The annual calendar is marked out—I notice it particularly now via the blog—by parties, events, and traditions that return tirelessly on the same dates every year.
Some of these dates are eagerly awaited by some, while others dread the arrival of these hated celebrations like the plague. That’s somewhat the case for Valentine’s Day…
So here is a small selection of top tips and free activities set up for this celebration, plus some gourmet treats, so you can make the most of Tuesday, February 14, 2017, whether you are a couple or not. And as a little bonus, I’ve got a great giveaway for you at the end of this article…
A little background: Valentine’s Day dates back to the end of the Middle Ages. At the court of the King of England, February 14 was actually a celebration for singles, yes! Men would draw lots for the name of a maiden who would become their “Valentine,” and for one week, she would receive sweet notes. Nice, wasn’t it?
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Table of Contents
Valentine’s Day Workshops at the Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum regularly organizes many workshops where kids (minimum 6 years old) and adults can handle and make their own chocolate alongside professional chocolatiers. Participants then leave with the chocolates they’ve prepared.
For the occasion, the museum invites lovers to create their own customizable chocolate hearts and lollipops.
The little extra: for the ultimate lovers, a premium workshop for couples (€100/person) is scheduled for February 14, featuring a private tour of the museum, a 1.5-hour private workshop, followed by a wine and chocolate tasting.
Workshops from February 1 to 13, 2017 Reservation mandatory Price (includes entrance to the Museum): €40 / person Chocolate Museum 28 bd Bonne Nouvelle 75010 Paris
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Valentine’s Day at the Paris Aquarium
On February 14, the Paris Aquarium exceptionally opens its doors for a special evening for the “lovers’ day.”
On the agenda:
- From 7:00 PM (entry until 9:00 PM), a romantic stroll throughout the 50 tanks of the Aquarium, while enjoying a glass of champagne. For the curious, a special tour will introduce them to the secrets of the love lives of the Aquarium’s residents.
- From 8:30 PM (access until 10:00 PM), a romantic dinner in front of a giant tank over 8 meters high, to admire the comings and goings of exotic fish.
Price:
“Prestige” package with nighttime visit of the Aquarium with champagne, and dinner (one glass of champagne and one glass of wine included) €117.50 per person / “Coup de Cœur” package with visit of the Aquarium (from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM) with champagne €30 per person
Paris Aquarium 5, avenue Albert de Mun / 2, avenue des Nations Unies 75016 Paris
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An original and unconventional Valentine’s Day at BHV Marais
For the occasion, BHV Marais, in partnership with M6, invites 12 lucky winners to live this unique experience during a pastry workshop with Roxane and Carl, iconic personalities from the famous show “Le Meilleur Pâtissier.”
Tuesday, February 14, from 8:30 PM. Register on the BHV Marais Facebook page a few days before the event (keep an eye out!), whether you’re a couple or single.
Tuesday, February 14 from 8:30 PM BHV Marais 52 rue de Rivoli 75004 Paris
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Big Fernand plays matchmaker for Valentine’s Day
For Valentine’s Day, Big Fernand fans will head back to the 80s. Indeed, 10 lucky winners will have the chance to win their duo tickets for the “Prom’ Night” of the year, next Tuesday, February 14, in the fully privatized Atelier des Galeries Lafayette!
To try to be among the lucky winners, you will have to participate in a giveaway on Big Fernand’s official Facebook & Instagram pages.
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A Parisian stroll on the side of heart(s)
Cultival
, a Parisian cultural outing agency, is offering a new tour throughout the month of February, Paris on the side of heart(s), a walk through the Marais to discover the greatest myths and most famous love stories that make the reputation of the Eternal City (from February 11 to 14).
Here are some photos of the Paris on the side of heart(s) walk that we had the chance to follow on a Sunday afternoon. It was very informative and we learned many crunchy little anecdotes!
Another possibility: a visit to the Mysteries of the Palais Garnier with a St. Valentine’s twist, as the visit is followed by a tasting of a Kir Royal in one of the agency’s partner restaurants (from February 6 to 16).
