Story by Dave Eckert
It started innocently enough. I’d gotten a press release announcing a weeklong Valentine’s Day menu celebration at the always excellent Affäre restaurant in The Crossroads. Hmm, I thought-what a great idea! I wonder if other local establishments are thinking outside the Valentine’s Day box by offering folks options beyond February 14th? I posted that question to Facebook, and boom, here are some of the myriad of dinners, events, and special gifts you can share with, or gift to, your special someone.
I think it’s only fair to start with at the genesis of this article- Katrin and Martin Heuser at Affäre. “Over the years, we’ve seen how Valentine’s Day can create a lot of pressure. With the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, we decided to offer the menu all week, giving couples more flexibility and a more relaxed, unhurried way to celebrate,” Katrin and Martin told me.
Here’s how it works. On Thursday, February 12, Friday, February 13, and Sunday, February 15, guests may reserve Affäre’s four-course Valentine’s menu while also having the option to order from the restaurant’s regular à la carte dinner menu. Saturday, February 14, is dedicated to the three- and four-course Valentine’s menus only; Affäre will not offer à la carte dining that evening. Certified Sommelier Katrin Heuser has curated optional wine pairings for the four-course menu, selecting wines designed to complement each course and support the natural flow of the meal.
I N T E R E S T E D ? H E R E Y O U G O !
Photos by Jenny McGill: Affäre
WHO: Affäre
WHAT: Valentine’s Dining at Affäre
WHEN: Thursday, February 12; Friday, February 13; and Sunday, February 15, 2026 – Four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s menu and regular à la carte dinner menu.
Saturday, February 14, 2026 – Three-course and four-course prix-fixe Valentine’s menus only; à la carte dinner menu not available.
WHERE: Affäre, 1911 Main St., Kansas City, Missouri 64108
COST: Four-course Valentine’s menu: $98 per person, plus tax and gratuity; Optional wine pairing (four-course menu only): $39 per person. Three-course Valentine’s menu (Saturday only): $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity
RESERVATIONS: https://www.exploretock.com/affarekc/
Let’s keep the V-Day options rolling with a trip out east to Independence and Vivilore, which is offering a four-course, $80 dollar menu on both Friday, the 13th and Saturday, the 14th.
The menu looks awesome!
- Chapter 1-Beet salad
- Chapter 2-Potato and Leek Velouti
- Chapter 3-Red wine braised short rib, or seared diver scallops, or roasted cauliflower steak
- Chapter 4-Chocolate-dipped strawberry cheesecake, or crème brulee
MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: www.vivilore.com.
Photo courtesy of Walnut Creek Winery
At Walnut Creek Winery, in Holt, Missouri, my friend, Chef Dennis Murray, Jr., the Executive Chef at Walnut Creek, alerted me to a Galentine’s Day celebration there that sounds pretty darned amazing.
Here are the details:
WHEN: Friday, Feb 6, 6:30 pm – 9:00pm
Grab your girlfriends + head over to the winery for an elevated winery night experience.
- Permanent Jewelry
- Stupid Cupid Wine Slushies + all you can drink $25 Heart-shaped wine slush cups
- Pop Up Shopping: jams, jellies, body butters, lip products, and more
- Valentine Photo Booth set up
- Heart-shaped pizzas + dessert flights
- Lash set bookings — $20 OFF when booked that night
- Flowers while supplies last
- Limited Specialty Wine — Forbidden Kiss will be available for purchase by bottle or glass
- February $10 Cocktail of the Month: Love Potion No. 9
RESERVATIONS: Reserve your table today at 816-992-4011 or email Kassie@WalnutCreekWine.com to reserve your table.
Walnut Creek’s social media manager, Lauren McBee summed it up this way. “This event is for anyone & everyone whether you bring your girls, arrive solo, or bring your significant other. It’s truly the ultimate girls’ night!”
Photo courtesy of Barley and Vine
From one awesome event to another. How about a Valentine’s Day cocktail pop up in an historic basement speakeasy! Yep, from 7:00 till 10:00 pm on Valentine’s Day, that’s what you will experience at Platte City’s Barley and Vine. I asked owner Laura Lowry to elaborate.
“Barley & Vine is housed in a truly one-of-a-kind historical space with a cellar built in 1840 beneath it. This building was the very first structure ever built in Platte City and has served many roles over the years, including a courthouse and even an amputee hospital. Today, that same historic cellar lives on as an intimate gathering space where history, beverages, and community come together. Our cellar offers a truly unique, romantic vibe, making it the perfect place to celebrate love and friendship with a fun cocktail in hand. Creating themed cocktails is part creativity, part storytelling, and a whole lot of fun. We start with the mood we want to create, then build layers of flavor, color, and texture that match the theme and the season. Each cocktail is designed to feel intentional and a little unexpected, turning a simple drink into an experience worth remembering.
