Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and whilst the hospitality industry in Wales is back to business as usual, the most romantic day in the calendar falls on a Monday this year. So, there’s a good chance your favourite restaurant might not be open.
Alternatively you still might not feel comfortable going back out to restaurants just yet.
Read more: The 50 best restaurants in Wales in 2022
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best independent restaurants and businesses in Wales that are offering meal kits to help you create the perfect romantic evening at home.
Franks Hot Dogs - Cardiff
Delivery or collection? Local delivery
Cardiff Market hot dog maestros Franks are offering luxury frankfurter kits for home delivery around Cardiff and Pontyclun on Monday, February 14 with an order cut off date of Friday, February 11.
There’s both native breed pork and veggie hot dogs available in four packs (£20-25) or eight packs (£40) as well as mystery boxes of retro American savoury snacks and sweets (£10). To keep the romance alive, each order is accompanied by a rose and heart-shaped chocolates.
The Bunch of Grapes - Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Delivery or collection? Collection
During the pandemic, this excellent Pontypridd gastropub branched out to also become a local food shop selling freshly baked bread, takeaway meals and over 70 different craft beers.
For Valentine’s Day they’re offering a takeaway three-course meal for two for £75 with dishes to choose from including venison carpaccio with truffle mayo and coffee-rubbed rump steak with chimichurri and chips. Orders need to be placed by Saturday, February 12 with collections from the pub on Monday, February 14.
Mercado 44 - Cardiff
Delivery or collection? Nationwide delivery, local delivery and collection
Owned by the same team as the highly regarded Bar 44 and Asador 44 Spanish restaurants, Mercado 44 is their online grocery shop and it’s filled with a big selection of first class Spanish produce and drinks.
They offer a classic tapas box for two to share for £60 which includes a selection of eight dishes such as sticky sherry chicken, jamon croquetas and their award-winning patatas bravas. Order by midnight on Monday, February 7 for nationwide despatch on Wednesday, February 9, local delivery on Thursday, February 10, or collection on Friday, February 11.
Masudai Ramen - Cardiff
Delivery or collection? Nationwide delivery
Matsudai Ramen is Wales' first and only stand alone ramen business and it sells delicious bowls of Japanese noodle soup ranging from rich and spicy sunset red tonkotsu ramen (£10.99) topped with pork belly and soy-marinated egg to aromatic and savoury sapporo miso ramen (£10.99).
Since setting up shop in 2019, Matsudai have built up a dedicated following, including famous names such as restaurant critic Tom Parker Bowles and MasterChef winner Tim Anderson. Order by 2pm on Friday, February 11 for nationwide courier delivery on Saturday, February 12.
Taste of Persia - Monmouth, Monmouthshire
Delivery or collection? Local delivery
Monmouth-based Taste of Persia serves fragrant Middle Eastern food. Their selection of chilled meals includes duck breast with pomegranate and walnut sauce with saffron rice (£15), lamb shank with dill rice (£12) and stuffed vine leaves (£7) served with a wrap or pitta bread.
Orders need to be placed by 8pm on Wednesday, February 9, for home delivery in Monmouth (free), Abergavenny and Chepstow (£3) or Cardiff and Newport (£4) on Friday, February 11 or Saturday, February 12.
Kapow Ribs - Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery or collection? Local delivery
If slow-cooked baby back ribs coated with freshly ground spices and finger-licking glazes sound like your bag then Kapow Ribs is the home delivery kit for you. They’ll be delivering their ribs around Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, RCT and Caerphilly on Sunday, February 13.
Dishes on offer include full racks of ribs with classic BBQ sauce (£14), rib meat mac and cheese (£7) and chocolate brownies (£4.50).
Wright’s Food - Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire
Delivery or collection? Collection
There’s always something delicious coming out of the kitchen at this Carmarthenshire shop and cafe, which is owned by experienced restaurateurs Simon and Maryann Wright.
Their Wright’s Valentine’s Night at Home offers a five-course dinner to heat and eat for £50 with collection taking place from Wright’s on Sunday, February 13. Dishes on offer include crab and spring onion tart, beef or beetroot bourguignon with dauphinoise potatoes, and rhubarb, apple and almond crumble with custard.
Medina - Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Delivery or collection? Local delivery and collection
Aberystwyth’s Medina serves colourful Mediterranean cooking as well as more traditional and hearty British food. There’s tons of dishes to choose from on their online web shop from roast cauliflower pilaf with crispy flatbread (£8) to sweet potato and black bean stew (£7) and steak and ale pie (£7).
Local delivery in the Aberystwyth area takes place on Thursday, February 10 and is free for orders over £15 whilst a click and collect option is available on Thursday and Friday, February 11. Just make sure you get your order in by midnight on Tuesday, February 8.
The Tidy Kitchen Company - Cardiff
Delivery or collection? Local delivery
Owned by a former private chef who’s cooked for Formula 1 drivers and chart-topping musicians, the Tidy Kitchen Company is a catering business which is set to open a luxury sandwich and salad shop in Cardiff city centre.
For Valentine’s Day they’re serving up a four-course Italian-inspired date night for two for £50. Dishes on the menu include white bean crostini with salsa verde, lamb shank ragu with hand cut pappardelle and a classic tiramisu. There’s also a vegetarian menu available too.
Local delivery (£4) around Cardiff is taking place on Thursday, February 10 as well as Monday, February 14 with a minimum of 48 hours notice required.
Dylan’s - Menai Bridge, Anglesey
Delivery or collection? Collection
One of north Wales’ most highly regarded restaurant groups, Dylan’s owns a trio of venues in gorgeous seaside locations. Last year, they launched a selection of ready meals which are based on tried and tested recipes from their restaurants and are currently available from their general store in Menai Bridge.
Dishes include Welsh lamb hotpot (£9.50), cauliflower mac and cheese (£7.50) and sticky toffee pudding (£3.95) and they are collection only.
The Welsh Cheese Company - Taff's Well, Rhondda Cynon Taff
Delivery or collection? Nationwide delivery
Specialists in all things Welsh cheese related, The Welsh Cheese Company have launched a limited edition ‘Will You Brie Mine?’ Valentine’s Day hamper for £42.75. It features a heart-shaped extra-mature Caws Cenarth cheddar along with Angiddy Brie from the Wye Valley and a natural-rinded Thelma Caerffili.
Also included in the hamper is a heart-shaped slate, fig & date chutney from Pwllheli and a box of leek & Caerphilly cheese crackers from Brecon. Nationwide next day delivery can be scheduled for days between Tuesday and Friday.
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