Paris on the side of heart(s) by Cultival during the month of February 2017 Price: €11.50 for adults and €8.50 for children (-18 years old)_
Valentine’s Day Evening at the Lido
On the program for this evening, the new revue “Paris Merveilles,” a special Valentine’s Day menu, of course, and a raffle with beautiful gifts to be won during the draw organized for the dinner-show guests: dinner cruises, a Lenôtre delight trunk, nights in very beautiful Parisian hotels…
Valentine's Day Evening, February 14, 2017, from 7:00 PM Price: €215 per person Lido de Paris 116 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris_
The Dark Valentine Night at Le Manoir de Paris
If you really want to spend a Valentine’s Day like no other, I advise you to head to Le Manoir de Paris, a place I am particularly fond of, for those who would like to shiver with fear for this special evening.
On the agenda: the Manoir’s route but in total darkness, with this year’s theme “Love is a vampire!”, Tuesday, February 14 only from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Shivers guaranteed…
Dark Night at Le Manoir de Paris Tuesday, February 14, 2017 from 6 PM to 10 PM (doors close 30 minutes before) 18 rue de Paradis 75010 Paris Price: €27 per person_
A few chocolate treats and other gourmet delights
The Heart Box from Leonidas, filled with small fruity and vanilla hearts
Price: €11
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Toi & Moi Valentine’s Day bar by Réauté Chocolat
Milk chocolate bar, dark chocolate letters, and red colored white chocolate
Price: €7.90 (130g)
on sale from January 20 to February 14, 2017
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The duo chocolate bar from Maison Fouquet
Price: €9 (90g)
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The breakable bar presented in a “love collection” sleeve by Le Comptoir de Mathilde
Price: €19.90
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The aphrodisiac cookie (dark chocolate and ginger) and heart-shaped cookies at La Fabrique Cookies
Price: €2 per cookie
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The Love herbal tea by Pukka Herbs (rose, chamomile, lavender)
available at Naturalia and Bio C Bon stores
Price: €3.99
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The organic lovers’ herbal tea from Comptoir d’Herboristerie
The little extra: you can write a short phrase, a sweet note, or even the name of your loved one on the tag…
Price: €6.50
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The “Just for You” limited edition Tagada gourmet box
Price: €5.99
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The 2 exclusive creations from the French-Japanese bakery Tomo
- Nuit à Tokyo, a dorayaki (a Japanese specialty) filled with a dark chocolate and blood orange ganache with Grand Marnier, with a 65% cocoa Amazonian dark chocolate glaze sprinkled with pomegranate (€6.50)
- A Matcha Mochi, by Chef Murata Takanori, made with “moshiko” glutinous rice flour, filled with traditional homemade Tsubuan anko and a white chocolate and matcha tea ganache heart (€5.50), a real delight, an absolute must-try!
Tomo 11 rue Chabanais 75002 Paris open from Tuesday to Sunday from 12 PM to 7 PM
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The MoiChef Valentine’s Day box
MoiChef allows gastronomy enthusiasts to access the secrets of the greatest French chefs by cooking their signature dishes at home via a monthly box.
Inside the Valentine’s Day box: a box for 2 people with all the products (dry and fresh) necessary for the preparation of the recipe (14 ingredients) as well as a half-bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte champagne
The Valentine’s Day dish: Line-caught sea bass, celeriac variations with shrimp and fish emulsion by Christopher Coutanceau
The little extra: some slightly complicated parts of the dish to make (here the rockfish sauce, for example) are already done to make the work easier for us.
The top tip: a €10 discount code with the code MOICHEFVOUSAIME
Price: €70 per box
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The Cook Angels ready-to-cook Valentine’s Day kit
This ready-to-cook kit delivery service Cook Angels offers a foolproof dinner ready in just 30 minutes for Valentine’s Day, as all ingredients are pre-measured but also and above all already cut (happiness!)
