Valentine’s Day at Samplings on the Fourteenth

I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. I find all that wishy-washy propaganda just a way for Hallmark and restaurants to make money. I mean, all these over sized fuzzy greeting cards certainly don’t make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Restaurants with their exorbitant prices don’t either.

Then I realised that the problem is not the celebration in itself. It is the fact that for many of us, outside of our weddings and anniversaries, don’t seek out to honor our relationships. Heck, some spouses don’t even remember anniversaries! That being the case, I am actually for the fact, that there is a system in place, that commercializes love and reminds us to spend money for a good cause. Well of course Valentine’s Day’s merchandising and advertising is self-serving, but at least it reminds us not to zip past our husbands and wives throughout the days, months even. It’s good to know that there are forces out there working to remind us to slow down and take our spouses out, to paint the town red.

As long as it does not burn a hole in your pocket! And yes, if this world were ideal, everyday would be Valentine’s Day with our respective spouses. But it ain’t. It ain’t ideal. And for those of us who cannot remember or do not have the luxury of time, let February the 14th help us slow down and remember, and be thankful for our special someone.

Speaking of burn-a-hole-in-your-wallet, I just had a ‘sampling’ of a Valentine’s Dinner at Samplings on the Fourteenth last week and I am happy to declare that it does not have to. For just RM158++ per person, you can enjoy a fabulous romantically tailored meal for two, amidst posh surroundings. The five course Valentine’s menu at Samplings on the Fourteenth, is inclusive of a glass of sparkling wine each, and a red, red rose, for the lovely lady. It really is a fantastic deal and I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

Smoked Duck and Scallop with Wild Mushroom Salad and Lamb Lettuce

The Valentine’s Dinner at Samplings on the Fourteenth will start off with a rather appetising Smoked duck and Scallop starter, served on a bed of wild mushroom and pretty colourful, edible flowers as garnishing. The scallop was bouncy and succulent and went well with the smoky duck.

Saffron Seafood Soup flavoured with Fennel and Tomato

This soup had a deep crab flavour, imparted by the Alaskan King crab, and was bursting with a heady seafood aroma, not unlike that of a bouillabaisse.

sorbet – pink grapefruit sorbet with Campari

A great and rather unusual palate cleanser employing bitter flavours rather than sour, to get the salivary glands going. Did the trick rather well I must say. Was starting to get a little bored with all the sour sorbets I’ve been having, of late. The Campari liqueur imparted a pink hue that gave this sorbet a whimsical romantic feel to it.

Main Course: Choice of either a Pan-Fried Cod Fish Fillet with Sea Urchin and Caviar Sauce; or a Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Seared Foie Gras, Port Wine reduction and Spring vegetables.

The Cod Fish itself was expertly cooked. The Urchin it was served with, took some getting used to – I did not really care for it’s rather strong aroma that was a distraction to the finer flavour of the cod.

The Beef Tenderloin was hearty and really hit the spot like a good old fashioned steak. Would have liked it a little more rare though, but otherwise, a satisfying piece of meat. And then, there was the matter of a perfectly seared foie gras that did the dish justice.. may I have some more please?

Strawberry Delight – served with homemade double chocolate ice-cream and almond Macaron

And that, folks, is the rather well thought out, Valentines Day dinner at Samplings on the Fourteenth. If you decide to go, you will probably be pleased with the outcome of the dinner, as I was.

To conclude my Valentine’s day story, and as a final thought, ask yourselves, when was the last time you and your spouse went on a date? When was the last time just the two of you, snuck away for a intense night of romance? When was the last time you you bought something for your spouse as a token of your appreciation, love and honour? If your answer is more than 30 days for any of these, you’re overdue.

Time to get busy and get loving.