Feb 8, 2021

ALTHOUGH WE’RE SURE ROSES, CHOCOLATES and chilled Champagne will still be out in force, Valentine’s Day this year (like all the other holidays of the past year) is truly like no other. Ever since the first lockdowns kicked in, fine-diners have looked for creative ways to unfurl those white tablecloths on our own tables. And with restaurants in numerous countries across Asia still closed at dinnertime—and many diners reticent to venture out, regardless—there has been a boom in at-home dining, either through ready-to-eat delivery or meal kits that need juuuust a touch of effort.

These tantalizing menus offer dishes and treats to hopefully get the pulse racing and set the heart aflutter. From aphrodisiac oysters to Wagyu tenderloin, whole tins of caviar to decadent desserts, Asian-influenced dishes to keep it real, and even fancy salads if that’s what turns you on, there’s something for every romantically inclined palate…. as well as every party: We’re giving you the options for everyone’s favorite holiday a deux, but all of these esteemed institutions are also offering delivery menus throughout the year.

SINGAPORE

Botanico at the Garage

Modern European cuisine with Asian inflections is the vibe behind this relaxed spot set in Singapore’s striking Botanical Gardens, as their name suggests. Their delivery boxes include three themed for Valentine’s Day, but it’s the steamy sounding ‘Luscious Meadow’ that caught our eye. Funked-up salads including a jicama slaw and beetroot with burrata kick things off, with five-spice duck breast, slow-cooked Kurobuta pork belly or Wagyu rump capping the meaty combination of mains to share. Miso caramel tart are three words to get anyone excited, but if you need some assistance, you also get a bottle of Bordeaux or Champagne to toast to love.

USD$140 for Luscious Meadow box for two; 72-hour advance reservation required for delivery Feb 12, 13 and 14. thegarage.sg/botanico

HONG KONG

Date by Tate

Chef-owner Vicky Lau of Tate Dining Room in Hong Kong was recently awarded a second Michelin star for her beautiful cuisine, which combines French and Chinese ingredients and techniques. As a former graphic designer, her three-tiered at-home gastronomy boxes look stunning and contain tempting creations such as a Chinese sausage parfait or smoked eel pie with Comté cheese. Go all-in to add extras including Champagne, Champagne glasses, flowers—maybe even a bamboo truffle slicer? Vicky herself designed it.

USD$250 per person for the gastronomy box with half a bottle of Champagne and two glasses; 48-hour advance reservation required for delivery Feb 14 and 15. datebytate.com

The Ritz-Carlton

As you’d expect from a hotel that starts on the 103rd floor, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong take things up a notch with their romantic roasts and gift sets that can be delivered for a fee across the +852. There are few more decadent ways to amuse the bouche than with a whole tin of Prunier Caviar paired with a bottle of Ritz champagne, before another level of surf and turf: lobster pasta and Chateaubriand steak with potato purée. Your heart-shaped dessert is then an Instagram post in waiting—as long as you get to snap it before someone dives in, that is.

USD$370 for two; 24-hour advance reservation required; available until Feb 14. ritzcarltonhkshop.com

BANGKOK

Lord Jim’s, Mandarin Oriental

The challenge at the famed Lord Jim’s at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, comes mainly in choosing what to order from their extensive menu—oh, wait, and also finishing the famously generous portions. Perfect renditions of prawn cocktail and organic chicken catch the eye, but it’s hard not to go for their beef Wellington made with grass-fed Australian tenderloin, mushrooms and an herbed crepe under a perfect pastry crust. Cakes, macarons and chocolate-dipped strawberries are then just some of the add-on options to keep your Valentine sweeter than ever.

USD$215 for Beef Wellington and sides (enough for four people!), plus a ‘love cake;’ order by midnight for delivery the following day. bangkok.mandarinorientalshop.com

TOKYO

The Terrace at The Westin

Few countries do at-home dining like Japan, thanks to the combination of stunning presentation and beautifully executed dishes. The gourmet lineup at The Westin Tokyo’s Deli lets you travel the world on Valentine’s eve with Japanese, French and Cantonese cuisines in their Trésor box. Feast on sirloin sushi made with the hotel’s exclusive “Yebisu” Wagyu and roasted char-sui Iberico pork, but be sure to save space for their velvety chocolate terrine and other delicacies from executive pastry chef Kazuo Suzuki.

USD$140 for two Trésor boxes and the chocolate terrine; 96-hour advance reservation required for delivery Feb 12, 13 and 14. theterracetokyo.com/jp/takeaway

MANILA

Gallery by Chele

Spanish chef Chele Gonzalez has made his eponymous eatery a hard-to-book spot for Manila diners during normal times, and on February 14 carnivores in particular are in for a serious treat. That’s thanks to their at-home menu featuring 300 grams of Wagyu MB9 Tenderloin grilled in the Josper oven for the perfect char and finish, joined by dishes that reflect Spain and the Philippines, including crispy mushroom croquetas and kare-kare, a local favorite of beef cheek, peanut sauce and shrimp paste. A highly on-trend burnt Basque cheesecake makes for a sensational finish—just be sure to share it.

USD$115 for two, 72-hour advance reservation required for delivery Feb 13 and 14. gallerybychele-athome.com

KUALA LUMPUR

W Hotel

The funky W in KL has a romantic dinner for two that comes complete with a rose for your beloved. Aww. Starters include fresh salmon rice paper rolls or zesty salad with quail eggs. The main event is all about the Aussie rib eye, barramundi or roasted spring chicken with coriander sauce. Did we mention the truffled potato puree? To wrap, ‘Pop! Goes my Heart,’ a vanilla cake with, yes, white chocolate popping candy. Optional extras include wines and—thinking beyond the bubbly—even bubble-bath kits.

USD$130 per couple for three-course set menu and half a bottle of Champagne; order at least 48 hours in advance for delivery Feb 13 and 14. myclubmarriott.com