Tag Archives: Valentine’s Day

Dessert and Wine Pairings to Impress Your Valentine

Posted on by
Reply

Between the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day, the first two weeks of February are jam-packed with good eats…and, of course, quality time with loved ones. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’ve turned our focus away from seven-layer dip and hot wings to dessert and wine. If you’re preparing a nice dinner for your significant other, best friends or family, use this dessert and wine-pairing guide to impress your loved ones. After all, we believe in the sentiment that the way to anyone’s heart is through his or her stomach!

Wine toast

Dessert: Tiramisu
Wine pairing: Zardetto Zeta Prosecco, $22.99 at Wine.com
A sparkling wine with high residual sugar will complement the sweetness of a classic tiramisu. Zardetto Zeta Prosecco is a good pairing choice for this dessert, given its rich and creamy notes. If you prefer a lower alcohol content, you may want to try pairing tiramisu with Moscato D’Asti, which usually contains 5.5% alcohol by volume.

Dessert: Figs with blue cheese and honey
Wine pairing: Chateau Guiraud Sauternes, $75.00 at Wine.com
Sauternes pair wonderfully with sweet and savory flavors, and a simple dessert of fresh figs and blue cheese drizzled with a bit of honey fits that flavor combination. Pair it with the 2005 Chateau Guiraud Sauternes, which is layered and complex, boasting aromas of honey, juicy fruits and almonds. Originally $75.00, it’s on sale for $49.99 at Wine.com, so take advantage of the deal before it sells out!

Dessert: Molten chocolate cake
Wine pairing: Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, price varies at World Market
The only better than chocolate is, well, more chocolate! Hints of bitter chocolate, roasted coffee and caramel in Young’s Double Chocolate Stout make it a perfect partner for a decadent molten chocolate cake.

Dessert: Old-fashioned apple pie
Wine pairing: Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port, $34.99 at Wine.com
Ah, the comfort of a warm slice of apple pie. Complement the cinnamon, nutmeg and butter in apple pie with a full-bodied port. The dark berry flavors and spice in Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port do a lovely job of highlighting the warm spices and richness of apple pie.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Shopilly!

Unique Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Your Special Guy

Posted on by
Reply

The countdown to one of the most polarizing holidays continues – we’re a mere 3 weeks away from the simultaneously beloved and reviled Valentine’s Day. Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day can be a stressful holiday due to the number of romantic expectations it brings, so we’re here to dispel a bit of your stress. Allow us to make some Valentine’s Day gift suggestions for the special male in your life!

Jo's Candies Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Caramel Corn

Who says chocolates and other sweet gifts are just for the ladies? From gourmet popcorn to a decadent vintage port, these treats are sure to be a welcome addition to any kitchen:

HDMI Pocket Projector

If gadgets are the apple of his eye, here are some innovative electronics that will help him multitask, aerate or entertain:

Jetsetter

A la our Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her post last week, we’d like to cap off this post with some gift experiences. Gifting an experience might take more planning and research than a more conventional material gift, but we think these are well worth it:

  • Winter sport adventure with REI Adventures
  • Gourmet meal deal, relaxed wine tasting or getaway package via Bloomspot (note: deals are updated daily, so if you don’t find anything you like one day, check back the next)
  • Luxurious weekend away via Jetsetter (note: Jetsetter sales are offered on a first come, first served basis)

Cheers,
The Shopilly Team

Photo credits: surlatable.com, brookstone.com, jetsetter.com

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her

Posted on by
1

While some of you may still be in the process of taking down holiday decorations or sweeping away the remaining New Years confetti, the chocolate, roses and hearts have already come out in full force. That’s right, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner – in fact, it’s exactly one month away! Are you shopping for a special someone this year? We’ve compiled a guide of Valentine’s Day gift ideas to help you out. This week, we’re showcasing our picks for the special female in your life. Check back next week for gift ideas for the fellows.

Paloma Picasso Love & Kisses Mini Bracelet

While jewelry may not be the most original gift idea, there’s a reason it’s a Valentine’s Day standard. However, picking jewelry out for someone can be a tricky task since taste in jewelry can vary so much from person to person. Unless the woman in your life has dropped some not-so-subtle hints in the past few months or you’ve pinpointed her style, we suggest picking out a simple, classic piece rather than a trendy or extravagant (and therefore risky) piece. Here are some of our favorites:

Assorted Parisian Macaroons

What would Valentine’s Day be without sweets? While candy necklaces and conversation hearts might not cut it anymore, these gourmet treats will surely be a hit:

Bloomspot

Now that we’ve covered the Valentine’s Day standards, let’s think outside of the box – experiences! Psychology research suggests that receiving experiences as gifts makes us happier than receiving material gifts. These Shopilly brands consistently offer great deals on experiences like upscale meals, getaways and hotel bookings:

Cheers,
The Shopilly Team

Photo credits: tiffany.com, surlatable.com, bloomspot.com