Forgot Valentine’s Day? No worries, we have you covered with last-minute ideas and gifts

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Valentine’s Day weekend is here, which you either remembered and have bought a gift or made a reservation, or forgot, which means you feel that little crush of the last-minute romantic gesture.

I remember biking around Davis as a 15-year-old in my first relationship, hoping day-of-purchase Russell Stover chocolates and CVS flowers would translate to everlasting love. Alas, we mutually split a few weeks later because, again, 15.

Many of the region’s fanciest restaurants are already booked for Feb. 14, or closed because the holiday falls on a Monday this year. Yet you and your boo can do plenty of other romantic, food-based things. And for the singles out there, who better to love on than yourself?

Sneak away to a winery (or two). Granted, this requires a little hooky for those whose schedules mirror the typical workweek. But isn’t the possibility of getting caught half the thrill?

Sacramento is surrounded by exceptional, affordable wine regions: Yolo County to the west, Clarksburg and Lodi to the south, El Dorado County foothills to the east. The beautiful grounds at Julietta Winery (Clarksburg), Harney Lane Winery (Lodi) and Miraflores Winery (Placerville) are all open Monday, when the temperature is supposed to peak in the low 70s.

Fresh, local dinner at home. A silver lining of Valentine’s Day falling on a Monday is the opportunity to shop over the weekend, when one can leisurely stroll through the area’s many farmers markets. Sometimes the best gifts are homemade, so mine your cookbooks for recipes and head out to your favorite sellers in advance of a DIY Valentine’s Day dinner.

Maybe it’s the Asian Farmers Market at 5th and Broadway, or the Sunday Fresh Market that moved to Arden Fair mall’s parking lot last year. Maybe your Super Bowl plans stretch all day and you need to shop Saturday, in which case you’ll want to seek out markets in Oak Park and midtown Sacramento. Suburban standouts can be found in Davis’ Central Park (Saturday), Old Town Auburn (Saturday) and the El Dorado Hills Town Center (Sunday).

Sweets for your sweetie. Some people, I’m sure, enjoy eating chalk. If that’s not your partner, skip the candy hearts in favor of a local confectioner.

North Sacramento’s Puur Chocolat is the spot for elegant bonbons, with flavors ranging from whiskey pecan praline to strawberry-lychee ganache with ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce). Annabelle’s Chocolate Lounge in El Dorado has more of a homey feel, and specializes in handmade dark chocolates.

If your honey is into honey, take a trip to The Hive in Woodland for a jar to-go or a rustic mead tasting. Those with strong teeth should check out Better Than Brittle’s Rocklin storefront for toffee and peanut brittle made in Gold River. It’s known to many, and it’s still true: Rick’s Dessert Diner in midtown Sacramento is one of the cutest places around for a late-night slice of nostalgia-inducing cake.

What I’m Eating

Mexican and Italian food might not seem to have much in common beyond romance languages, but examples of fusion go back to the 1800s, when Italian influence in Spain and a small immigration wave established pasta as an occasional rice alternative in the U.S. southern neighbor.

Todo Un Poco modernizes that harmony, incorporating Mexican and Italian flavors with a California influence at 9080 Laguna Main St., Suite 1A in Elk Grove. Some established classics are left alone, like the thick complimentary tortilla chips and porky Italian-style meatballs ($10).

But the fun at Marie Mertz’s restaurant comes from ordering items such as shrimp ravioli ($21), with crustaceans swimming around ricotta-filled pasta in a spicy chipotle Alfredo sauce. I got a kick out of Todo Un Poco’s many paintings, too, particularly one that imagined the front bar and its art with all people replaced by skeletons.

A range of pizzas presented more interesting combinations. I bypassed chicken mole and chile verde pies for the Yucatan (price ranges from $13 for a personal up to $35 for an XL) with its black beans, jalapeños and carnitas in oregano-spiked salsa. Alas, the pizza oven dried out the carnitas, and a watery faux cheese sauce brought gas station nachos to mind.

Openings & Closings

• Broderick Roadhouse owner Chris Jarosz quietly opened his new Alkali Flat pizzeria, Anonimo, at 400 12th St. last weekend. Former Pizza Rock culinary manager Tim Benham is the chef, while Hot Italian expat Juan Ramazzini will run operations.
• Koi Japanese Bistro held its soft opening Feb. 2 at 1920 29th St., Suite A in the southeastern corner of midtown Sacramento. Look for sushi, Japanese small plates and Asian fusion items like bulgogi meatballs over japchae ... and yes, koi, but only in the ponds near the entrance.
• The Auburn restaurant with an unforgettable name, Dingus McGee’s Roadhouse, has closed after 48 years. Dingus McGee’s struggled during 2020, then was flooded with customers but couldn’t find staff in 2021, owner Danielle Nelson told me in a text message.