On the North Fork in February, oysters aren’t merely bar food, they’re aphrodisiacs, and just one component of a successful Valentine’s Day.
Here’s your guide to sourcing the vital elements of a romantic, rustic, North Fork day of love.
1. The Preston House & Hotel, 428 East Main St., Riverhead
Why don’t you two get a room? The Preston House is an elegant home built in 1905 and transformed into a boutique inn with 20 rooms and a restaurant that’s a lovely date spot.
2. Riverhead Flower Shop, 136 East Main St., Riverhead
For forty years, this flower shop has been delivering fresh bouquets to North Fork Valentines.
3. The Village Cheese Shop, 105 Love Lane, Mattituck
Warm melted cheese for two? Here’s where to buy a pre-made fondue kit to melt at home with bread and a nice bottle of wine.
4. Mattituck Florist, 95 Love Lane, Mattituck
Looking for a bouquet for your bae? This full-service florist will make it, and deliver it.
5. Peconic Gold Oysters, 21125 County Road 48, Cutchogue
Oysters from this self-serve farmstand, a bottle of wine and a bivalve-loving partner equals an authentic North Fork Valentines Day.
6.Atelier Disset, 28080 Main Road, Cutchogue.
Give your darling a heart-shaped dish filled with Valentine’s Day bonbons, or a six-piece Valentine’s Day collection of dark chocolate, salted caramel, coconut, cranberry, roasted walnut, and pomegranate.
7. North Fork Table and Inn, 57225 Main Road, Southold
If your love thinks an elegant meal in an old country house from a menu inspired by the fish and farms nearby is heaven, this is the spot. North Fork Table and Inn was voted “Best Special Occasion Restaurant” in our 2021 Best of the North Fork Reader’s Choice poll.
8. Preston’s, 102 Main St. Greenport
Wherever your relationship is going, a tandem kayak will get it there faster, and if that sounds like too risky a gift, Prestons’s also sells those super-soft, striped French fisherman’s shirts in various combinations of blue, white and red stripes that look great on you and your first mate.
9.PAWPAW popup at The Lin Beach House, 455 Main Road, Greenport
Chef Taylor Knapp, a gifted local chef and escargot-farmer is cooking an elegant, locally-sourced and romantic meal paired with local wines for Valentine celebrants who want to dine on Saturday night. Dinners on 2/12 or 2/19.
10. The Candy Man, 22350 Main Road, Orient
Did your Valentine toss the chocolate-covered cherries in last year’s box of assorted bonbons? Show how much you care with a heart-shaped box curated by you for your sweetheart from The Candy Man’s extensive selection of treats.
Looking for even more ideas?
• Montauk Distilling Co. in Riverhead is partnering with a handful of area businesses to serve up what is sure to be a great night out. NoFo Endless Summer has organized a Valentine’s Night at the distillery from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12. Beer from Long Ireland Brewing Co. and sweets from The Treatery will be served along with special Valentine’s cocktails and tasting flights.
• Don’t want to go out on Valentine’s Day? Let a local chef cook for you with delivery. Rustic Roots and Recipes has a pair of menus with limited spots available for a drop off dinner for two. Get an entree, two sides, salad and dessert delivered straight to you. Visit rusticrootsandrecipes.com for more details.
