In the 1987 comedy The Princess Pride, Billy Crystal’s character, Miracle Max, declares: “Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT — mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich. When the mutton is nice and lean, and the tomato is ripe — they’re so perky. I love that.”
Alas, it appears our fine local eateries have overlooked the MLT option for this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration. Still, there are plenty of other unique ways to observe the holiday. Below are some Valentine’s Day-related events taking place in and around Asheville.
Sweethearts Supper
Youth Transformed for Life, a local nonprofit that provides after-school and summer programs for disadvantaged teenagers and young adults re-entering the workforce, will host its fourth annual Sweethearts Supper, Songs & Silent Auction fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 9. The event will feature a four-course meal prepared by chef Clarence Robinson from Cooking with Comedy Catering and chef Quita Johnson of Ms. Quita’s Kitchen. Highlights from the menu include bang bang shrimp, mango jerk chicken or Hempeh, and red velvet cupcakes.
The fundraiser runs 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Arthur R. Edington Center, 133 Livingston St. Tickets are $50 for individuals and $90 for couples. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5mn.
Truffles and beer
The Grey Eagle will team up with Foothills Brewing and French Broad Chocolate for a pre-Valentine’s Day truffle and beer pairing. The event will feature five pairings, along with discussions led by representatives from the brewery and the chocolate factory.
The pairing runs 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. Tickets are $20. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5mt.
Rocky Horror Valentine’s Show
The weekend before Valentine’s Day, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. will celebrate with a screening of the original Rocky Horror Picture Show accompanied by a shadow cast performance by the Unexpected Pleasure RHPS Troupe. Prop bags will be sold at the event for $5. Food and beer will also be available for purchase. Attendees 18 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
Rocky Horror Valentine’s Show runs 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., 675 Merrimon Ave. Tickets are $6. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5mp.
Asheville Truffle Experience
Pre-Valentine’s Day celebrations continue with the Asheville Truffle Experience. The full weekend of events will start with a tasting welcome session hosted with chef William Dissen at Market Place Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 8. The following evening, Isa’s Bistro will host a multicourse wine-paired truffle dinner. Additional happenings include a cooking demo, a truffle market and a truffle orchard visit.
Asheville Truffle Experience runs Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8-10. Times, locations and prices vary. For a complete list, visit avl.mx/prty.
All You Need Is Love and Justice
Ginger’s Revenge will host All You Need Is Love and Justice, a benefit for Pisgah Legal Services, a local nonprofit that provides free legal advice, pro bono lawyers and community legal services for underserved populations in Western North Carolina. Each guest will receive three small plates from Gan Shan Station and three desserts from French Broad Chocolate, all paired with beverages from Ginger’s Revenge.
The benefit runs 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, at Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Drive. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5mq.
Kiss Cam Karaoke
MG Road will host Valentine’s Day Kiss Cam Karaoke. The event will feature special Valentine’s Day cocktails, karaoke and a kiss camera. The special cocktail menu will feature concoctions including Silk Panties (gin, Campari, cappelletti, Dolin rouge, rose water, orange blossom and Aquafaba), a chocolate martini (vodka, amontillado sherry, creme de cacao) and Le Pasión (reposed tequila, Luxardo, amaro flora and lemon). Desserts prepared by the Buxton Hall Barbecue bakery will also be available for purchase.
Karaoke runs 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at MG Road, 19 Wall St. For more information, visit avl.mx/5mr.
Valentine’s Day at Jargon
Jargon will offer a special prix fixe, four-course Valentine’s Day menu. Highlights include beet salad, blue crab, braised short ribs and lavender crème brûlée. Guests will also receive half a glass of Champagne. The restaurant’s regular menu will not be available that night.
Dinner runs 5-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at Jargon, 715 Haywood Road. Tickets are $75 per person; price does not include gratuity, additional alcohol or sales tax. To make a reservation, visit avl.mx/5ms.
