Valentine’s Day in the South Bay is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a very romantic place to walk on the beach, have a glass of wine at a first-rate restaurant, or just sit on my roof deck and watch the sun set on the ocean.

For Valentine’s Day 2014, several South Bay restaurants and venues are offering a wonderful romantic dinner for two. Some of my favorite places include BaleenKitchen in Redondo Beach. From  5:30 – 10:30 PM they are having a special  six-course tasting menu, You can check out the incredible menu here: www.noblehousemenus.com/BaleenKitchen_valentine.pdf.  Rok Sushi in Hermosa beach is having an all-day 3-course menu with sake! (check it out)

Bashi at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes is offering a Valentine’s Day menu including geoduck sashimi, char sui Berkshire pork belly and miso poached lobster. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Also at Terranea, the Los Angeles Times recommends Catalina Kitchen’s Mediterranean menu of “Tapas for Two”: spanish saffron rice with garlic lobster tails, scallops, chicken, and sausage; oysters on ice; crispy green lip mussels with almond and scallion gazpacho; olive oil shrimp with toasted garlic and red chili oil, warm almond crusted manchego cheese with a hot garlic vinaigrette and slivered almonds; squid with bacon and garlic oil; and, artisan chocolate truffles and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert.

Dominique’s Kitchen in Redondo Beach is offering a four-course menu with yummies such as smoked duck breast salad with pan seared polenta, baby heirloom tomatoes, arugula, Belgian endives in a raspberry vinaigrette; filet mignon with porcini and port wine reduction, potato gratin, farmer’s market vegetables; and, strawberry tart. (www.dominiqueskitchen.com)

If these are all a little too fancy for you, why not try The Bull Pen in Redondo Beach, where you can champagne for $7.95? Whatever you end up doing, enjoy it. Life is short but filled with amazing things!