valentine’s day alternatives

Valentine’s Day celebrations for food lovers

Celebrate love through the weekend

Weekly Journal Staff

Early Valentine’s at Condado Ocean Club :

For the Love of Food On Sunday the 13th, the SOCIAL restaurant will be presenting an exceptional brunch, called From Me 2 Me, which will serve to celebrate self-love and pamper yourself a little. From Me 2 Me Brunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a fixed price menu that includes, among other delicacies, a tasting of chocolate-based desserts.

Brunch will begin with a basket of fresh artisan pastries, followed by a choice of entrées from which to choose: Almond French Toast with Bourbon Maple Syrup, fresh berries, honey and almonds; avocado toast on sourdough bread with chia seeds with poached eggs and asparagus and arugula salad; Crispy Chicken and Bacon Donuts with Muenster Cheese and French Fries; Benedictine eggs with crab and brioche bread; lemon ricotta pancakes with cookie crumbs and lemon syrup and honey glaze; wedge salad with crispy bacon, blue cheese and tomatoes; truffled mac n’ cheese with smoked cheese sauce and egg sunny side up; rib sandwich with Swiss cheese, pickled onions and french fries; or Angus beef and Iberian chorizo burger with fried egg and mozzarella cheese on brioche bread with roasted garlic mayonnaise.

There will also be a station to make tortillas with ingredients such as ham, chorizo, mushrooms, tomato, pepper and cheese. The brunch closes with a chocolate dessert bar, created by the hotel’s pastry chef, Edgardo Quiles.

Special cocktails, Cava and traditional cocktails will also be served for the occasion. This fixed price menu is $42.00 for adults and $28.00 for children under 12 years old, not including tips and taxes.

Valentine’s Dinner At La Concha

The iconic La Concha Resort hotel will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a delicious dinner Monday, February 14, from 7:00 p.m. in the Perla room.

“For Valentine’s Day we have prepared an exquisite culinary experience to enjoy in a unique space. Our iconic Perla room, with its curved windows from which you can see the sea, will be the setting for this dinner designed by Executive Chef Erika Gómez, together with pastry chef Nasha Fondeur,” said José C. Padín, general manager of La Concha Resort.

The celebration starts at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby with a welcome cocktail as a prelude to the dinner that will feature vegetarian options for each course. Once in the Perla room, diners will start the tasting with Palmier mushrooms with goat cheese whipped with honey as an amuse bouche. For the first course, you will be able to select between shrimp bisque with brandy butter toast on brioche bread; tuna tartar with shallots, cilantro, avocado, sesame ponzu vinaigrette with root chips; or, for a vegetarian option, a goat cheese tart with local mixed greens, roasted tomatoes, spring onions, sweet pecans and a watermelon balsamic vinaigrette.

Alternatives for the main course are beef tenderloin served with celery purée, asparagus and demi glaze; shrimp and scallops with roasted corn risotto and bacon jam; or exotic wild mushrooms along with a lentil stew, Yukon potato croquette, spinach and wine and mushroom jus. Chef Gómez will serve a dish from her selection prior to dessert and in this last course there will be a variety of decadent mignardises (miniature sweets).

The dinner for lovers at La Concha Resort has a cost of $125.00 per person, plus taxes and tips. It also includes a welcome drink per person and covers the car parking fee.

Our iconic Perla room, with its curved windows will be the setting for this dinner designed by Executive Chef Erika Gómez, and pastry chef Nasha Fondeur.

José C. Padín General manager, La Concha Resort

That martini you’re holding supports animal rescues

Tito’s Vodka promotes local animal shelters for Valentine’s Day

Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal

Tito’s Vodka is releasing the second edition of their Puppy Love calendar in collaboration with local animal shelters.

To bring visibility to dogs in need of homes, the calendar features a different fourlegged friend for each month (all are available for adoption). Starting this Valentine’s Day, Puppy Love 2022 is free with the purchase of a Tito’s Handmade Vodka product on the Jetson, Ronpon, and Hórreo de V. Suárez platforms.

Additionally, participating shelters will receive a donation of $750 from Tito’s Vodka to support their rescue efforts.

“People recognize the value and importance of pet adoption. It is an act of love and a responsibility that we have as citizens. It is an honor to be part of this effort”, said brandmanager Luis Antonio Morales.

A Dog Lover

Love for dogs is in the liquor brand’s DNA. Tito Beveridge, the company’s founder and namesake, is a true dog-lover whose canine companion, Dojo, accompanied him to work every day and through late nights while he developed the smoothest vodka. Now, the company pays tribute to Dojo with its Vodka for dog People Program that aims to better the lives of pets worldwide.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL spoke with Saraivy Colón Arroyo, treasurer for the Alianza Pro Rescate de Animales, one of this year’s participating shelters.

Alianza Pro Rescate de Animales, a no-kill shelter, is celebrating 10 years of animal rescues, but after a decade of operations, even surviving Hurricane Maria, the shelter is in need of severe structural repairs –the terrain on the property is eroding and many of the cages need to be replaced.

Their team of four people provides shelter, food, grooming, and medical care for 25 to 30 dogs at a time in a space lent to them by a supporter of their cause. Many of the dogs they rescue and rehabilitate are sent to other no-kill partner shelters in the states, which find them homes in those communities, although they would be happy to see more

In fact, of the dogs adopted locally. Saraivy explained that the shelter is also looking for foster Participating parents located in Puerto Rico for shelters will receive both cats and dogs. Foster-care a donation of $750 almost infinitely increases the from Tito’s Vodka to number of animals that can be support their rescue helped. Potential foster parents efforts. are responsible for day-to-day tasks, such as feeding, walking, and playing, with Alianza Pro Rescate supplying food, a dog bed, and transport to veterinarian appointments. Foster parents provide a roof and general care for the animals before they go on to find their forever-home. Of course, a foster parent could

People recognize the value and importance of pet adoption. It is an act of love and a responsibility that we have as citizens.

-Luis Antonio Morales Brand Manager, Tito’s Vodka

decide to adopt the dog or cat that they’ve been taking care of. The adoption process starts with a home visit and a trial period so that both dog and human can make sure they are compatible.

Adoption isn’t feasible for everyone, but anyone can spread the love by donating to one of the shelters found in the calendar –helping provide food and care to many abandoned animals.