Valentine's Day

*Originally published on February 16, 2024

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I love the colors pink and red and I love chocolates and flowers. I love how I can literally feel the love in the air as I pass by happy couples smiling on the street. It started when I was younger when my Dad would make me chocolate chip waffles and strawberries Romanoff before school. I would get a new love-themed mug with a card and scarf down my annual dessert-for-breakfast treat before getting dropped off at school to participate in even more love-themed activities. 

However, since moving to college, I no longer get to enjoy my Dad's breakfast confections. I certainly can't remember the last time I had a homeroom Valentine's party. I've missed the wonder and excitement I associate with the most romantic day of the year. This weekend, in an effort to rectify my crisis, I embarked on what I'm calling my Valentine's Day retreat- a 25 minute train ride into the great city of Philadelphia followed by a series of culinary adventures. 

My tastes have certainly evolved since elementary school, but some factors remain comically spot on. Namely, food is still the central object of my excitement when it comes to the Day of Love (or literally any other occasion, see: the existence of Sophia's Good Food). So I decided to pick some spots I've never been to before, park myself at a table, read a good book, and obviously, eat some good food.  

My romantic outing began with a trip to Sofi Corner Café, an absolutely gorgeous French-Moroccan café about 10 minutes from Jefferson Station. It's an order-at-the-counter joint with the most exquisite interior I've ever seen. After ordering, I turned the corner to meet the dining room- a space entirely illuminated by natural light with intricately patterned tables for two, a booth side furnished with plush throw pillows, and vases with a fresh rose at every table. The color scheme was a beautiful mix of oranges, whites, and greys. Combined with the rays of sunlight streaming in, the space quite literally felt like heaven on Earth. 

Soon after, my waitress greeted me with a double shot of espresso and a slice of warm walnut-date cake the size of my head. Topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of honey, this behemoth of a cake fulfilled each and every one of my dessert fantasies. Despite its size, the cake was unbelievably light, scattered with walnuts, and the perfect balance of sweet to nutty. Paired with an espresso and the ambiance of a lifetime, it was even more delicious. Soon after, I settled into a new book in a state of absolute and utter bliss. 

About an hour and a half later, I packed up to head to my next destination: the Philadelphia Italian Market. It's the oldest running outdoor market in the United States and is home to dozens of outdoor food stalls and several of brick-and-mortar family run businesses- many of which have been operating for close to or over 100 years. As I entered the market, I met storefronts selling cured meats, cheeses, and specialty goods. While these vendors tempted me, it's the table outside Molly's Books and Records that caught my attention. Specifically, a table of on-sale cookbooks sat directly outside the store, begging me to take a peek indoors. I just as quickly discovered that the shop's cookbook collection extended thrice as far inside. Perfect.

An hour later I left the bookstore with several compilations of Gourmet magazine's culinary travel essays and a grumbling stomach. In my search for sustenance, I found Anthony's Italian Coffee House, a café and restaurant nestled within the crowds of family businesses in the district, run by the 4th generation. Soon after I arrived, a friend of mine joined me and we ordered at the counter.

Minutes later, steaming croissant sandwiches were placed before us. I opted for the "Gavone," a breakfast sandwich with everything on it, everything being prosciutto, bell peppers, bacon, steamed spinach, eggs, and cheese. When I looked at it, the toppings were spilling off the sides, and I soon realized it was one of those sandwiches that you can't put down once you pick it up in fear of it collapsing entirely. While its appearance may have been ramshackle, its flavor was anything but. The Gavone was savory, salty, buttery, and messy. In other words, it was exactly what I needed. Conversation flowed freely as we finished our dinners and soon we were licking the remaining butter off our fingers, having successfully consumed our sandwiches without needing a fork. 

After checking our watches, it was a mad dash to the train station (but not without dessert, of course). We sped walked in the direction of the station and stopped by a cupcake store about to close. My friend and I simultaneously responded "yes" when asked if we would like to add limited edition Valentine's sprinkles to our cupcakes and soon we were wiping off the ridiculous amounts of frosting that had made its way onto our noses as we left the store. We made the train with time to spare. 

Despite not having access to my Dad's Valentine's treats or the beloved paper Valentine's crafts of my childhood, this year was the best Valentine's Day I've ever had. I spent it doing the things I love and shared my evening with a close friend. I shamelessly awww-ed while watching adorable dates at the locations I stopped at and enjoyed every bite I had to eat, all the while remembering how much I love love.