cruise, overnighter in a rustic cottage, or weekend away in the Lake District. If you’ re feeling a bit worn out from holiday shopping, let the experts help you create a romantic package full of memories.
L’enclume: tasting menus in the Lake District
Simon Rogan’s tasting menus have won numerous awards, and with Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday, it’s the perfect opportunity for a weekend in the Lake District, with plenty of beautiful countryside in which to walk off a leisurely meal at L’enclume, and decadent rooms and suites to relax in afterwards. T: 015395 36362 www.lenclume.co.uk
The Bingham restaurant:six-courses, diamonds and Thames cruises
Recently awarded three AA rosettes, the Bingham restaurant is offering a set six course menu, including champagne or a champagne cocktail on arrival, for £85 per person, which includes a shellfish plate and Valrhona chocolate plate to share; and ‘his and hers’ main courses. The restaurant, set in a Georgian townhouse on the banks of the River Thames at Richmond, offers tranquil river vistas, an ideal setting for a romantic meal. Bingham offers individually decorated, luxury bedrooms for people wanting to spoil the love of their life. You can also choose one of the Valentine’s packages which might include a diamond ring; or exclusive hire of a Thames cruiser, complete with sumptuous picnic. T: 020 8940 0902 or visit www.thebingham.co.uk
La Cucina Caldesi: flirting with flavour
Join eight men, eight women, and chef Stefano Borella at Marylebone’s Italian cookery school, La Cucina Caldesi, for a evening of preparing dishes such as fresh pasta with a selection of sauces followed by a delicious chocolate dessert. The group then sits down to enjoy eating what has been cooked, sharing stories and having fun over a couple of glasses of wine. Although all the women’s places have sold out, there are still some spaces available for men, priced at £85. T: 020 7487 0750 www.caldesi.com
The Hand & Flowers: a gourmet escape
The Michelin-starred Hand & Flowers pub dining room offers Tom Kerridge’s robust menu of French and British flavours, with the possibility of booking one of the four luxury rooms in attached cottages afterwards. The rooms, each individually decorated in quirky style, all offer King-size beds, and two have their own private Jacuzzi terrace T: 01628 482277 www.thehandandflowers.co.uk