Accompanied by a deco kit, this culinary pack makes it easy to quickly prepare a super meal for your sweetheart.
My menu (an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert):
- Salmon carpaccio with argan oil, fresh cheese quenelles
- Roasted sea bass fillets, leek fondue with saffron
- Fruit skewers with chocolate
Culinary pack price:
€75 for 2 people
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The Brasserie Frame Valentine’s Day menu
The FRAME brasserie, attached to the Pullman hotel, is a restaurant I’ve mentioned to you several times on the blog. For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant with Californian accents offers a menu featuring caviar and Champagne for lovers.
Brasserie Frame
Caviar and Champagne Valentine's Day Menu
In partnership with Kaviari and Moët & Chandon
February 14 evening only
Price: €88 per person_
A small selection of gift ideas
The “Je t’aime” book, Messages to Color from Éditions 365 with over 32 detachable cards, a love message to color, and a quote
price: €5.99
The top tip: 1 copy of the book to be won in the giveaway at the end of the article
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If you are short of ideas to please your sweetheart, I advise you to take a look at the La Petite Attention site, a gift concierge for couples, which unearths designer gifts every month
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The Kama Sutra illustrated by Ionna Vautrin
published by Flammarion
on sale in the Artazart bookstore
price: €12
The top tip: 1 copy of the book to be won in the giveaway at the end of the article
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The photo book Heart Hunters, which combines photography with poetry, made by two lovers and artists, Julie Lipinski and Thibault Chenaille, who for five years collected the hearts that chance had scattered on their path
Price: €15
The top tip: 1 copy of the book to be won in the giveaway at the end of the article
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A bouquet case at Coque Unique
Price: €17.95
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Interflora x Chantal Thomas join forces for Valentine’s Day
For the occasion, Interflora and Chantal Thomass offer 3 floral, sensual, and elegant compositions which are available and purchasable online since February 1.
Below I present to you the Cachottière gift box that I had the chance to receive.
The top tip: 1 bouquet to be won in the giveaway at the end of the article
Cachottière gift box price: €149
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Valentine’s Day GIVEAWAY:
Since I wanted to spoil you for this occasion, I am offering you a nice giveaway with 4 very cool prizes to win thanks to my super partners.
I suggest you win 4 different prizes with a total of 4 winners in all.
- Prize #1: an Interflora bouquet of your choice (up to €50 max)
- Prize #2: 1 copy of the new Heart Hunters photo book (value €15).
- Prize #3: 1 copy of the book “Je t’aime” Messages to Color from Éditions 365 (value €5.99).
- Prize #4: 1 copy of the Kama Sutra illustrated by Ionna Vautrin (value €12)
To participate, just leave a comment below this article telling me how you plan to spend this Valentine’s Day and also telling me which prize(s) you are participating for.
A random draw will designate the winners of the prizes among the participants who answered the question. Good luck everyone!
Whether you are for or against, single or in a relationship, in love or happy alone (yes, that exists too), waiting for a meeting or at the beginning of a new relationship, in the warmth of a lasting exchange, I wish you all a very beautiful Valentine’s Day.
Rules:
– Giveaway limited to Metropolitan France
– + 1 chance if you are a fan of the blog’s Facebook page; + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s Twitter page; + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s hellocoton page; + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s Instagram page; + 1 chance for each share of the giveaway (don’t forget to leave your username in your comment if you want to benefit from extra chance(s))
– 1 entry per IP address
– Giveaway start date Monday, February 06, 2017 – giveaway deadline Thursday, February 09, 2017 at 8 PM and results the next day on the blog in an edit of this article.
Edit of February 10, 2017:
Thank you all for your many entries, I see that this giveaway pleased you! Following the random draw, I announce that the winners of the various prizes are:
- Robert Cotton for prize #1
- Emma for prize #2
- JOLIOT for prize #3
- Cécile for prize #4
Congratulations, I will contact you shortly by email. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and loyalty!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
