There are essentially two camps when it comes to Valentine’s Day. Either you’re a traditionalist or you organize a one person protest every February 14th. Either way, treating yourself to a proper day is important. And Rhode Island is rich with ways to do that. 

If you are looking for an intimate evening at home with someone near and dear, try some local favorites. Nickle Creek Vineyard has an ideal taste and look for an intimate evening. Their Pinot Noir is a diverse red that pairs well with most meals. That being said, you could move the slider one way or the other to find that perfect fit. Their Riesling is light, sweet, flowery, and works with lighter meal like fish or salad. For a post dinner drink, try Nickle Creek’s Foster Nights, Decadence, or my personal favorite, Twilight. 

Looking to show off some of your mad mixing skills? Well, just don’t let it backfire. A perfectly mixed drink can be impressive, but if your YouTube skills aren’t up to spec, you could leave your audience wanting more. For an easy win, go for a whiskey sour. It has a refreshing silky taste with a rye whiskey base. Combine 2 oz of rye whiskey (try Whistlepig), ⅓ oz of simple syrup (1:1 ratio of sugar and water, dissolved), ⅓ oz of fresh lemon juice, 1 egg white (don’t worry, the alcohol will kill anything that could make you sick from a raw egg). Without ice, shake lightly to froth the egg, add ice and shake again. I like it on the rocks, but that’s just a preference. Add an orange slice for garnish. 

Many of you will try to brave the real world of dining on Valentine’s Day. No matter where you go, check to see if your restaurant of choice takes reservations or not. Providence is a hotspot for foodies, no doubt! But out of all the places to go, North lands right in the middle of the venn diagram of a unique atmosphere and creative cocktails. Located on the West Side with a fluid menu, North is an awesome place to go with an open mind, ready to try something new.

Valentine’s is just a day, but it does say something about us that we’ve set aside a day to tell someone you love them. So take a breath from this crazy world, and give someone a treat. And if you’re alone on Feb 14th don’t despair, just take it as an opportunity to give yourself a treat! Although I wouldn’t Google how the holiday started if I were you… It’s less romantic than Hallmark has made it. 

Thanks for reading!
Colin

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