LaZoom’s Love Bus
LaZoom will host a Valentine’s Day bus ride featuring live music by Lyric, Champagne and treats from French Broad Chocolate and Poppy Popcorn. The event will also include a comedy performance piece featuring the late, great Julia Child at the Wedge at Foundation
The Love Bus runs 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, leaving from the LaZoom Room, 76 Biltmore Ave. Tickets are $40 per person. The ride is for ages 21 and older. For more, visit avl.mx/5mw.
Festival of Sweetness
Lookout Brewing Co. will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Festival of Sweetness. Guests are encouraged to bring a dessert treat to share, and Lookout will provide a sundae bar and classic treats, including root beer floats. All are welcome, including children and dogs.
The sweetness runs 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at Lookout Brewing Co., 103 S. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain. For more, visit avl.mx/5mx.
Crêperie & Café dinner
Crêperie & Café will host a private Valentine’s Day dinner with a three-course menu featuring such dishes as avocado arancini, Genoa salami and ham, and tiramisu crumble. The dinner also includes a choice of wine and a glass of sparkling Lamarca Prosecco.
The dinner runs 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at Crêperie & Café, 113 N. Main St., Weaverville. Tickets are $100 per couple. Seating is limited. Reservations are required. Call 828-484-9448.
Silver and Cherry’s Prime Rib Fantasy
East Fork pottery factory will host a five-course Valentine’s Day dinner prepared by chef Silver Cousler with natural wines selected by wine expert Cherry locovozzi. The menu will feature prime rib carved tableside, and there will be a mini-photo session for couples.
Silver & Cherry’s Prime Rib Fantasy dinner begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at East Fork Factory, 531 Short McDowell Ave. Tickets are $120 per person. Visit avl.mx/5n0.
Valentine’s Prix Fixe at Rezaz
Rezaz will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a prix fixe three-course dinner. Menu highlights include Lebanese lobster and rice bisque, raw tenderloin tartare and smoked duck breast.
Dinner runs 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at Rezaz, 28 Hendersonville Road. Tickets are $49 per person. To make reservations, call 828-277-1510. Visit avl.mx/5nd.
Le Vine Noir
The Conundrum Speakeasy will host A Valentine’s Edition: Le Vine Noir, Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 14-17. The event includes Champagne, chocolate and a comedy wine tasting in the dark.
Le Vine Noir runs Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 14-17, Conundrum, 1 Battle Square. Times vary. Tickets are $45 per person. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5my.
Candlelight supper
The Historic Johnson Farm will host a candlelight supper on Friday, Feb. 15. The evening will include a tour that explores the farm’s summer boarder experience between the years 1913-58. Dinner, prepared by chef Lisa Wilson of Savory Thyme Personal Chef, will include pork tenderloin with herbed cream sauce, scalloped tomatoes, corn fritters and maple pecan green beans. Dessert will include pound cake and ice cream.
The candlelight supper begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville. Tickets are $100 per couple. Seating is limited. For reservations, call 828-891-6585 or email jfarm@hcpsnc.org. For details, visit avl.mx/5mz.
Valentine dance and silent auction
On Saturday, Feb. 16, Delta House Life Development of Asheville Inc. will present Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler, a valentine dance and silent auction at the YMI Cultural Center. The event will feature music by DJ Andre Simone along with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine.
The dance and silent auction run 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the YMI Cultural Center, 39 Market St. Tickets are $55. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5ne.
Sunil’s Indian Supper
Once the last of the heart-shaped chocolates have been consumed, West End Bakery will help ease you out of your sugar-high love fest with Sunil’s Indian Supper. The dinner will feature sunchoke pav bhaji (savory veggie curry with fluffy toasted bread); dal tadka with greens, makai tikki (corn fritters) masala yogurt and turmeric pickle; Carolina Gold Rice, pork vindaloo, egg, kuchumbar (salad) and papadam; and chocolate terrine. Participants are asked to bring their own beverages.
Supper runs 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at West End Bakery, 757 Haywood Road. Tickets are $26. To purchase, visit avl.mx/5na.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.