- The Bitter B**ch: When a Negroni meets a French 75 you get a mix of fresh citrus, subtle sweetness, and a touch of bitter on the finish.
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini: Exactly what you expect. Delicious chocolate flavor with a fresh strawberry finish.
- Neapolitini: A delightful dessert cocktail that blends all of your favorite flavors of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla with a milkshake finish.
“Having a Valentine’s theme in the cellar turns Valentine’s Day into something more personal and meaningful for our community. The intimate, cozy setting creates a space where couples, friends, and even first dates can slow down and actually connect. It’s less about the holiday hype and more about sharing a moment, making memories, and celebrating love in all its forms right here in our area. Since this is a pop up speakeasy, there are no reservations. Be sure to arrive early, and don’t forget the password-LOVE!” Lowry shared.
Let’s see, dinner on the night I met my love at Vivilore or Walnut Creek followed by cocktails in an 1840 speakeasy on Valentine’s Day? I think I have my weekend planned!
But wait, there’s more! I don’t want to get cheesy on you, but I think I will. Enter the one and only Mozzarella Madam, who is hosting two events to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day.
“This Valentine’s Weekend, I’m hosting two elevated, hands-on cheese-pulling experiences in a beautiful downtown KC penthouse with panoramic city views. These are social, fun, and interactive — not sit-down dinners — and everyone leaves with something they created.”
Thursday, February 12– Galentine’s / Palentine’s Night
$95 per person
This night is open and social — perfect for singles, friends, besties, pals, and anyone who loves meeting new people. Come with your homegirl, your favorite pal, or come solo and mingle.
Guests will receive…
- Pull fresh mozzarella with Mozzarella Madam
- Flavor their own cheese
- Build their own personal take-and-bake pizza using the mozzarella they made
- Choose from multiple pizza sauces and a full toppings bar
- Enjoy wine and light grazing
- Mix, mingle, laugh, and connect
- Wine is included, and everyone leaves with their pizza boxed up to bake at home.
Saturday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day (Couple Night)
$190 per couple
This night is designed for couples — romantic, playful, and hands-on.
Couples will receive…
- Each pull their own mozzarella
- Pull one cheese together as a pair
- Each build a personal take-and-bake pizza with curated toppings
- Enjoy a bottle of wine per couple
- Spend the evening creating something together in a cozy, elevated setting
Both nights include the chance to win the Golden Cheese Grater. Located in Downtown Kansas City (exact address shared after booking). Limited tickets available.
To book, DM or send payment via Venmo @mozzymadam
Please include the event date and name(s) in the note.
I can’t wait to pull cheese with you!” Kami Rella, the Mozzarella Madam shared!
Okay, how about some gifts for your special someone to help her celebrate Valentine’s Day and let her know how much you love her? Here are a couple of ideas for you. First, tickets to Muse: a soiree celebrating women in food, drink, and the arts during International Women’s Month benefitting Girls on the Run. Muse is back on March 8, and let me tell you from personal experience, it is a blast.
Here’s more information.
WHO: Kansas City women chefs and women beverage professionals, paired for savory and dessert courses during a festive, immersive tasting experience.
WHAT: MUSE: A Soirée Celebrating Women in Food, Drink and the Arts, a benefit for Girls on the Run Kansas City.
WHEN: 4–7 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2026
WHERE: The Guild KC & Paradise Garden Club, 1621 Locust St., Kansas City, MO 64108
COST + PERKS: General Admission and VIP tickets are available. Admission includes chef-driven food and beverage pairings, a signature welcome cocktail, access to local women-owned vendor pop-ups, and raffle opportunities. Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run Kansas City.
