iLuvLocalPlaces.com: Locally Owned Choices for Valentines Day!

Locally Owned Choices for Valentines Day!

Valentine's Day 2010

So Mardi Gras and Valentines Day share the weekend. Could make for some interesting ideas for how to celebrate one or the other event. For now, we would like to focus on ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air. What's a "local" to do? You well know, if you do nothing romantic for Valentine's Day, nothing romantic will happen. So, you could take your sweetheart to one of the many nationally advertised restaurants in our area and expect approximately 1 to 2 hour waits at most of the big places all weekend. They do love it when Valentines Day falls on a weekend.

Or you might surprise your sweetheart with something different and take your special someone to a place you've never been before. Maybe it will be one of our great many local places that we have in the area.

When I thought about writing this article, I ask a few people I knew about their best dining experiences. Now granted, I tend to run in a circle that frequents local businesses, but I also asked strangers for their opinions. I have to admit that I never heard one story about a "chain place". Not that they don't serve great food, but I was looking for dining experiences.

I did hear from a total stranger. She wanted to surprise her husband and made reservations at Rose Bed Inn for her husband's birthday. She said that the meal was the meal of a lifetime. Chef James took the time to find out what her husband liked and prepared "trout, her husband's favorite and the best he'd ever had".

Another person I spoke to said he couldn't believe the caliber of gourmet chefs we have in our area and it all seems to be a secret. You would never guess what wonderful dining experiences we have within driving distance. Many of our Local Restaurants can rival dining in cities like Chicago and New Orleans at a much more affordable price. So this Valentine's Day make it special, call a "Local Place" and make a reservation for the meal of a lifetime. You won't just score big with your sweetheart, you will score big with your community.

Here are a few top picks to get you started. Before anyone calls me, Celebrations and Ray's of Kelso in Kelso isn't on here because they are already full for Saturday and Sunday night. I have included phone numbers and suggest you make reservations.

Bella Italia
(It doesn't get more romantic than Italian)

20 N Spanish St, Cape Girardeau, MO (573) 332-7800

Carnations and Roses will be available Fri, Sat and Sun.
And they will be serving Steak and Lobster on Sunday.

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Broussard's Cajun Cusine
(You can cover 2 bases here, Mardi Gras and Valentines Day)

120 N Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO 573-334-7235
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Cain
(French does rival Italian for most romantic food)

31 N Main, Cape Girardeau, MO (573) 339-8709

Cain will be open Sunday to from 5pm until 10 pm and offering a special Valentine's Menu.

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Mollie's Café & Bar

11 S Spanish St, Cape Girardeau, MO (573) 339-1661

Mollie's will be offering a special menu for sweethearts on Saturday and Sunday. Usually closed on Sunday, they will be open this Sunday 5pm to 9pm.

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Ray's at The Plaza Conference
Cape Girardeau, MO (573) 264-1115

Ray's Plaza Conference Center will be featuring a Sweetheart Dinner and Dance. Dinner will feature Chateaubriand, Prime Rib, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Shrimp Scampi. Live Entertainment starts at 8:00 with the Classic Sounds of AKA Chimes of Freedom.

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River Ridge Winery
County Road 321, Commerce, Missouri 63742

February 13th and 14th, 7:30 pm - Five Course Valentines Dinner paired with wine. Tickets sold in advance. 573-264-3712

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Aartful Rose, by Rose Bed Inn
611 S. Sprigg St, Cape Girardeau, MO (573)332-7673

Romance, good food, dancing, and fun. Come dine with your sweetheart at a romantic table for 2 or bring a big party for your own large table. Then dance to the tunes of DJ "Jerry Lomax". reservations required.

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Saffron's Pan Asian Bistro
1610 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO (573) 651-1398

Saffron's will be offering a 5 course carry out meal for you romantics that want to stay in. They will also be offering specials for those of you that would enjoy dining out.

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Von Jakob's Winery
1309 Sadler, Pomona IL 62975

Valentine's Dinner & Dance on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Dine in elegance with a five course meal (with entree of your choice) prepared by Von Jakob's chef & owner, Dr. Paul Jacobs. Dinner from 6-7 and is followed by live entertainment provided by "Four on the Floor" from 7-10 pm.

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Cup-n-Cork
46 North Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573) 651-5282

This one is for those of you who want a quiet simple Valentine's Day. First a movie, then stop by Cup n Cork to enjoy coffee and linger over dessert. Pretty romantic!

Check out Bella's, Broussard's and Ray's pages for more information and a link to their website, by clicking on their names above.

For a list of other "Locally Owned" restaurants visit our dining directory!

Be our Valentine and share this with your friends!

Janet Wade

Your Friends at iLuvLocalplaces.com