Kisses and Cocktails on Valentines Day
By FBWorld Team

Valentine's Day has been celebrated on February 14 for centuries. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their beloved. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or night in a hotel. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are hearts, red roses, and Cupid. Some people sip pink champagne and some expect an exciting new surprise in the form of a creative and romantic cocktail.

Four Seasons Biltmore Pink Duchess

From the Hotel Sacher in Vienna to the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara talented cocktail entrepreneurs will be mixing up some pretty saucy cocktails to warm the hearts of local sweethearts enjoying the annual holiday that pays homage to true love, and I've collected a few from my travels around the world for you to consider adding to your repertoire for enjoyment on the anniversary of this 'be mine' night to remember.

Barbie Bath Bomb, Kimpton Canary Hotel

The Fork & Cork has the award-winning Barbie Bath Bubbles, a lovely and frothy tall pink sipping sizzler complete with a tiny pink slipper made by George Peperis, a guy who is renowned for his amazing new and classically familiar cocktails at the Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara. http://www.finchandfork.com/. Talented Eno at the Bee Bar in the Ty Lounge at The Four Seasons Biltmore has created a dreamy pink and white concoction topped with flowers called the Pink Duchess that all the would-be royal darlings who visit the historic hotel love. www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara.

Jean-Georges Rooftop Restaurant Peach Bellini

The bar at Jean-Georges Rooftop Restaurant in the Waldorf-Astoria, Beverly Hills serves one of the most beautiful peach mimosa's in the world to enjoy with the heavenly Hollywood Views. www.jean-georges.com. The Malibu Beach Inn's Carbon Beach Club serves a sensational pink imported wine Baracchi Rose to enjoy as the waves come crashing in that I just adore. www.malibubeachinn.com.

Anna Sacher Cocktail, Hotel Sacher4. La Palapa Hibiscus Margarita

When in Vienna, Austria at Hotel Sacher in the Blau Bar the ideal chic drink is the Anna Sacher Cocktail, named in honor of the amazing woman hotelier who kept Sacher Hotel on top for centuries. www.sacher.com/en/hotel-sacher-wien. Sauska Rose Champagne is the first choice at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace in Budapest and is sipped from rare Hungarian crystal flutes during their show-stopping Heren Tea. www.fourseasons.com/budapest.

The Monarch Cranberry Delight

For the ladies who prefer lovely non-alcoholic beverages my favorite can be found at The Monarch in the Montecito Inn, where they mix me a cranberry with sparkling water and lime that is perfect, however, I'm told their Chaplin's Lounge has perfect martini's and an amazing cocktail menu. www.themonarchmontecito.com. Rodney's Steak House in the new Hilton Santa Barbara Beach Resort offers one beautiful looking Cosmo to savor with one of their fine aged steaks. www.hiltonsantabarbarabeachfrontresort.com.

La Palapa XAICA Hibiscus Margarita

If you are lucky enough to be in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at La Palapa on the beach please enjoy the rich color and taste of their XAICA hibiscus margarita www.lapalapapv.com, a perfect compliment to your special evening. My friend the Chef in the Hat at Loulay, located in the Sheraton Grand Seattle has an unforgettable pink cocktail to compliment his outstanding French cuisine. www.thechefinthehat.com/loulay-kitchen-seattle.
If you are just wine hopping in the Santa Barbara area Funk Zone do stop in at Les Marchands and ask for the Pink Surprise Cocktail their bar guy is whipping up to please guests. www.lesmarchandswine.com. It sparkles in the candlelight and will warm your little valentine heart for a perfect beginning or ending to your night of fun and love. Happy Valentines Day!

 

By Bonnie Carroll

About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since 1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com, does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.