By Katherine Hoey
The air is filled with love and the sweet aroma of food. Whether you’re B.F.Fs, “together”, dating, or in a long term relationship, this day is about appreciating those around you.
Who said you had to spend the big bucks and go to a stuffy high-end restaurant to prove your love? Culinart can serve up that sophisticated flavor and chic display to you right here on campus.
A few dining options that make my heart throb:
- Italiano – Does it get more romantic than the Bella Notte spaghetti scene in Lady and The Tramp? No, it doesn’t. But you can try and recreate the vibe by grabbing a pasta entree at West Side Dining or Roth. WSD Valentine’s Day special includes a Stuffed Shells Florentine with spinach, marinara and alfredo or a pick-you-pasta in a white clam sauce. Roth’s Tuscan Bistro will be serving an Italian four-cheese macaroni with asiago, fontina, mozzarella, and provolone topped with parmesan and panko breadcrumbs, as well as a Pasta alla Carbonara with rigatoni and pork pancetta. The SAC will also be offering Penne a la Vodka dishes which you can add sausage & peppers, eggplant or meatball parm to.
- Sushi – Nothing says intricate and thoughtful like a few sushi rolls. You could keep it casual and get sushi pre-packaged or make your way over to Jasmine. Jasmine will be offering an array of rolls for your delight. Have you tried the Seawolves Sushi Roll yet? It is raw salmon topped with yellowfish tuna sashimi and roe drizzled with a sriracha-mayo sauce and wrapped in Nori seaweed.
- Comfort food – Is going out to eat not your scene… or leaving your bed in general? I love ordering Island Soul jerk chicken loaded up with as many side dishes as possible and bringing it back to bae. Name something better than Mac & Cheese. I’ll wait. A little reheat in the microwave and voila! You can light up some candles (or Flameless LED candles if you’re in the dorms), snuggle up under a blanket, listen to music or watch rom-coms on Netflix.
- Keep it Spicy: Turn up the heat this holiday with a curry dish from Jasmine. Whether you’re vegetarian or a meat-lover, a bowl of curry signifies a bold palette. My go to? The Tandori Fish bowl. With its creamy coconut curry sauce and buttery monkfish, it packs a protein punch and pairs nicely with a fruit juice like mango lassi or lychee juice.
- Sweet tooth: Almost every food location on campus is pushing it’s home-made sweet treats from SBU Sweets for Valentine’s. Enjoy the day by treating yourself to some chocolate popcorn trail mix, candy bars, cookies, or cupcakes. While milk chocolate is creamy and delectable; dark chocolate is a super food loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, iron, fiber, manganese, copper, and caffeine. It is also a good source of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. Dark chocolate is proven to amp up your health and lower the risk of heart disease. Just remember: the higher percentage of cacao listed on the chocolate, the more nutritional value it has.
