Today’s guide to the best at-home Valentine’s ever is sponsored by Comestible Catering in Oakland. Comestible chefs are trained in classic technique, but inspired by the young, modern and new. They hail from Michelin-starred restaurants to the most authentic taco trucks and they all come together to push the boundaries of comfort food.
Looking for Valentine’s Day activities families can enjoy (during a pandemic) in the East Bay? We are excited to share this round-up of love- and heart-themed activities in February. Including romantic dinners, thematic desserts, crafts, projects, family together-time, and parents-sneaking-away-but-staying-home time.
Spotlight on Comestible Catering
Chef Mikey and Chef William, founders of Comestible, believe that food is the most intimate form of community building. Comestible is all local and all hands on to ensure that your meal is a special, memorable experience.
– Deadlines for ordering meals are 48-72 hours before the holiday.
– Delivery fee is $10 and to anywhere in the East Bay and San Francisco. Waive the fee when you pick up.
– Orders can be placed through phone or text to Mikey at 805-404-3911 or email
Mikey@comestiblesf.com
We have lots of ideas: Special Dinners to go | Fun Valentine-y Activities with Kids | Family-friendly Valentine Outings | Special Desserts
Where to Order a Special Valentine’s Dinner To Go
These Oakland area restaurants, caterers, and food shops do the Valentine preparing and cooking – you do the serving at home. Flowers optional.
ACT Catering, Emeryville
Valentine’s dinner at home by ACT is available for delivery or pickup Feb. 12 & 13, or delivery on Feb 14. Intimate 5-course meal or a la carte choices. Website to order
Comestible, Oakland
This Valentine’s Menu serves two with all the special touches of a restaurant meal. Choose between a 32 oz. Prime Long Bone Tomahawk and a Free Range Chicken Cordon Bleu. Accompaniments include a trio of cheeses, chicory salad, puree of wild mushroom soup, dauphinoise potato, charred broccolini, and Nutella brownie bites. Optional add-ons include a dozen chocolate covered strawberries or a cookie decorating kit. Valentine’s carry out and delivery available. Order your romantic meal today.
Feastin, Delivers to Bay Area
Choose from meal kits or fully prepared feasts. Pick your favorite cocktails and desserts, too. Order by Feb. 12 for Valentine’s Delivery. Website to order
Family-friendly Valentine’s Outings in the East Bay
Lake Chabot “Love at the Lake”, Castro Valley
February 1 to 28 for a two-hour reservation: Splurge on the romantically-styled pontoon boat with a special Amore basket of Italian products for $199 to $249. Bring your kids or don’t. Reserve your spot.
Cookie Decorating, The Claremont, Berkeley
Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 am for $40 per family: Decorate a dozen cookies in Valentine themes, fun for all ages. Nibble as you go or bring them home. Space is limited, event is outdoors. Reserve your spot.
Drive-in Lady and the Tramp, San Francisco
Sunday, Feb. 14, at 4 pm for $49 per vehicle: Head to Fort Mason Flix for a Classic kid-friendly Disney romance. Buy your tix in advance
Sweet gifts
Hayward mom, Anaelena Martinez, runs House of Hearts, an online shop with the most adorable apparel for children. Suit up!
Kid-friendly Valentine’s Activities at home
Valentine’s Day Cooking Workshop from Cooking Round the World (your kitchen)
Friday, Feb. 12, 3:30 to 5:30 pm for $25 per participating household: Receive a recipe book and guided instructions over Zoom to make chocolate covered strawberries, sweetheart cookies, and red velvet cupcakes. Register beforehand.
Virtual Valentine’s Escape Room from StemChef (your home)
Saturday, Feb. 13 through Monday, Feb. 15 for $20 per family: This yummy-science, self-guided virtual escape room is great for ages 8 to 13. It takes about an hour. More info and register.
Lindsay Wildlife Rain, a Love Story (your home)
Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11 am for $5 (members) or $10 (non-members): Splish Splash for a Valentine’s bash with wiggly worms and sweet science all about rain and animals. More info and register.
Hoo Loves You paint class from Aran’s (your home)
Saturday, Feb. 13 at 4 pm for $30: This Zoom art class is appropriate for ages 5 and up. Materials must be picked up by Saturday at 3 pm at Aran’s Art Studio in Castro Valley. ($30 per materials kit including the canvas, paints, and paper — brushes sold separately). More info and register.
Mini Makers Workshop: LoveBot for ages 2-5 (your place)
Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8 am or 10 am for $40 per bot: Join this super special one-time mini makers class for little ones and their grown-ups. Work together with your mini valentine to create a LoveBot and necklace. Registration includes all materials and guided instructions over Zoom. Sign up.
Valentine’s Baby Rave for ages 0-5 (your place)
Sunday, Feb. 14 at 10 am for free: Join a streaming dance party for little ones with special guest, DJ ET. All ages are welcome. Dressing up is encouraged but totally optional. Sign up.
Valentine’s ILY Sign Language Craft for grades PK-5 (your place)
Sunday, Feb. 14 at 11 am $22 per household: Make a Valentine’s Day pop-up card that expresses your love in American Sign Language You provide basic materials and receive guided instructions over Zoom. Sign up.
Make Mochi Together (your place)
Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2 pm for $50 per household: Join a special online mochi making workshop via Zoom. You will receive materials list and online instructions. Leave time to source your materials. Register now.
Love Mugs from Color Me Mine, Alameda, painted at your house
Order in advance. Do on your own time. Order two Herbie The Love Mugs along with 8 Paint Colors of your choice to paint together (and fire later, included) for $35.99 (Reg $44). Order this project before they’re gone. Other sweetheart projects at Color Me Mine include Candy Heart Plate, Valentine’s Tic Tac Toe, heart-shaped bowls. See other fun hands-on ceramic painting projects.
Desserts and Sweet Treats
Hey there, please note you can decorate cookies at the Claremont or order a cookie-decorating kit along with a Valentine’s meal from Comestible.
Dark Chocolate Cake from Two Chicks in the Mix
Order Darkest Chocolate & Champagne Cake by Feb. 9 | Pick up or delivery on Feb. 13 in Oakland or Albany. Order yours.
Cheesecakes from Crumble & Whisk, Emeryville
Specialty cheesecakes are legendary. Order for Emeryville pick-up (or use Feastin or DoorDash for delivery).
Cookie Box from Batch Pastries, Oakland
Order a box of decorated cookies or a kit with dough, icing, and tools to decorate yourself. Ooh, there’s also valentine breakfast in bed among other goodies! Browse Batch.
Valentine Cakesicles from Angel Cakes, Oakland
Look for small batch custom desserts in addition to the red velvet flavor of the month. Find the specials on Instagram.
Thank you again to our sponsor, Oakland-Based Comestible Fine Catering. They believe cooking that begins with gathering, butchering, foraging and farming creates the ideal combination of both process and product in quality food culture. I enjoyed their Hanukkah feast immensely, 10 thumbs up!
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1 thought on “Valentine’s Day Activities for Families & Date Night In”
The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is reopening this weekend: they’ll have a selfie station, card making table, craft kits for kids & adults and freebies for kids & teachers. They also have all the usual suspects in stock, plus carts upon carts of framed art & canvases, a huge supply of fabric on the bolt, and for the first time ever they will be selling their wooden wine box collection.