Photos credit @SocialKansasCity: Muse
FEATURED CHEFS AND BEVERAGE PROFESSIONALS
Savory Pairings:
• Swetha Newcomb of Of Course paired with Madeline Buechter of Barbacoa
• Pam Liberda of Buck Tui paired with Diana Condori of Condor’s Cove
• Kelly Conwell of Earl’s Premier Group paired with Felicia Brainard of Blanc Champagne Bar
• Linda Duerr of The Restaurant at 1900 paired with Hannah Lyn Jones of Workman’s KC
• Katie Lui of Chewology paired with Saranya Hubbard of MoonBar
• Marissa Gencarelli of Yoli paired with Amy Connor of Mean Mule
• Celina Tio of The Belfry paired with Laura Clark of Morning Rounds Bakery
• Alejandra de la Fuente of Red Kitchen paired with Kerry Amigoni of Amigoni
• Kami Rella of Mozz Madam paired with Amanda Norwood of Westin Hotel
• Natasha Bailey of Thelma’s Kitchen paired with Sage Monett of Tom’s Travelers
Dessert Pairings:
• Megan Garrelts of Rye paired with Nancy Smith of Farina
• Robin Krause of Billie’s Grocery paired with Erica Schulte of Rose Productions
• Jessica Armstrong of Novel paired with Megan Settle of Veritas Selections
• Kelsey Earl of Little Butter Bakery paired with Brooke Silvey of Tannin Wine Bar
• Cami San Romani of Cami’s Cakes paired with Crystal Smith of Oak & Steel
TICKET INFORMATION
$100 General Admission (+$2.50 ticket service fee): Includes chef-driven food and beverage pairings, a signature welcome cocktail, a MUSE-branded canvas bag, and one raffle ticket. One hundred percent of additional raffle ticket sales benefit Girls on the Run Kansas City.
$160 VIP (+$4 ticket service fee): Includes all general admission perks, plus a custom MUSE VIP gift and entry into the Grand Staycation raffle, with the winner announced live during the event. Each VIP ticket also provides one pair of new running shoes to Girls on the Run Kansas City. Grand Staycation raffle entries are available exclusively with the purchase of a VIP ticket.
Tickets also make a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift for a partner, friend or spouse, offering an experience-driven way to celebrate together. Purchase tickets here.
Now, from Pause Studio in Overland Park’s Prairie Fire development comes a chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a little heat, a cooldown, and a total chill, perfect for the couple looking for something a little different but eminently satisfying.
Start with Contrast Therapy, where you’ll move between an infrared sauna and a cold plunge—hot, cold, repeat. It’s 30 or 60 minutes of pure, endorphin-fueled bonding, and yes, you’ll feel like superheroes afterward. (Contrast 30: $55 / $25 add-on | Contrast 60: $75 / $35 add-on)
If you’re feeling bold, brave the chill together in Cryotherapy-a supercharged three-minute freeze that boosts your mood and metabolism. ($35 per person)
Want a little more zen? Try a Float Therapy session side-by-side. You’ll each have your own tank (no bumping elbows here), but float in peaceful silence knowing your Valentine is just across the way. ($75 per person)
And if you really want to glow from the inside out, book a Vitamin IV Drip—perfect for feeling revitalized and radiant, together. ($139 currently, going up to $159 soon)
It’s the kind of date that makes you feel better, not just full. So go ahead—get steamy, cool off, and float your way into a new Valentine’s tradition,” owners Katie and Daniel Deenihan exclaimed.
Book online at PauseStudio.com or call 913 513-1161
Finally, a DIY for Valentine’s Day courtesy of Earl’s Provisions, a specialty market and kitchen from the team behind Earl’s Premier. The shop was created to bring chef-driven, gourmet-at-home options to your everyday meal or your special occasion feast. “This Valentine’s Day, we’re giving couples an easy way to celebrate at home—without the crowds or the get-dolled-up ta-da—offering food that still feels elevated, intentional, and made with care.”
Guests can stop in for ready-to-enjoy favorites like house-made meatballs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and twice-baked potatoes—perfectly paired with a great bottle of wine. Comforting soups such as chicken noodle or gumbo, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, and chef-prepared mains like salmon with roasted carrots are also available, along with flavorful sides like wild rice pilaf and deviled eggs. A full lineup of sweets and shareable treats rounds out the selection, making it easy to create an elevated, at-home experience.
Additional offerings—which rotate regularly—include customer favorites like house-made salmon spread, goat cheese and honey dip, their signature bisquits (the kind you need both hands to enjoy), cinnamon rolls, peanut butter protein and M&M cookie dough balls, and playful funfetti macarons.
“Just for Valentine’s Day, Earl’s Provisions will also feature festive sugary treats created especially for the holiday—perfect for building a sweet, thoughtful spread without the need for reservations or time in the kitchen. It’s a way to dine out with elegance, while staying in,” Earl’s Partner, Cory Dannehl shared.
There you have it, nearly a dozen ways to make this Valentine’s Day special outside of the actual day. And, if these don’t appeal and you just want to have that terrific Valentine’s Day romantic meal and experience, by all means, please do. Support local. Businesses need your backing more than ever!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
